KiTZ

What KiTZ does

KiTZ (Hopp-Kindertumorzentrum Heidelberg) is a non-profit pediatric oncology center located in Heidelberg, Germany, jointly operated by the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital (Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, UKHD), and Heidelberg University. It treats children and adolescents with cancer, provides second opinions, and conducts translational research across leukemia, lymphoma, brain tumors, sarcomas, embryonal tumors, hereditary cancers, rare tumors, and non-malignant blood diseases. The center integrates clinical care with research under a single institutional umbrella, with a new building (KiTZ Neubau) under construction to consolidate treatment, research, and psycho-social support services.

The center's core platform is INFORM (INdividualized therapy FOr high-Risk childhood Malignancies), Europe's first cross-border genome sequencing program for children with relapsed or refractory cancer. INFORM receives tumor samples from more than 100 centers across 12 European countries plus Israel, performs molecular profiling to identify up to five prioritized targets per patient, and routes results through an expert panel of pediatric oncologists, bioinformaticians, biologists, and pharmacologists for clinical-actionable interpretation. The MARVIN central database stores molecular targets, drug information, and clinical follow-up data, feeding downstream INFORM2-Basket Phase I/II clinical trials that test targeted therapies based on molecular alterations independent of cancer type. More than 1,700 patients have been registered in INFORM since launch in 2015.

KiTZ does not generate commercial revenue in the traditional sense. Operating funding comes from institutional grants (DKTK — German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research, Deutsche Krebshilfe, Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung, BILD hilft e.V. 'Ein Herz für Kinder'), donations including the Kirstin Diehl Foundation and the Blumen schenken. Hoffnung spenden. flower-shop campaign (~€586,000 since 2021), and clinical reimbursement through the German public health insurance system. Patient acquisition occurs through physician referrals, self-referrals for second opinions, and enrollment in clinical trials via the INFORM partner network. Marketing channels include a multilingual website, active social media presence, the KiTZ Videoratgeber educational video series, KiTZ Stories testimonials, six annual newsletters, celebrity ambassadors (Jonathan Tah, Sarah Connor, Dr. Johannes Wimmer), and partnerships with the DFB-Stiftung Egidius Braun, Fleurop AG, and the Fachverband Deutscher Floristen.

Name

KiTZ

Legal name

Hopp-Kindertumorzentrum Heidelberg

Website

https://kitz-heidelberg.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

KiTZ is a non-profit pediatric oncology center in Heidelberg, Germany, jointly operated by DKFZ, Heidelberg University Hospital, and Heidelberg University. It runs the INFORM cross-border genome sequencing program, treating children with cancer across 12+ European countries plus Israel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Oncology Treatment and Research

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Companion Diagnostics (CDx) & Therapy Selection Assays (HLAAALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Companion Diagnostic (CDx) Co-Development Services (biopharma partnerships, clinical strategy) (HLAAAMAB), Companion Diagnostics (CDx) Development & Trial Testing Support (HLAGAEAJ), Pharmacogenomics (PGx) Decision Support (HLAAANAB)

Keywords

• Pediatric oncology
• Childhood cancer treatment
• Clinical trials
• Precision medicine
• Genome sequencing

Headquarters

HQ city

Heidelberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Clinical Services and Healthcare Reimbursement: Treatment services provided to patients with costs covered through the German public health insurance system and international healthcare agreements.
2. Research Funding and Grants: Funding from government sources including DKTK (German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research), Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid), and Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung (German Childhood Cancer Foundation).
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Public donations through various campaigns including 'Blumen schenken. Hoffnung spenden.' (Flowers for Hope) and individual giving programs. Total donations raised approximately 586,000 euros since 2021.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KiTZ is a joint pediatric oncology treatment and research center of DKFZ, Heidelberg University Hospital, and Heidelberg University, providing clinical care for children and adolescents with cancer. Its flagship offering is the INFORM genome sequencing program, which molecularly profiles relapsed or refractory tumors to match patients with targeted therapies and clinical trials across a network of more than 100 European centers.

Product overview

KiTZ (Hopp-Kindertumorzentrum Heidelberg) is a pediatric cancer center combining treatment, research, and clinical studies. The core offerings center on the INFORM genome sequencing program for personalized therapy matching, supported by clinical trials across multiple cancer types. KiTZ provides additional patient-facing services including the KiTZ Videoratgeber educational video series, KiTZ Stories testimonials, and the KiTZ Wegbegleiter companion support. The center also operates a donation platform for research funding and offers second opinion services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INFORM: INdividualized therapy FOr high-Risk childhood Malignancies - Europe's first cross-border genome sequencing program for children with cancer.
• KiTZ Clinical Trial Unit
• Blumen schenken. Hoffnung spenden.
• EU CAN KIDS

Products and services

• INFORM (INdividualized therapy FOr high-Risk childhood Malignancies) A cross-border genome sequencing program for children with relapsed or refractory cancer that molecularly profiles tumor tissue to identify targeted therapy options and matches patients with clinical trials across Europe. Designed for pediatric oncology patients with high-risk or treatment-resistant disease.
• KiTZ Clinical Trials

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 80% of children and adolescents with cancer in Germany are successfully treated
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• INFORM International NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Cross-border genome sequencing network with over 100 centers from 12 European countries plus Israel. Includes partners: University Hospital Gent (Belgium), Tampere University Hospital (Finland), Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital (Greece), Shaarei Zedek Medical Center (Israel), Oslo University Hospital (Norway), St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung (Austria), University Hospital Lublin (Poland), Instituto Português de Oncologia (Portugal), Karolinska University Hospital (Sweden), Universitäts-Kinderspital Zürich (Switzerland), University Medical Center Ljubljana (Slovenia), University Hospital Motol Prague (Czech Republic).
• EU CAN KIDS (European Alliance for a Childhood without Cancer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean alliance including Prinses Máxima Centrum (Utrecht) and Institut Curie (Paris) working to improve access to modern cancer medicine for children in Germany and Europe. Current project focuses on improving radiotherapy for aggressive brain tumors.
• Fleurop AGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFlower company providing charity bouquets for the 'Blumen schenken. Hoffnung spenden.' fundraising campaign, generating donations for childhood cancer research.
• Fachverband Deutscher Floristen e.V. (FDF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman florist association supporting the 'Blumen schenken. Hoffnung spenden.' campaign by mobilizing florists and garden centers across Germany to participate in fundraising.
• DFB-Stiftung Egidius Braun (German Football Association Foundation)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation initiative 'Kinderträume' (Children's Dreams) supporting KiTZ through patronage and ambassador programs, including partnership with footballer Jonathan Tah.
• ITCCP4 (Innovative Therapies for Children and Adolescents with Cancer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network for preclinical laboratory models supporting the development of new cancer therapies for children through shared research infrastructure.
• MNP Outreach ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research cooperation focused on molecular profiling and data sharing for pediatric cancer research.
• GPOH (Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Onkologie und Hämatologie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman society of pediatric oncology and hematology coordinating clinical trial groups and study protocols across Germany.
• Jonathan TahminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman national footballer and Bundesliga professional serving as KiTZ ambassador through the DFB-Stiftung Egidius Braun 'Kinderträume' initiative, providing support and motivation to young patients.
• Sarah ConnorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman singer serving as celebrity patron supporting KiTZ patients and appearing at fundraising events like the 'Ein Herz für Kinder' gala.
• Dr. Johannes WimmerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTV doctor and KiTZ ambassador who appeared at 'Ein Herz für Kinder' gala and participates in video content explaining childhood cancer topics.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Institut Curie: French cancer research and treatment center with an established pediatric oncology program, and a direct EU CAN KIDS partner with KiTZ. Comparable translational-research-plus-clinic structure.
• Prinses Máxima Centrum for Pediatric Oncology: Largest pediatric oncology center in the Netherlands and a core EU CAN KIDS partner with KiTZ. Operates a comparable integrated research-clinic model and a national precision medicine program for childhood cancer.
• St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung (CCRI): Austrian pediatric oncology research institute that is a partner in the INFORM network and shares the focus on translational research and clinical trial coordination for childhood cancer.
• Dana-Farber / Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center: Major U.S. pediatric oncology program running precision medicine initiatives (e.g., Profile, TARGET) akin to KiTZ's INFORM, combining molecular profiling with clinical trial enrollment for children with relapsed cancer.
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Cancer Center: Large U.S. pediatric oncology center with active precision medicine and genomic profiling programs for childhood cancers. Comparable academic-hospital model with embedded clinical trial infrastructure.
• Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) - Children's Cancer Centre: UK children's hospital with significant pediatric oncology research and trial activity, including participation in pan-European molecular profiling initiatives conceptually similar to INFORM.
• Texas Children's Cancer Center (Baylor): Major U.S. pediatric hematology-oncology program running precision pediatric oncology and genomic-driven clinical trials comparable to KiTZ's INFORM-integrated studies.

Broad incumbents

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Global leader in pediatric cancer research and treatment, running large-scale genomic profiling programs (e.g., Pediatric Cancer Genome Project) that parallel INFORM but at far greater scale and resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KiTZheidelberg
• Instagraminstagram.com/kitz_heidelberg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC/kitz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hopp-childrens-cancer-center-heidelberg-kitz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 KiTZ