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Lonza

MaterialsBasel, Switzerland· One of 961 Materials companies tracked by AMPulse

Provides cells, media, and reagents integrated into 3D bioprinting workflows for advanced cell culture and tissue constructs, enabling pharmaceutical and biotech research.

CEO / Founder
Wolfgang Wienand
Team Size
10000+
Stage
Public
Total Funding
Publicly Traded
Latest Round
IPO
Key Investors
BlackRock, Inc.; UBS Fund Management (Switzerland) AG

Technology & Products

Key Products

Primary cells; Cell culture media; Bioinks; Reagents for 3D cell culture

Technological Advantage

Proprietary cell lines and media formulations optimized for 3D bioprinting applications, protected by trade secrets and manufacturing know-how; partnerships with bioprinting hardware companies create ecosystem lock-in.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Accelerates drug discovery and tissue engineering by supplying validated biological materials that reduce development timelines by 30-50% and improve reproducibility in 3D bioprinted models.

How They Differentiate

Unlike general lab suppliers, Lonza offers specialized materials validated specifically for 3D bioprinting workflows, with 40% higher cell viability in printed constructs compared to standard alternatives.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, academic research institutions

Industry Verticals

Pharmaceutical; Biotechnology; Medical Research

Competitors

Thermo Fisher Scientific; Merck KGaA; STEMCELL Technologies

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

2023 sales CHF 6.7 billion (7.9% AER growth); 2025 sales CHF 6.5 billion; approximately 14,500 employees globally.

Major Milestones

Founded 1897; Listed on SIX Swiss Exchange; 2025 Vacaville acquisition ($1.2B); Partnerships with CELLINK and Allevi for 3D bioprinting

Notable Customers

Vertex

https://www.lonza.com

Why this company matters

Lonza occupies a distinct position in additive manufacturing as a materials supplier whose biological products are specifically validated for 3D bioprinting workflows. Unlike general lab suppliers, Lonza offers primary cells, cell culture media, bioinks, and reagents optimized for extrusion-based bioprinting (MEX), with claims of 40% higher cell viability in printed constructs compared to standard alternatives. This integration of validated biological materials with bioprinting systems creates complete workflows for complex tissue models, leveraging over 125 years of cell biology expertise.

The company's core technology centers on proprietary cell lines and media formulations protected by trade secrets and manufacturing know-how. Lonza's partnerships with bioprinting hardware companies such as CELLINK/BICO and Allevi create ecosystem lock-in, as its materials are designed to work seamlessly with those platforms. Target customers include pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and academic research institutions, with Vertex named as a notable customer.

Lonza's strategic moat lies in its established reputation in cell biology and its ability to supply validated, reproducible biological materials that reduce development timelines. However, it faces competition from Thermo Fisher Scientific, Merck KGaA, and STEMCELL Technologies, which also supply cell culture products but may lack the same level of bioprinting-specific validation. The open question is whether Lonza can maintain its ecosystem advantage as bioprinting hardware standards evolve and new entrants offer specialized bioinks.