Bruker Acquires Majority Stake in RECIPE for Drug Monitoring Assays
Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR) has announced a strategic majority investment in RECIPE Chemicals + Instruments GmbH, a well-established provider of clinical diagnostic kits for mass spectrometry-based assays. Based in Munich, Germany, RECIPE brings over four decades of expertise in developing vendor-agnostic in vitro diagnostic kits for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and other clinical applications. This investment marks a significant step forward in Bruker’s strategy to strengthen its position in the growing field of small molecule diagnostics and high-throughput clinical testing.
Although financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed, RECIPE will continue operating independently under the leadership of Managing Director Dr. Gernot Wolfram. The company employs more than 60 professionals and reported over $15 million in revenue for 2024, reflecting a long-standing reputation for innovation, profitability, and quality in the European diagnostics market.
Enhancing Bruker’s Clinical Assay Portfolio
RECIPE’s ClinMASS® kits are designed for use with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). These kits are vendor-neutral and widely adopted across Europe for clinical applications like therapeutic drug monitoring.
Through this acquisition, Bruker gains immediate access to RECIPE’s established ClinMASS® assays, optimized for use on Bruker’s EVOQ® triple-quadrupole LC-MS systems, as well as those from other vendors. This significantly boosts Bruker’s clinical diagnostics offering, particularly in the area of small molecule detection.
But the collaboration goes further. Bruker and RECIPE are preparing to launch next-generation, chromatography-free (“chrom-free”) ClinDART® kits, which will run on Bruker’s EVOQ-DART TQ⁺ systems. These systems offer unique flexibility—easily switching between traditional LC-MS workflows and the new high-throughput ClinDART® methods.
Revolutionizing Throughput with Chrom-Free Mass Spectrometry
The ClinDART® platform represents a breakthrough in high-throughput clinical diagnostics. By eliminating the chromatography step, ClinDART enables faster assay turnaround while preserving the accuracy and sensitivity of traditional LC-MS/MS methods. The EVOQ-DART TQ⁺ uses direct analysis in real time (DART®) ionization technology, which allows for efficient, multiplexed sample analysis with minimal sample preparation.
One of the standout benefits of this technology is its dramatic reduction in solvent usage—by up to 95%, improving both the environmental footprint and the cost-efficiency of clinical lab operations. ClinDART® workflows also help increase lab productivity and reduce time-to-market for new diagnostic panels, particularly in areas like drugs of abuse screening and therapeutic drug monitoring.
Leadership Perspectives
Dr. Gernot Wolfram, Managing Director at RECIPE, emphasized the importance of this collaboration:
“Bruker’s majority investment in RECIPE and our planned joint introduction of high-throughput ClinDART® assays represents a significant advancement in clinical mass spectrometry. Our collaboration will provide clinical laboratories with powerful new tools that complement our well-regarded ClinMASS® workflows. The added value of ClinDART methods lies in their ability to reduce operating costs while accelerating diagnostic development and adoption.”
Bruker executives echoed the enthusiasm. Jeffrey Zonderman, Senior Vice President of Bruker Applied Mass Spectrometry, said:
“We are excited to welcome RECIPE to the Bruker family. This investment aligns with our strategic vision to lead in LC-TQ-MS-based clinical research and diagnostics. The combination of ClinMASS and chrom-free ClinDART® assays on the EVOQ DART-TQ⁺ platform will offer unmatched flexibility, speed, and cost-effectiveness.”
Juergen Srega, President of Bruker’s CALID Group, added:
“As triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry becomes increasingly vital in clinical diagnostics, our partnership with RECIPE is pivotal. We aim to democratize high-throughput, efficient, and sensitive TQ-MS assays for TDM and toxicology screening, ultimately improving diagnostic access and lab efficiency worldwide.”
A Shared Vision for the Future of Diagnostics
Together, Bruker and RECIPE are setting the stage for a new era of precision diagnostics in clinical laboratories. By combining RECIPE’s deep experience in regulatory-compliant assay development with Bruker’s hardware innovation and global reach, the companies plan to accelerate the adoption of next-gen workflows that address critical needs in healthcare: speed, sensitivity, sustainability, and scalability.
As these chrom-free and LC-MS hybrid solutions roll out, clinical labs will gain more options for customizing workflows based on throughput needs, regulatory requirements, and assay complexity—without compromising analytical performance.
About Bruker Corporation
Bruker is a global leader in scientific instrumentation and diagnostics, empowering researchers and clinicians to explore life and materials at molecular, cellular, and microscopic levels. Its product portfolio includes high-performance tools for molecular biology, biopharma, advanced microscopy, clinical phenomics, proteomics, and more. Bruker supports scientific advancement across fields such as life science research, clinical diagnostics, cleantech, and semiconductor development for AI applications.
