Fibrothelium
Fibrothelium GmbH is an RWTH Aachen spin-off that develops silk fibroin-based medical devices and biomaterials via its proprietary PureSilk extraction process. Its lead commercial product, SimplySilk, is a resorbable barrier membrane sold to dental and cranio-maxillofacial surgeons across the DACH region under ISO 13485 and EU MDR-compliant manufacturing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersAachen, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Fibrothelium does
Fibrothelium GmbH is a medical technology and biomaterials company founded in 2017 as a spin-off from RWTH Aachen University and headquartered at TRIWO Technopark Aachen, Germany. The company develops and manufactures silk fibroin-based products for tissue regeneration and medical device applications, with its proprietary PureSilk technology enabling extraction of fibroin protein from Bombyx mori silkworm cocoons without environmentally harmful solvents. Its product platform spans multiple formats — solution, hydrogel, sponge, foam, film, non-woven fibers, and adhesive — of which SimplySilk, a bioresorbable barrier membrane for guided bone regeneration in dental implant, periodontal, and cranio-maxillofacial procedures, is the lead commercial product and is offered in variants including a magnesium-reinforced configuration.
Underlying the platform is a solvent-free, scalable fibroin isolation process held as a trade secret. Manufacturing operates under ISO 13485 quality management and the SimplySilk product line is compliant with EU Medical Device Regulation 2017/745, with active eIFU versioning (v3.3 effective April 2026) under EU 2021/2226. The 12-person team is concentrated in R&D (four Research Fellows, a Head of R&D/QA, and a lab scientist), regulatory and quality (dedicated Head of QM/RA), and manufacturing, with three Managing Directors/Partners (Hans Leemhuis as Managing Director, Dr. Alexander Kopp and Christoph Ptock as Managing Partners) providing founder-led governance.
Fibrothelium generates revenue through B2B medical device sales of SimplySilk membrane variants via direct email-based orders to dental practices, clinics, and hospitals across the DACH region, with pricing conducted on a quote basis. It supplements product sales with collaborative R&D services delivered to academic and industry partners, partially funded through German public grant programs including EFRE (FibroGraft) and ZIM/BMWi (FibroXpand), and it retains technology licensing potential over its proprietary extraction method. Customer segments span dental and oral surgery, cranio-maxillofacial surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and biomedical research and cosmeceuticals, with no institutional investors, parent company, or manufacturing subsidiaries identified.
Fibrothelium firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fibrothelium
- Legal name
- Fibrothelium GmbH
- Website
- https://fibrothelium.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fibrothelium GmbH is an RWTH Aachen spin-off that develops silk fibroin-based medical devices and biomaterials via its proprietary PureSilk extraction process. Its lead commercial product, SimplySilk, is a resorbable barrier membrane sold to dental and cranio-maxillofacial surgeons across the DACH region under ISO 13485 and EU MDR-compliant manufacturing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fibrothelium industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Silk Fibroin Biomaterials and Bioresorbable Medical Devices
- NAICS
- Nonwoven Fabric Mills (31323)
- SIC
- Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodegradable Fibers & Nonwovens (industrial textiles, wipes) (IMAEAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Bio-based Textiles & Fibers (lyocell/viscose, cellulose filament, nonwovens) (IMAMALAK)
Keywords
Where Fibrothelium is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aachen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fibrothelium business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Medical Device Product Sales: Sale of finished medical products derived from silk fibroin, including the SimplySilk resorbable barrier membrane in various configurations (standard, barrier plus, with/without magnesium reinforcement) and sizes for dental and cranio-maxillofacial applications.
- Research and Development Services: Collaborative R&D services with industry and academic partners on tissue regeneration, scaffold development, and biomedical applications of silk fibroin. Company states openness to new application fields and technological development partnerships.
- Technology Licensing: The company has proprietary processes and technologies that could be licensed to other manufacturers. Core expertise in protected procedure for producing silk fibroin solutions without harmful solvents.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Fibrothelium product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fibrothelium develops and manufactures bioresorbable medical devices and biomaterials derived from silk fibroin protein, which it extracts from Bombyx mori silkworm cocoons via a proprietary, solvent-free process. Its flagship commercial product is the SimplySilk® bioresorbable barrier membrane used for guided bone regeneration in dental implant, periodontal, and cranio-maxillofacial procedures, sold alongside related fibroin forms (hydrogels, scaffolds, foams, films, fibers, and adhesives) and R&D services for biomedical and cosmeceutical applications.
Product overview
Fibrothelium GmbH is a technology start-up from RWTH Aachen specializing in protein solutions derived from natural silk. The company's product portfolio centers on its proprietary PureSilk® technology platform, which extracts silk fibroin from silkworm cocoons without harmful solvents. The core commercial product is the SimplySilk® membrane, a bioresorbable barrier membrane for dental, periodontal, and cranio-maxillo-facial applications. Supporting the main product are various fibroin-based intermediate forms including Fibroin Solution (the foundational raw material), Fibroin Hydrogel, Fibroin Scaffold (sponge), Fibroin Foam, Fibroin Film, Fibroin Fibers (non-woven textiles), and Fibroin Adhesive. These products are designed for medical technology applications including tissue regeneration, guided bone regeneration (GBR), and medical adhesives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SimplySilk: A bioresorbable barrier membrane product line for dental implant procedures, periodontal surgery, and cranio-maxillo-facial surgery applications, developed with proprietary PureSilk technology.
- PureSilk
Products and services
- SimplySilk® Membrane A bioresorbable barrier membrane made from silk fibroin (PureSilk® technology) used by dental surgeons, periodontists, and cranio-maxillofacial surgeons for guided bone regeneration (GBR), periodontal procedures, and cranio-maxillofacial reconstruction. Features a multi-layer design with a porous fleece-like outer layer and optional compact silk fibroin film core, including a magnesium-reinforced variant for extended barrier function.
- Fibroin-Lösung (Fibroin Solution) The foundational silk fibroin protein solution extracted from natural silkworm cocoons using a gentle, solvent-free dissolution process. Serves as the base material for all downstream fibroin products and can be applied as a breathable, water-permeable protective coating. Used as a raw material by the company and supplied to partners for further processing and applied research.
- Fibroin-Hydrogel (Fibroin Hydrogel) High-water-content silk fibroin hydrogel with adjustable rheological properties that can be functionalized to mimic natural tissue environments. Intended for 3D tissue engineering scaffolds, drug-delivery systems, and cosmetic formulations.
- Fibroin-Schwamm (Fibroin Scaffold / Sponge) Porous, sponge-like silk fibroin scaffolds suitable as self-expanding tissue replacement materials for surgical and dental soft and hard tissue regeneration. Can be functionalized with thrombogenic substances and varied between microporous and macroporous structures; designed to be placed into hard-to-access defects.
- Fibroin-Schaum (Fibroin Foam) Dimensionally stable foams produced by introducing gas into fibroin solution, suitable for plastic surgery applications as resorbable fillers to fill cavity defects and for emergency wound treatment as sprayable formulations in trauma care.
- Fibroin-Film (Fibroin Film) Transparent or cost-effective silk fibroin films produced via a casting process, available in various thicknesses and surface curvatures. Mechanically stable and flexible for applications including ophthalmology, surgical and dental uses, edible food coatings, and cosmetic face masks.
- Fibroin-Vlies (Fibroin Fibers / Non-woven Textile) Non-woven silk fibroin textiles produced via electrospinning with adjustable density, suitable as guided bone regeneration (GBR) membranes and as scaffolds for tubular vascular prosthesis and patch structures. Fiber diameter and density can be tuned to match in vivo cell-ingrowth behavior.
- Fibroin-Kleber (Fibroin Adhesive) Medical tissue adhesive derived from silk fibroin solution for wound and tissue closure. The adhesive degrades over time in line with wound healing, supporting new tissue formation and avoiding the need for subsequent suture removal.
Quantifiable outcome
- Elimination of pathogen transmission risk from animal tissue through use of silk protein from silkworm cocoons
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Fibrothelium
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fibrothelium technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Fibrothelium partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- RWTH Aachen UniversitycoreFibrothelium is a technology start-up spin-off from RWTH Aachen University. The company was founded based on research expertise in material development, materials science, and biomedical engineering developed at the university. The university serves as a key knowledge and talent source.
- FibroGraft Consortium (EFRE funded)majorPublicly funded research project evaluating silk fibroin composite systems for tissue regeneration. Involves development of scaffold structures for targeted differentiation of stem cells into fat, bone, and muscle tissue. Project follows ISO 13485 quality standards with EFRE (European Regional Development Fund) funding.
- FibroXpand Consortium (ZIM/BMWi funded)majorPublicly funded project developing self-expanding tissue replacement materials based on silk fibroin for hard and soft tissue regeneration in surgery. Includes biological functionalization for tailored bioactivity. Funded by the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).
- Universitätsklinikum AachenmajorUniversity hospital partner in the research network. Collaborates on biomedical applications and clinical validation of silk fibroin products in medical procedures.
- NRW Ministry for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and EnergymajorState government ministry supporting the company's development through funding programs and innovation initiatives in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Leitmarktagentur NRWmajorLead market agency supporting innovative companies in key industries in North Rhine-Westphalia, providing funding and network access for biomedical companies.
- BioTexminorNetwork partner in biotechnology sector, potentially providing collaborative opportunities in biomedical textiles and related applications.
- ITA (Institut für Textiltechnik)minorInstitute of Textile Technology partner, potentially collaborating on fibroin fiber and non-woven textile development for medical applications.
- UKE (Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf)minorUniversity medical center partner in the research network, contributing clinical expertise for biomedical applications.
- University of CologneminorAcademic partner in the research network, contributing to the collaborative development of silk fibroin applications.
- AiF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen)minorResearch association partner supporting industrial research collaborations and innovation funding programs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Fibrothelium competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Bolt Threads: US biotech that developed proprietary fermentation and processing of silk proteins for materials and applications. Comparable as a technology peer working on engineered silk proteins, though primarily focused on non-medical consumer/textile applications.
- Silk Biomaterials S.r.l. Italian research-stage company developing silk fibroin-based scaffolds, hydrogels, and medical materials for tissue engineering and regenerative applications. Direct technology peer at an earlier commercial stage, working on the same silk fibroin biomaterial platform for medical indications.
Broad incumbents
- DENTSPLY Sirona: US-listed global dental products major with regenerative consumables and implants alongside equipment and instruments. Comparable broad incumbent selling into dental practices and hospitals with adjacent regenerative product lines.
- Integra LifeSciences: US-listed broad regenerative medicine and neurosurgery medtech with collagen, dura, and soft-tissue regeneration products serving hospitals and specialty surgeons. Comparable as a broad incumbent in regenerative biomaterials with overlapping addressable use cases and biomaterial-based medical devices.
- Institut Straumann: Swiss global leader in dental implants and a growing regenerative portfolio (membranes, bone substitutes) sold through dental channels. Comparable broad incumbent serving the same dental and CMF surgeon customer base with GBR and regenerative products.
Direct peers
- botiss biomaterials: German dental regeneration specialist offering membranes, bone graft materials, and soft-tissue products for GBR/GTR. Closely comparable product portfolio and clinical use cases to Fibrothelium's fibroin-based dental and CMF offerings.
- Collagen Solutions: UK-based supplier of collagen-based medical device materials and finished products used in tissue repair, dental, and cardiovascular applications. Directly comparable as an animal-derived biomaterial medical device peer targeting similar regenerative indications.
- Geistlich Pharma: Swiss manufacturer of Bio-Gide, the leading collagen-based resorbable barrier membrane for guided bone regeneration (GBR) in dental and cranio-maxillofacial surgery. Directly competes with Fibrothelium's SimplySilk membrane in the same indication and customer segment.
- Evolved by Nature: US biotech producing activated silk fibroin proteins (including their silk-based medical and consumer materials platform) using proprietary, sustainable processes. Direct technology peer sharing the silk fibroin chemistry and platform approach to Fibrothelium's PureSilk technology.
- Datum Dental (OSSIX): Israeli manufacturer of OSSIX line of resorbable collagen membranes for dental GBR and periodontal surgery. Directly competes with SimplySilk on resorbable dental barrier membranes sold to dental and oral surgery practices.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fibrothelium social profiles
Digital presenceFibrothelium compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Fibrothelium financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fibrothelium leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Fibrothelium funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fibrothelium M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fibrothelium
What does Fibrothelium do?
Fibrothelium develops and manufactures bioresorbable medical devices and biomaterials derived from silk fibroin protein, which it extracts from Bombyx mori silkworm cocoons via a proprietary, solvent-free process. Its flagship commercial product is the SimplySilk® bioresorbable barrier membrane used for guided bone regeneration in dental implant, periodontal, and cranio-maxillofacial procedures, sold alongside related fibroin forms (hydrogels, scaffolds, foams, films, fibers, and adhesives) and R&D services for biomedical and cosmeceutical applications.
Is Fibrothelium a public or private company?
Fibrothelium is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Fibrothelium founded?
Fibrothelium was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fibrothelium based?
Fibrothelium is headquartered in Aachen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Fibrothelium make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Medical Device Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are research and Development Services and technology Licensing.
Who are Fibrothelium's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Bolt Threads and Silk Biomaterials S.r.l.. Broad incumbents are DENTSPLY Sirona, Integra LifeSciences and Institut Straumann. Direct peers are botiss biomaterials, Collagen Solutions, Geistlich Pharma, Evolved by Nature and Datum Dental (OSSIX).
Does Fibrothelium have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fibrothelium.
What industry is Fibrothelium in?
Fibrothelium's product category is Silk Fibroin Biomaterials and Bioresorbable Medical Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAOAG, Biodegradable Fibers & Nonwovens (industrial textiles, wipes), with a secondary code of IMAMALAK, Bio-based Textiles & Fibers (lyocell/viscose, cellulose filament, nonwovens). Its NAICS code is 31323 and its SIC code is 2221.