Worthington Biochemical Corporation

What Worthington Biochemical Corporation does

Worthington Biochemical Corporation is a privately held, third-generation family-owned primary manufacturer of high-purity enzymes, proteins, nucleic acids, and cell isolation kits, founded in 1947 and headquartered in Lakewood, New Jersey. The company operates as a single-vendor primary manufacturer rather than a reseller, with in-house capabilities spanning initial extraction from animal, plant, and microbial sources, fermentation, protein purification, and lyophilization, all performed at its ISO 9001:2015-certified Lakewood facility under GMP guidelines. Its core product franchise is built around collagenase (Types 1-7 plus Animal Free grades), complemented by trypsin (including SequENZ®), papain, elastase, hyaluronidase, proteinase K, neutral protease, recombinant nucleases (DNase I, RNase A, RNase T1/T2, NUCxyme™), and use-tested cell isolation kits for hepatocytes, neonatal cardiomyocytes, neural tissue, and stem cells.

Worthington monetizes through three principal channels: direct catalog sales of standardized SKUs to academic and industrial researchers via its e-commerce website (with publicly listed unit pricing from roughly $56 to $740 and multi-tier quantity discounts); bulk/OEM and contract manufacturing (25-30% of domestic sales) supplying enzymes for incorporation into downstream diagnostics, bioprocessing, and relabeled products; and international distribution through 34 exclusive distributors across 28 countries accounting for approximately 25% of total sales. The free Collagenase Sampling Program (100 mg samples across up to three lots with a mandatory minimum 3 g future purchase) functions as a customer-acquisition and conversion tool, while the Worthington Tissue Dissociation Guide, Enzyme Manual, and Tissue Tables database (35,000+ researcher contacts) serve as embedded technical references that reinforce product stickiness in published protocols.

The customer base spans academic researchers (long-tail catalog), bioprocessing and biopharma manufacturers (bulk), diagnostics companies (OEM/relabel), and emerging cell-and-gene therapy developers. Strategic activity in 2022-2025 — a website relaunch, the 23rd Edition catalog with expanded Animal Free lines, the 2025 launches of NUCxyme™ and recombinant RNase U2 into the bioprocessing endonuclease market, and recurring American Physiological Society educational partnerships — indicates measured product and channel investment within existing markets rather than aggressive scaling. The company is led by President and CEO Von Worthington (son of founder Charles C. Worthington) alongside third-generation family members in operational and technical roles.

Name

Worthington Biochemical Corporation

Legal name

Worthington Biochemical Corporation

Website

https://worthington-biochem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Worthington Biochemical Corporation is a privately held, third-generation family-owned primary manufacturer of high-purity enzymes, proteins, nucleic acids, and cell isolation kits serving life science research, bioprocessing, diagnostics, and regenerative medicine customers across 28 countries via direct catalog and distributor channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Life Science Biochemical Reagents

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Raw Materials & Critical Reagents Supply (Media/Resins/Cytokines) (HLAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bioprocess Consumables & Reagents (resins, membranes, media components, buffers) (HLAAAJAI)

Keywords

• Purified enzymes manufacturing
• Cell isolation kits
• Tissue dissociation enzymes
• Bioprocessing enzymes
• Animal free enzymes

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakewood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Catalog Product Sales: Direct online sales of purified enzymes, proteins, nucleic acids and cell isolation kits via company website to US/Canada/Puerto Rico customers with publicly listed unit pricing (e.g., Actin $56-$210, Adenosine Deaminase $235, Albumin Nuclease-Free $62-$280, Carboxypeptidase B $100-$740). Shipping via UPS/FedEx air delivery.
2. Bulk/OEM Sales: Bulk sales to companies which use Worthington products in the manufacture of their own products, bioprocessing, diagnostics and to companies which distribute Worthington products under their own label. Bulk sales make up between 25% and 30% of domestic sales. Includes contract and custom manufacturing, custom analysis, and special packaging for OEM applications.
3. International Distribution Sales: Approximately 25% of sales are to companies and researchers located outside the United States, distributed through a network of 34 exclusive distributors in 28 countries including Canada. Distributors handle importation, VAT taxes and import fees.
4. Free Sampling Program with Future Purchase Obligation: Free Collagenase Sampling Program provides individual researchers with 100 mg samples of up to three different lots or types of collagenase for 60-day evaluation; minimum 3 grams of each lot reserved on HOLD. Requirement: purchaser must buy minimum 3 grams of the selected lot.
5. Custom Manufacturing & Bulk Quotation: Custom manufacturing and contract services including custom preparations of entirely new products, modifications of regular production procedures, custom analysis, and special packaging. Minimum order quantities vary by product (e.g., Actin 100x1mg, Aldolase 2000x1mg). Quote-based pricing for bulk quantities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Core offering

Worthington Biochemical Corporation is a primary manufacturer of high-purity enzymes, proteins, nucleic acids and cell isolation kits extracted from animal tissues, plant tissues and microbial sources, sold to life science researchers, bioprocessing/biopharma manufacturers, and diagnostics companies. The company operates in-house extraction, fermentation, protein purification and lyophilization under an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality system, supplying catalog units, bulk/OEM quantities, and custom contract manufacturing.

Product overview

Worthington Biochemical Corporation is a single-vendor primary manufacturer offering an integrated portfolio of high-purity enzymes, proteins, nucleic acids, and cell isolation kits — rather than a modular SaaS platform. The portfolio centers on the core collagenase product line (Types 1-7, CLSPA, and Animal Free CLSAF A/B/C/D grades), which are supported by the free Collagenase Sampling Program and the Collagenase Lot Selection Tool. Surrounding tissue-dissociation enzymes include Trypsin (including SequENZ®), Papain (with the Papain Dissociation System for neuroscience), Elastase, Hyaluronidase, Proteinase K, and Neutral Protease (Dispase®). Cell isolation kits bundle these enzymes for specific tissues: the Neonatal Cardiomyocyte Isolation System (NCIS), Hepatocyte Isolation System (HIS), Cell Isolation Optimizing System (CIT), Papain Dissociation System (PDS), and STEMxyme® 1 & 2 (Animal Free collagenase/neutral protease blends for stem cells). Molecular biology offerings include Animal Free Recombinant DNase I (Molecular Biology and Bioprocessing grades), Recombinant RNase U2, NUCxyme™ DNA/RNA Nuclease (recombinant Serratia marcescens nuclease), RNase T1/T2, Recombinant HIV Reverse Transcriptase, Phosphodiesterases I & II, Micrococcal and S1 Nucleases, Phosphatases, and nucleic acids. Bulk/OEM and contract manufacturing capabilities round out the line for bioprocessing, vaccine, diagnostic, and biopharma customers. The Worthington Enzyme Manual, Tissue Dissociation Guide, Tissue Tables reference database, and Introduction to Enzymes primer serve as technical and educational resources that span and integrate the product lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NUCxyme™: Worthington-branded recombinant Serratia marcescens nuclease (DNA/RNA nuclease, Animal Free) for nucleic acid research and bioprocessing applications.
• Celase® GMP
• STEMxyme®
• SequENZ®

Products and services

• NUCxyme™ DNA/RNA Nuclease, Recombinant, Animal Free Recombinant Serratia marcescens nuclease produced in Komagataella phaffii yeast; a sequence-independent endonuclease that digests all forms of DNA and RNA for bioprocessing and nucleic acid research applications.
• Ribonuclease U2, Recombinant Recombinant Ustilago sphaerogena ribonuclease U2 expressed in yeast; a purine-selective endonuclease (A>G>C>U) used for RNA sequencing, modification, and mapping applications.
• Collagenase (Types 1-7) and Animal Free Collagenase World's leading manufacturer of collagenase from Clostridium histolyticum, offering multiple types (CLS-1 through CLS-7), purified CLSPA, and Animal Free grades (CLSAFA/AFB/AFC/AFD) for primary cell isolation, tissue dissociation, and cell biology applications.
• Celase® GMP Collagenase/Neutral Protease Blend A single, sterile, ready-to-use vial containing both collagenase and neutral protease produced under GMP quality conditions; designed for stem cell isolation from adipose tissue, capable of digesting up to 280g of adipose tissue per vial.
• STEMxyme® 1 & 2 (Animal Free Collagenase/Neutral Protease Blends) Animal Free collagenase/neutral protease blends for primary and stem cell isolation, eliminating BSE/TSE and mammalian viral risks for regenerative medicine and bioprocessing.
• Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I), Recombinant, Animal Free Animal Free recombinant DNase I in Molecular Biology Grades (DR1S/DR1) and Bioprocessing Grade (DR2) produced in genetically engineered bacteria/yeast.
• RNase T1 (Animal Free) and Recombinant RNase T2 (Animal Origin Free) Animal Free RNase T1 (RTIS, Aspergillus source) and Recombinant RNase T2 (RT2R, Aspergillus oryzae, animal origin free) for molecular biology and bioprocessing.
• Recombinant HIV Reverse Transcriptase (HIVRT) Recombinant HIV reverse transcriptase cloned from HIV pHX2D (subclone of HXB2) and expressed in E. coli as the p66/p51 heterodimer representative of native wild-type protein.
• Papain Dissociation System (PDS) Set of reagents for neural cell tissue dissociation following the Huettner and Baughman (1986) method; each lot use-tested for rat spinal neural cell isolation.
• Hepatocyte Isolation System (HIS) Use-tested enzyme kit for hepatocyte isolation from liver tissue.
• Neonatal Cardiomyocyte Isolation System (NCIS) Kit specifically packaged for five separate tissue dissociations of up to twelve neonatal rat hearts each, containing sterile calcium/magnesium-free Hank's Balanced Salt Solution and Leibovitz L-15 Media powder.
• Cell Isolation Optimizing System (CIT) System designed to help optimize primary cell isolation protocols across tissue types.
• Trypsin (including SequENZ® Trypsin, TRL) One of Worthington's first commercial products from the late 1940s, including chemically modified SequENZ® Trypsin with significantly reduced autolysis for proteomics and protein sequencing applications.
• Carboxypeptidase B (COBC) Chromatographically purified carboxypeptidase B (metallocarboxypeptidase) hydrolyzing basic amino acids (lysine, arginine, ornithine) from C-terminal end of polypeptides; supplied as a solution in 100mM sodium chloride.
• Carboxypeptidase Y (COY) A highly purified glycoprotein exopeptidase of the acid and serine class with broad amino acid specificity including proline and amidated residues.
• Elastase (ES) Elastase used for tissue dissociation applications including vascular and connective tissue digestion.
• Papain (PAP/PAPL) Protease used widely for neural cell isolation; recommended over collagenase or trypsin for tissue dissociation of neural tissue.
• Proteinase K Broad-spectrum serine protease used for nucleic acid purification and bioprocessing applications.
• Neutral Protease (Dispase®, NPRO/NPRO2) Bacterial neutral protease used for cell dissociation applications including epidermis/dermis separation and stem cell isolation.
• Bulk/OEM Enzyme Supply and Contract Manufacturing Bulk enzyme supply, contract manufacturing, custom analysis, and special packaging for OEM and bioprocessing applications; supplied in a wide range of purity and activity specifications and large-scale bulk quantities under GMP guidelines at the Lakewood, NJ facility.

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cytiva (Danaher): Cytiva supplies enzymes, reagents and process-scale bioprocessing consumables to biopharma manufacturers. Overlaps with Worthington's bulk/OEM and bioprocessing enzyme offerings but operates as part of a much larger portfolio (filtration, chromatography, cell culture media) under Danaher.
• Roche Custom Biotech (Roche Diagnostics): Roche's Custom Biotech business supplies purified enzymes, including collagenase and other tissue-dissociation enzymes, to biopharma, diagnostics and OEM customers globally. Direct overlap with Worthington's collagenase and bulk/OEM enzyme portfolio, but with significantly larger scale, cGMP capabilities and a broader diagnostic product portfolio.
• Merck KGaA / Sigma-Aldrich (MilliporeSigma): The MilliporeSigma life science business of Merck KGaA (which historically owned Worthington's clinical division from 1976-1982) is one of the largest suppliers of research- and bioprocessing-grade enzymes, including collagenase, trypsin and DNase. Direct competitor across virtually all of Worthington's catalog with much deeper catalog, global reach and cGMP capacity.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Through its Life Sciences Solutions segment (Gibco, Thermo Scientific enzymes), Thermo Fisher supplies research-grade and bioprocessing enzymes including trypsin, collagenase and nucleases. Massive direct overlap with Worthington's catalog, with substantially greater scale and biopharma qualification depth.

Direct peers

• Promega Corporation: Privately held specialty manufacturer of enzymes, reagents and kits for molecular biology, proteomics and cell biology. Comparable in being a private, enzyme-focused life science tools company with a strong catalog and direct-to-researcher sales motion.
• Takara Bio: Takara manufactures molecular biology enzymes (restriction enzymes, ligases, nucleases, reverse transcriptase) and cell-based reagents for research and bioprocessing. Direct overlap with Worthington's molecular biology enzyme portfolio and recombinant enzyme production capabilities.
• New England Biolabs (NEB): NEB is a leading manufacturer of recombinant and native enzymes for molecular biology and bioprocessing — directly named alongside Worthington in the 2025 recombinant nuclease market entry. Closely comparable in being an enzyme-focused specialty manufacturer with a strong research-customer base.
• ArcticZymes Technologies: ArcticZymes is a specialist enzyme manufacturer producing SAN (Serratia marcescens nuclease) and other cold-active enzymes for bioprocessing, cell therapy and vaccine manufacturing — explicitly named as a peer in the non-specific endonuclease market alongside Worthington's NUCxyme™ launch. Closely matched in scale and product focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WorthingtonBiochem

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Worthington Biochemical Corporation