LIONEX GMBH

Their core work

LIONEX is a German biotech SME specializing in tuberculosis diagnostics, antigens, and reagents for infectious disease research. Based in Braunschweig, they contribute proprietary biological materials and assay expertise to EU-funded consortia developing new TB vaccines, diagnostics, and host-directed therapies. Their work spans from antigen production for vaccine candidates to biomarker-based tools for stratified treatment approaches against drug-resistant infections.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

LIONEX began its H2020 participation with a focused role in mucosal immunity to tuberculosis (EMI-TB, 2015), likely supplying antigens and diagnostic reagents. From 2019 onward, they broadened considerably — joining a vaccine training network covering antimicrobial resistant bacteria beyond TB (BactiVax) and entering stratified medicine with biomarker-driven treatment prediction (SMA-TB). The trajectory shows a clear expansion from pure TB diagnostics toward broader infectious disease vaccinology and personalized treatment approaches.

LIONEX is moving from a TB-only niche toward broader antimicrobial resistance and personalized infectious disease treatment, making them increasingly relevant for AMR and precision medicine consortia.

How they like to work

LIONEX operates exclusively as a consortium participant, never leading projects — consistent with an SME that provides specialized materials and technical services rather than driving research agendas. With 30 unique partners across 16 countries from just 3 projects, they integrate into large, internationally diverse consortia. This profile suggests a reliable specialist contributor that research groups seek out for specific technical capabilities rather than strategic leadership.

Despite only 3 projects, LIONEX has built a broad network of 30 partners spanning 16 countries, reflecting participation in large multi-national consortia. Their reach is pan-European with no evident geographic concentration.

What sets them apart

LIONEX occupies a rare niche as an SME that bridges TB diagnostics and vaccine development with commercial-grade antigen and reagent production. Few small companies combine deep tuberculosis expertise with the capacity to contribute to both vaccine design and biomarker-driven stratified medicine. For consortium builders, they offer a private-sector partner that can supply biological materials and assay services without the overhead of a large pharma company.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EMI-TB
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 408,350) and LIONEX's entry into H2020, focused on mucosal immunity approaches to TB vaccination.
• BactiVax
  An MSCA training network that expanded LIONEX's scope beyond TB to ESKAPE organisms and broader vaccine development, combining research with entrepreneurship training.
• SMA-TB
  Represents LIONEX's pivot toward precision medicine, using systems biology and biomarkers to predict host-directed therapy responses in TB patients.