ASA Special Enzymes

What ASA Special Enzymes does

ASA Spezialenzyme GmbH, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Wolfenbüttel, Germany, is a privately held biotechnology company that develops, produces, and distributes specialty enzymes, industrial enzymes, bacterial cultures, and related bioproducts. The firm sells directly to research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, food, textile, and paper manufacturers, biogas operators, environmental services firms, and aquatic-system managers via its own WooCommerce-based online shop, while also offering contract research services and GMP-certified clinical-trial filling. Its sole Managing Director is Dr. Arno Cordes, and the company is registered at Amtsgericht Braunschweig under HRB 6252 with VAT ID DE116882138.

The product portfolio spans specialty research enzymes (Laccase, Cutinase, Chitinase), large-scale technical enzymes (Cellulase), industrial enzymes with publicly disclosed unit pricing (Xylanase 2x, Transglutaminase, Lipase FE-01, Protease A-06, Pektinase L-40, Invertase 200.000), pharmaceutical/GMP products (the c-di-AMP vaccine adjuvant and clean-room clinical trial filling), proprietary bacterial cultures (ASA T and ASA N) for pond restoration, biological rust removal solutions, enzyme purification gels, and biogas optimization nutrients. Underlying technology is biotechnological enzyme production paired with bioremediation expertise; the firm holds GMP-certified facilities that constitute a regulatory foothold in pharmaceutical-adjacent supply. No patents, trademarks, certifications, or formal regulatory accreditations beyond GMP are recorded in the source data.

Revenue is generated through one-time product sales with publicly listed per-kilogram pricing and volume discounts (e.g., Transglutaminase €110.80/kg at 1 kg down to €87.45/kg at 25 kg; Invertase €630/kg down to €560/kg at 15 kg), quote-based multi-year contracts for pharmaceutical/GMP products and clinical-trial filling, and project-based professional services for contract research. Distribution is direct-to-buyer globally through the e-commerce storefront, which accepts prepayment, direct debit, PayPal, and major credit cards. Marketing is executed primarily through the company website, LinkedIn, Xing, and participation in EU research consortia such as the 2024 MoeBios bioplastic recycling project; no paid acquisition, app distribution, or public funding rounds are evidenced.

Name

ASA Special Enzymes

Legal name

ASA Spezialenzyme GmbH

Website

https://asa-enzyme.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ASA Spezialenzyme GmbH, founded in 1991 in Wolfenbüttel, Germany, is a privately held biotech company that manufactures and sells specialty enzymes, industrial enzymes, bacterial cultures, and GMP pharmaceutical products to research, pharmaceutical, food, textile, environmental, and aquatics customers via direct e-commerce and contract research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Industrial Enzymes

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing (AFABAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

GMP Scale-Up, Tech Transfer & Process Validation (PPQ) (HLAGAHAL), Process Development & Tech Transfer Services (upstream/downstream) (HLAAAKAF)

Keywords

• Specialty enzymes
• Industrial enzymes
• Biotechnology products
• GMP pharmaceutical production
• Bioremediation solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Wolfenbüttel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Enzyme Product Sales: Sale of specialty enzymes (Laccase, Cutinase, Chitinase, Cellulase, Xylanase, Transglutaminase, Lipase, Protease, Pectinase, Invertase) and industrial enzymes to research institutions, food industry, textile industry, and other industrial customers. Unit pricing with volume discounts available.
2. Pharmaceutical/GMP Products: Production and distribution of pharmaceutical-grade products including c-di-AMP adjuvant and clinical trial filling services under clean room conditions
3. Bioproducts: Sale of biological rust removal products and enzyme purification gels
4. Contract Research Services: Research and development services and contract research partnerships with enterprises
5. Biogas Optimization Nutrients: Nutrients and microbial solutions for biogas optimization and bioremediation applications

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ASA Spezialenzyme GmbH develops, produces, and sells a broad portfolio of specialty, industrial, and technical enzymes (including xylanase, transglutaminase, lipase, protease, pectinase, and invertase) along with proprietary bacterial cultures and bioproducts such as rust removal and biogas optimization solutions. The company manufactures GMP-grade pharmaceutical intermediates (c-di-AMP) in its Wolfenbüttel clean-room facility and offers contract research services spanning enzyme discovery through scale-up. Its offerings are sold directly to industrial customers, research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies through its own online storefront and direct B2B sales.

Product overview

ASA Spezialenzyme GmbH offers a diverse portfolio of biotechnological products and services focused on enzymes, microorganisms, and related solutions. The company operates across several business areas: (1) Industrial Enzymes including Xylanase, Transglutaminase, Lipase, Protease, Pektinase, and Invertase for food, textile, and industrial applications; (2) Special Enzymes such as Laccase, Cutinase, and Chitinase for research and industry; (3) Technical Enzymes like Cellulase produced at large scale; (4) Pharmaceutical/GMP products including c-di-AMP as a vaccine adjuvant and GMP clean room services for clinical trial manufacturing; (5) Microorganisms (ASA T and ASA N bacterial cultures) for pond restoration and aquatics; (6) Bioproducts including biological rust removal solutions and enzyme purification gels; and (7) Contract research and R&D services. The company has been operating since 1991, serving scientific and industrial customers with biotechnological solutions for everyday and specialized problems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ASA T: Bacterial cultures for pond restoration and aquatics
• ASA N

Products and services

• c-di-AMP (GMP Pharmaceutical Product) GMP-manufactured c-di-AMP (cyclic di-adenylate monophosphate) sold to pharmaceutical and biotechnology research customers for use in R&D, immunology studies, and clinical trial applications. Produced under pharmaceutical-grade quality systems in the company's clean-room facility in Wolfenbüttel, Germany.
• Xylanase 2x Industrial xylanase enzyme used in baking, animal feed, and pulp/paper processing applications. Sold to industrial customers and research institutions through the company's online shop with unit pricing and volume discounts.
• Transglutaminase Transglutaminase enzyme produced from a non-pathogenic source for use in food processing applications such as meat, dairy, and baked goods binding and texturizing. Sold to food manufacturers and food technology research customers.
• Lipase FE-01 Industrial lipase enzyme used in fat hydrolysis, esterification, and flavor development applications across food, oleochemistry, and detergent manufacturing.
• Protease A-06 Industrial protease enzyme used for protein hydrolysis in food processing, brewing, leather, and detergent applications. Sold in unit quantities with volume discounts.
• Pektinase L-40 Industrial pectinase enzyme preparation used for the enzymatic degradation of pectin in fruit juice production, wine making, and fruit processing.
• Invertase 200.000 High-activity industrial invertase enzyme used for sucrose hydrolysis in confectionery production (e.g., liquid centers, fondants) and other sugar-processing applications.
• Laccase (Special Enzyme) Specialty laccase enzyme used for oxidative applications such as dye decolorization, textile processing, and environmental bioremediation research. Sold to research and industrial customers.
• Cutinase (Special Enzyme) Specialty cutinase enzyme used for ester bond hydrolysis in polymer degradation, surface modification, and biotechnological research applications.
• Chitinase (Special Enzyme)

Quantifiable outcome

• Large-scale production of technical enzymes (Cellulase) enables cost-effective industrial use
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• MoeBios ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024ASA Spezialenzyme participates in the MoeBios EU research project focused on 'Innovating in Bioplastic Recycling' as part of the EU's broader biosustainability initiatives. The project aims at closing the loop of bios end-of-life through innovative bioplastic recycling solutions. This partnership positions the company at the forefront of sustainable biotechnology applications.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• IFF (DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences): IFF's Health & Biosciences division (incorporating the former DuPont Industrial Biosciences) is a leading global supplier of enzymes for food, grain processing, textiles, and biorefining. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping enzyme categories and global reach that competes with ASA in industrial segments.
• dsm-firmenich: DSM-Firmenich operates a sizeable enzyme and bioprocess business serving food, feed, and personal care markets globally. Comparable as a diversified life sciences incumbent with enzyme portfolios that overlap with ASA's food-industry enzymes (e.g., Xylanase, Pectinase, Protease).
• Novonesis (formerly Novozymes): Novonesis is the global leader in industrial enzymes and microbial solutions, with extensive product overlap across food, textile, and pharma-adjacent enzyme applications. Comparable as the dominant incumbent whose scale and breadth set the competitive context for ASA's niche offerings.

Direct peers

• Megazyme: Megazyme is a specialist enzyme and analytical reagent supplier serving food, beverage, and research customers globally, including enzyme activity measurement and diagnostic enzymes. Comparable as a similarly sized niche player with research-and-industry customer overlap, including diagnostics-adjacent enzyme offerings.
• Biocatalysts Ltd: Biocatalysts is a UK-based specialist enzyme company producing specialty and industrial enzymes (Lipases, Proteases, Phytases) with custom development and contract manufacturing services. Comparable as a similarly sized European specialist enzyme manufacturer serving overlapping food and industrial end-markets.
• AB Enzymes: AB Enzymes is a Germany-based industrial enzyme manufacturer (part of ABF Ingredients) producing specialty and technical enzymes for food, animal nutrition, and industrial applications. Direct comparable as a mid-sized German competitor with overlapping enzyme product categories and industrial customer base.
• Enzyme Development Corporation: Enzyme Development Corporation is a US-based specialty enzyme blender and supplier focused on industrial applications in food, brewing, textiles, and bioremediation. Comparable as a mid-sized specialty enzyme manufacturer with a horizontal application strategy similar to ASA.
• BIO-CAT: BIO-CAT is a US-based enzyme manufacturer and custom fermentation partner offering industrial enzyme production and contract manufacturing for food, supplement, and industrial customers. Comparable as a similarly scaled custom enzyme and fermentation producer with GMP-adjacent capabilities.

Emerging players

• Creative Enzymes: Creative Enzymes is a US-based catalog supplier of specialty and industrial enzymes (Laccase, Cellulase, Transglutaminase, etc.) for research and industrial buyers. Comparable as a similarly positioned e-commerce-forward enzyme supplier with overlapping specialty enzyme SKUs.

Regional players

• Amano Enzyme: Amano Enzyme is a Japan-based specialist enzyme manufacturer serving food, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic enzyme markets with a strong Asian commercial footprint. Comparable as a similarly sized specialist enzyme producer with overlapping product categories (Protease, Lipase, Transglutaminase), though primarily serving APAC rather than EU markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asa-spezialenzyme-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ASA Special Enzymes