Applyo Jena Closes Successful Series A Funding Round

Image Credit: Adobe Stock Images/Ольга Васильева

Applyo Jena, a Germany-based innovator in freeze-drying technology, has secured Series A funding led by Bosch Ventures, with participation from LBBW VC. According to Bosch Ventures, the funding will support the company's efforts in optimizing drug formulation and delivery systems through precision medicine and biopharmaceutical innovation. The company also stated that the technology offers significant advantages over traditional liquid reagents.¹

“Diagnostics are increasingly shifting to the point of care and even towards home testing, enabling faster, more accessible, and patient-centric solutions that enhance early detection and treatment efficiency. Applyo’s pioneering approach opens exciting opportunities for providers of point of care systems to transport and store sensitive reagents and enzymes without continuous cool chains and therefore enabling more sustainable supply chains,” said Ingo Ramesohl, managing director, Bosch Ventures, in a press release.

The technology relies heavily on lyophilization, also known as freeze-drying. The company has developed lyophilized reagents and enzymes, which it calls lyo beads, which are created through lyophilization. For most processes, liquid nitrogen is required; however, Applyo Jena stated that their process eliminates this need by creating lyo beads with homogenous quality.¹

Applyo Jena added that currently, its proprietary technology has the ability to produce approximately 120,000 lyo beads per day. The company’s overall goal is to be able to produce two million lyo beads per batch and day. In order to achieve this, Applyo Jena is currently working on an additional lyophilization-production technology, with a patent in progress.

Compared to a conventional freeze-drying approach, Applyo stated that this process is much less expensive because it is mechanically stable, uses no plastic consumables, allows for the ability to fully control freeze-drying parameters, and offers a high range of bead size and volume. Additionally, conventional approaches also risk contamination by liquid nitrogen and low temperature stress-induced micro-cracks of PCR reaction tubes.²

"After relocation to our new laboratory, the funding from Bosch Ventures and LBBW VC now opens the door to bring our innovative lyophilized reagent solutions to a broader global market." Apart from internationalization and further expansion of the global distribution network, Applyo Jena will use the Series A funding round to enter new markets such as pharmaceuticals, meeting the global demand for stable, ready-to-use reagents in diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences,” said Hanno Hermann, co-founder, Applyo Jena, in the press release.

References

1. Applyo Jena secures Series A funding round led by Bosch Ventures. Bosch. February 18, 2025. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://us.bosch-press.com/pressportal/us/en/press-release-26944.html

2. Our Technology. Applyo Jena. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.applyo-jena.com/en/technology/