Stiftung Aktion Knochenmarkspende Bayern

What Stiftung Aktion Knochenmarkspende Bayern does

Stiftung Aktion Knochenmarkspende Bayern (AKB) is a non-profit foundation (Stiftung) founded in 1993 and headquartered in Gauting, Bavaria, Germany, operating one of Germany's 26 stem cell donor registries. AKB recruits voluntary stem cell donors aged 17-45 through a multi-channel model: community Typisierungsaktionen (registration drives) across Bavaria, an online Lebensretterset cheek-swab self-serve portal, a nationwide club challenge (#vereintgegenleukaemie) with 288 participating associations, and co-registration during routine blood donation appointments at the ~4,500 annual Blutspendedienst des Bayerischen Roten Kreuzes (BRK) events. Donor registrations are HLA-typed in AKB's own laboratory and pseudonymized into the central ZKRD registry in Ulm for global availability. AKB is differentiated as the only German stem cell registry that performs all processes under one roof with its own physicians — donor recruitment, in-house HLA tissue typing, donor suitability testing, and stem cell collection.

The technical core is molecular-genetic HLA tissue typing (HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1, -DPB1, blood group, CMV status) performed in-house on DNA extracted from cheek swabs or blood samples, plus peripheral blood stem cell apheresis (~90% of cases), surgical bone marrow harvest (~10% of cases), confirmatory typing, and stem cell product manufacturing by subsidiary Bayerische Stammzellbank gGmbH (BSB), all co-located on the Asklepios-Klinik Gauting campus. AKB's cord blood bank (Nabelschnurblutbank) provides an alternative graft source for patients lacking matched unrelated donors. The foundation holds the full German/European regulatory stack — JACIE, ZKRD/WMDA (through 2028-2029), Paul-Ehrlich-Institut pharmaceutical approvals, Government of Upper Bavaria manufacturing license, GMP certification (renewed October 2025), and EBMT membership — enabling it to function as both a registry and a licensed cellular-therapy manufacturer. Stem cell products are couriered internationally to transplant centers within 48 hours of collection.

AKB operates a hybrid revenue model consistent with its non-profit status: (1) charitable donations from individuals, corporations (BMW, Audi, REWE, Bayernwerk, Lions, Sternstunden, Fernsehlotterie, Kinderkrebsstiftung Schickedanz, etc.), and foundations cover the €35-per-new-registration cost not reimbursed by state or health insurance; (2) stem cell product fees are earned by the BSB subsidiary for cellular therapy products distributed to transplant centers worldwide via the ZKRD network. AKB is patroned by Ilse Aigner, President of the Bavarian State Parliament. Leadership is exercised by sole executive board member Dr. Hans Knabe. The foundation has facilitated over 7,000 stem cell donations to leukemia patients worldwide from its ~350,000-donor registry (the third-largest in Germany), addressing a German incidence of approximately 14,000 new leukemia and blood-system-disease cases per year.

Name

Stiftung Aktion Knochenmarkspende Bayern

Legal name

Stiftung Aktion Knochenmarkspende Bayern e.S.

Website

https://akb.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stiftung Aktion Knochenmarkspende Bayern (AKB) is a Bavarian non-profit foundation operating Germany's third-largest stem cell donor registry (~350,000 donors) and the only German registry with fully integrated in-house HLA typing, donor collection, and stem cell product manufacturing, serving leukemia patients worldwide via the ZKRD global network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Stem Cell Donor Registry Services

NAICS

Blood and Organ Banks (621991), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation Organizations (BPAGACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplant (BMT/HSCT) (HLAKAFAI), Transfusion Medicine & Immunohematology (Blood Bank) (HLAFAMAG), Cell Therapy Developers (Allogeneic/Off-the-shelf) (HLAAABAB)

Keywords

• Stem cell donor registry
• Hla tissue typing
• Bone marrow donation
• Leukemia patient support
• Cord blood banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Gauting

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: AKB is a charitable foundation (Stiftung) that relies primarily on monetary donations from individuals, companies, associations, and charitable foundations to fund its operations. Each new donor registration costs €35, which is not fully covered by government or health insurance and must be substantially financed through donations.
2. Stem Cell Product Fees (via Bayerische Stammzellbank gGmbH): The subsidiary Bayerische Stammzellbank gGmbH manufactures stem cell products (peripheral blood stem cells, bone marrow, cord blood) for transplanting into patients. These products are distributed to transplant centers globally, generating revenue for the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Stiftung Aktion Knochenmarkspende Bayern (AKB) operates an integrated stem cell donor registry, recruiting voluntary donors, performing HLA tissue typing in its own laboratory, conducting stem cell collection (peripheral blood apheresis and bone marrow harvest), and manufacturing stem cell products via its wholly-owned subsidiary Bayerische Stammzellbank gGmbH for transplant centers worldwide.

Product overview

Stiftung Aktion Knochenmarkspende Bayern (AKB) operates as an integrated stem cell donor registry and collection center, offering a unified platform for registering potential donors, performing tissue typing, coordinating donations, and delivering stem cell preparations to transplant centers worldwide. The core offering comprises the Stem Cell Donor Registry of approximately 350,000 registered donors, an in-house HLA laboratory for molecular genetic tissue typing, and the Bayerische Stammzellbank gGmbH subsidiary that performs peripheral blood stem cell apheresis and bone marrow collection under one roof. AKB provides two stem cell donation methods: peripheral blood stem cell donation (approximately 90% of cases, using apheresis) and bone marrow donation (approximately 10%, surgical extraction under anesthesia). The product portfolio includes the free Lebensretterset (life-saving kit) for at-home cheek swab registration, online registration portal, confirmatory typing services, a cord blood bank, and public typing campaigns conducted in partnership with the Bavarian Red Cross blood donation service. AKB distinguishes itself as the only German stem cell registry that performs all processes—donor search, eligibility testing, stem cell collection, and post-donation follow-up—using its own physicians and staff in a single facility in Gauting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 7,000 successful stem cell donations facilitated
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stiftung Knochenmark- & Stammzellspende Deutschland (SKD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSKD is a nationwide network of cooperating stem cell donor registries managed by 24 member databases. AKB is a member of SKD, which represents members' interests vis-à-vis politics, public administration, health insurance funds, and the public. SKD also supports patients by advocating for faster donor matching across Germany.
• Blutspendedienst des Bayerischen Roten Kreuzes (BSD BRK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe BRK Blood Service conducts ~4,500 blood donation appointments/year across Bavaria. AKB partners with the BSD to allow blood donors to simultaneously register as stem cell donors using a single additional blood tube. The BSD also hosts AKB's peripheral blood stem cell apheresis collections at its Munich facility (Herzog-Heinrich-Str. 4).
• Kreisverbände des Bayerischen Roten Kreuzes (BRK)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional BRK chapters across Bavaria support AKB by organizing joint Typisierungsaktionen, distributing Lebensrettersets, and promoting donor registration at community events. The BRK Kreisverband Eichstätt, for example, co-organized the Nico Eichstätt registration drive in 2025–2026.
• ZKRD – Zentrales Knochenmarkspenderregister Deutschland (Ulm)coreTechnology or IntegrationZKRD in Ulm is the central German bone marrow donor registry. All 26 German registries (including AKB) report their donor data pseudonymized to ZKRD, which connects to the global search network. This integration means every AKB donor is available to transplant centers worldwide.
• Asklepios-Klinik GautingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAKB and the Bayerische Stammzellbank gGmbH are co-located on the campus of Asklepios-Klinik Gauting, facilitating seamless coordination for donor examinations and patient care. The S-Bahn S6 line connects the site to central Munich.
• Leukämiehilfe München, Leukämiehilfe Passau, Leukämiehilfe OstbayernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional leukemia patient aid organizations (Leukämiehilfe München, Passau, Ostbayern) are listed as partners and supporters of AKB, co-promoting donor registration campaigns and patient awareness.
• Gemeinnützige Stiftung 'Geben für Leben' (Austria)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGeben für Leben is an Austrian charitable foundation that partners with AKB on donor recruitment and awareness campaigns.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Others

• Petersburger Stammzellbank / NMDP-affiliated cord blood banks: Network of accredited cord blood banks comparable to AKB's Nabelschnurblutbank. Comparable as an alternative-donor source segment competing for transplant center demand.
• World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA): Global standards body that accredits stem cell donor registries. AKB holds WMDA accreditation; WMDA is an ecosystem enabler rather than a competitor, but its standards shape AKB's regulatory roadmap.
• Zentrales Knochenmarkspenderregister Deutschland (ZKRD): Central German registry that aggregates donor data from all 26 German registries including AKB. Functions as a hub/infrastructure provider rather than a direct recruiter, but is the critical match-routing layer through which AKB's donors reach patients worldwide.

Broad incumbents

• National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) / Be The Match: The largest US-based stem cell donor registry and cord blood bank, operating a fully integrated registry, collection, and transplant coordination model. Comparable to AKB in scope (registry + manufacturing + international distribution) and is a global exchange partner via ZKRD/WMDA.

Direct peers

• Anthony Nolan: UK-based charity operating a stem cell donor registry, cord blood bank, and transplant services. Direct peer with similar integrated registry-to-transplant model and UK/allogeneic donor demographics.
• Stefan-Morsch-Stiftung: One of Germany's other leading stem cell donor registries, explicitly named in AKB's competitive landscape. Operates a similar donor recruitment and HLA typing model and feeds into the ZKRD network.
• DKMS Group: The world's largest stem cell donor registry with ~12M registered donors, operating in Germany and globally. Direct peer to AKB with the same core mission of recruiting HLA-typed donors and providing stem cell products to transplant centers; competes for both donors and transplant center customers in Germany.

Emerging players

• Stiftung Knochenmark- & Stammzellspende Deutschland (SKD): National umbrella network of 24 cooperating German stem cell donor registries, including AKB. Provides advocacy and coordination; comparable as a peer ecosystem layer rather than a direct collection competitor.

Regional players

• Stiftung Knochenmarkspende Schweiz (BloodStemCells.ch): Swiss stem cell donor registry operating in a German-speaking neighboring region with a similar integrated recruitment, HLA typing, and collection model. Comparable peer but primarily serves Switzerland.
• Canadian Blood Services (Stem Cell Registry): Operates Canada's national stem cell donor registry and cord blood bank under a publicly-funded model. Comparable registry + cord blood + manufacturing operations, but primarily serves Canadian patients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@stiftung_akb
• Facebookfacebook.com/AktionKnochenmarkspendeBayern
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-aktion-knochenmarkspende-bayern
• Instagraminstagram.com/stiftung_akb
• TikToktiktok.com/@stiftung_akb

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stiftung Aktion Knochenmarkspende Bayern