A method for isolating biomolecules from a fixed biological specimen embedded in paraffin, comprises the steps of bringing the specimen into contact a) with a solvent non-miscible with water and dissolving the paraffin in this solvent such as to form a liquid organic phase, and b) with an aqueous solution of at least one lysis substance and/or with water and at least one lysis substance such as to form an aqueous phase; isolation of the biomolecules from the aqueous phase. The invention further relates to a corresponding kit as well as to the use of such a kit for isolating biomolecules.