TBA

What TBA does

TBA Co., Ltd. (Tohoku Bio Array / 株式会社TBA) is a privately held Japanese biotechnology company founded in July 2013 in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, to commercialize the STH (Single-stranded Tag Hybridization) genetic testing method developed at Tohoku University. The company's core product is the C-PAS (Printed Array Strip) nucleic-acid chromatography strip — a nitrocellulose-membrane-based lateral-flow assay that enables multiplex (up to 12-plex), visual, equipment-light genetic testing without gel electrophoresis. Built around a granted basic STH patent (2015) and a follow-on pending patent application (2016), the platform delivers roughly 10x higher sensitivity than conventional gel electrophoresis and a visual blue-line readout in approximately 10 minutes post-amplification. Extensions include the PAS Sealing Cassette (Nov 2022), a closed-system consumable that accepts PCR tubes without opening them, and the iso-PAS Working Cassette (Jan 2024), which integrates isothermal amplification with detection to eliminate the need for a thermal cycler.

TBA operates as an upstream B2B OEM supplier rather than a kit seller. It manufactures and sells C-PAS4, C-PAS8, C-PAS12 strips (minimum order 100 tests, unit pricing on inquiry), custom/OEM PAS printing, and contracted R&D services (typically ~3 million yen per project over ~3 months) to diagnostic kit manufacturers and research institutions. Branded kit-maker partners — Kurabo (GENE-Field), AMR (Easy Chromat), Fasmac (GenCheck Amaou), Guangzhou Biotron (China), AVSS, DNA Chip Research, and Mebiphar JSC (Vietnam) — integrate TBA's strips into finished kits for food safety (meat species, hair contamination, EHEC/SS), agriculture (cultivar identification), and human health (TB drug resistance, dengue, COVID-19/influenza, carbapenemase genes, mpox). Royalty for the STH method is bundled into the C-PAS unit price when TBA-manufactured PAS is used.

Commercially, TBA relies on inquiry-led direct sales, on-site technical training at its T-Biz facility (Tohoku University), and an aggressive international trade-show circuit (BioJapan, Medical Fair Thailand/Asia, Hospital Expo Indonesia, GITEX Africa, TICAD9), supported by JETRO, JICA, GHIT Fund, and other public-sector programs. The company has secured recurring grants and awards — including a USD 460,000 GHIT Fund investment (Dec 2025) for a prototype mpox detection test with NIPRO, JIHS, PATH, and INBR (DRC) — and is led by President/CEO Dr. Mitsuo Kawase (STH inventor and Tohoku University professor) and Chairman Tadahiko Inukai. As of the latest disclosed data, paid-in capital stands at 65 million yen, headcount is in the 11–50 range, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

TBA

Legal name

株式会社TBA (TBA Co., Ltd. / Tohoku Bio Array)

Website

https://t-bioarray.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TBA Co., Ltd. (Tohoku Bio Array) is a Sendai-based biotech company that develops and supplies C-PAS nucleic-acid chromatography strips using its patented STH method, enabling multiplex visual genetic testing without gel electrophoresis or thermal cyclers for OEM diagnostic kit makers and research institutions worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Molecular Diagnostics Components

NAICS

In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Trial Material (CTM) Manufacturing & Supply CDMO (HLAGABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Companion Diagnostics (CDx) Development & Commercialization (HLAAANAC)

Keywords

• Nucleic acid chromatography
• Genetic test strips
• Lateral flow diagnostics
• Isothermal amplification kits
• OEM diagnostic components

Headquarters

HQ city

Sendai

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. B2B sale of C-PAS strips (C-PAS4/8/12): Core revenue stream — TBA manufactures and sells its proprietary C-PAS nucleic-acid chromatography strips in standard 4/8/12-plex configurations to kit manufacturers and research institutions. Lead time approximately 1 week; minimum order 100 tests.
2. Contracted / outsourced genetic test kit R&D services: Fee-for-service R&D — TBA accepts outsourced kit development from clients who lack internal staff or need faster commercialization; typical engagement ~3 months, ~3 million yen per target gene set (multiple targets in multiplex).
3. Custom / OEM PAS printing: Custom PAS manufacturing to customer specifications, including OEM printing services, in addition to standard C-PAS4/8/12 products.
4. Patent royalty bundled into C-PAS pricing: Royalty for use of the STH method is included in the C-PAS unit price when customers use TBA-manufactured PAS; royalty owed only if a third-party PAS is used.
5. Research grants (GHIT Fund, JETRO, NEDO, JICA, Mitsubishi UFJ, Miyagi Prefecture, etc.): Multiple non-dilutive and dilutive grants and subsidies fund R&D projects, including a ~$460,000 (¥70 million) GHIT Fund award for mpox detection test prototype development with NIPRO, JIHS, PATH, and INBR.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TBA develops, manufactures, and sells proprietary nucleic acid chromatography strips (C-PAS4/8/12) and integrated cassettes (PAS Sealing Cassette, iso-PAS Working Cassette) that enable visual, equipment-light, multiplex genetic testing based on its patented STH (Single-stranded Tag Hybridization) method. The company supplies these strips to diagnostic kit manufacturers as OEM components and also offers contract R&D services for custom genetic test kit development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• C-PAS: TBA's core product line of nucleic acid chromatography strips for genetic testing, available in 3 variants: C-PAS4 (4 genes), C-PAS8 (8 genes), and C-PAS12 (12 genes); also offered as custom OEM printing.
• PAS Sealing Cassette
• iso-PAS Working Cassette
• Gene Inspec

Products and services

• C-PAS4
• C-PAS8
• C-PAS12
• Custom / OEM PAS printing
• PAS Sealing Cassette (PASシーリングカセット)
• iso-PAS Working Cassette (iso-PASワーキングカセット)
• Gene Inspec Meat
• Gene Inspec Hair10
• Gene Inspec EHEC/SS
• Contracted R&D / Outsourced Genetic Test Kit Development

Quantifiable outcome

• Detection sensitivity approximately 10x higher than conventional gel electrophoresis depending on target
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NIPRO Corporation (ニプロ株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese medical device and pharmaceutical company partnering with TBA, JIHS, PATH, and INBR on the GHIT Fund-funded mpox detection test prototype project (announced Dec 2025).
• Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS / 国立健康危機管理研究機構)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese national health security institute collaborating with TBA on the GHIT Fund mpox detection test prototype (announced Dec 2025).
• PATH (USA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based global health non-profit collaborating with TBA, NIPRO, JIHS, and INBR on the GHIT Fund mpox detection test prototype (announced Dec 2025).
• INBR (Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Democratic Republic of the Congo)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCongolese national biomedical research institute partnering with TBA on the GHIT Fund mpox detection test prototype, providing in-country field-validation expertise in DRC (announced Dec 2025).
• Guangzhou Biotron Technology Co., Ltd. (中国・広州)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvested in TBA via third-party allotment on May 23, 2019 (¥37.5M); co-developed COVID-19/Influenza simultaneous testing kit and STD/TB/respiratory infectious disease kits using C-PAS, targeting 2020 sales launch in China.
• Kurabo Industries Co., Ltd. (倉敷紡績株式会社)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed TBA's STH-PAS technology to produce "GENE-Field" branded genetic testing products for the Japanese market.
• AMR Co., Ltd. (エーエムアール株式会社)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed TBA's STH-PAS technology to produce "Easy Chromat" (イージークロマト) branded genetic testing products.
• Mebiphar JSC (Vietnam)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVietnamese pharmaceutical partner based in Ho Chi Minh City; co-conducted clinical trials of TBA's dengue fever genetic testing kit in Vietnam (results published via Nikkei March 2019); targeted dengue-season commercial launch. TBA also co-exhibited with Mebiphar at Medical Fair Thailand 2019.
• Fasmac Co., Ltd. (株式会社ファスマック)majorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLaunched "GenCheck® Amaou" strawberry cultivar identification kit (November 2017) using TBA's C-PAS; uses receptacle, calyx, or leaf to rapidly identify Amaou (Fukuoka S6) strawberries.
• AVSS Co., Ltd. (株式会社AVSS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese partner developing livestock-related diagnostic kits (mastitis detection) using TBA's C-PAS; co-referenced in multiple Japanese newspaper articles (Nikkei Tohoku Oct 2016, Nikkei Kanto Aug 2016, Ryukyu Shimpo Oct 2016).
• DNA Chip Research Inc. (株式会社DNAチップ研究所)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner referenced alongside TBA in Japanese newspaper articles (Nikkei Kanto Aug 2016) covering DNA chip and genetic testing collaboration.
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization / 日本貿易振興機構)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSelected TBA for the Japan Tech Africa Challenge (April 2024); supported TBA's participation in TICAD9 (August 2025) in Yokohama; published regional analysis report featuring TBA (June 2025); TBA spoke at the Japan-Mekong Business Forum (October 2018); prior JETRO support enabled the Vietnam dengue clinical trials.
• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJICA Private-Sector Partnership program; TBA's halal-meat fraud detection kit project in Thailand was featured in JICA Tohoku reports (February 2022), and covered by Kahoku Shimpo and other regional papers.
• NGK Insulators, Ltd. (日本ガイシ株式会社)coreTechnology or IntegrationLicense agreement (Aug 26, 2013) covering patents, trademarks, and equipment lending to TBA — foundational IP rights enabling TBA's spin-out and PAS manufacturing operations.
• Osaka University (carbapenemase gene detection research)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor at Osaka University developed a carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) genetic detection method using TBA's C-PAS strip (results: 93.3% sensitivity, 99.1% specificity; published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, June 2017, Vol 61, Issue 6, e00067-17).
• Teikyo University (Prof. Koichi Suzuki) and Keio University (Prof. Kaoru Mikita) — Buruli ulcer researchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch groups at Teikyo University and Keio University are using TBA's C-PAS to develop a genetic detection test for the Buruli ulcer pathogen (Mycobacterium ulcerans) prevalent in Africa.
• IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd. (Bangkok, Thailand)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-produced TBA's webinars for Medlab Asia 2020 and 2021; partnered on TBA's virtual exhibition at Medlab Asia 2020 Virtual Edition.
• Tohoku University (東北大学) — T-Biz Business IncubatorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBA's headquarters and PAS manufacturing are housed at T-Biz (Tohoku University Collaborative Entrepreneur Development Facility) Rooms 306/307 on the Tohoku University Aramaki campus. President Dr. Mitsuo Kawase is concurrently a professor at Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering — the source of the STH invention.
• Sendai City / Ashisuta (アシ☆スタ)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSendai City's Ashisuta program promoted TBA through its Business Grand Prix 2017 (Excellence Award) and overseas-expansion newsletter featuring sales manager Hitoshi Sakurada.
• Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan (SME / 中小機構)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured TBA in its Business Incubator Progress Reports; operated the J-GoodTech matching site where TBA was featured as a success case for overseas sales partner matching; supported TBA's booth at BioJapan.
• Surabaya Institute of Technology (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Indonesia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndonesian academic researchers visited TBA in July 2023 for facility tour and technical briefing on C-PAS products.
• Indonesian T-GoodTech (Thai Ministry of Industry) and Thailand-based business matching sitesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTBA listed on Thailand Ministry of Industry's T-GoodTech business matching site (March 2022) to support Thai distribution and partner matching.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Mebiphar JSC: Vietnamese pharmaceutical and diagnostics company that partnered with TBA on dengue genetic-testing clinical trials. Comparable as an OEM kit-maker integrating C-PAS into its regional infectious-disease diagnostic products, but operating primarily in Southeast Asia rather than globally.

Direct peers

• Abingdon Health plc: UK-based lateral-flow assay contract developer and OEM manufacturer. Comparable to TBA as a focused lateral-flow/visual detection CDMO serving diagnostic and food-safety OEMs — TBA's C-PAS is the Japanese analog in technology architecture and OEM business model.
• Takara Bio Inc. Japanese molecular biology tools and gene-detection reagent provider offering PCR-based diagnostic kits and research reagents. Comparable to TBA as a Japan-headquartered nucleic acid detection technology platform serving both research and clinical customers.
• Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd. Japanese in-vitro diagnostics company that commercializes LAMP-based isothermal nucleic acid amplification tests. Most comparable to TBA as a Japan-based developer of visual, equipment-light genetic testing platforms serving infectious disease and food-safety end markets.
• Denka Company Limited (Diagnostics): Japanese chemical and diagnostics manufacturer producing IVD kits including infectious-disease rapid tests. Comparable to TBA as a Japan-based IVD developer supplying diagnostic kits to clinical and veterinary end markets in Asia.
• Toyobo Co., Ltd. (Diagnostics & Life Science): Japanese biotech and diagnostics company with nucleic-acid testing reagents and diagnostic kits. Comparable to TBA as a Japanese OEM of molecular diagnostic components and test kits, with overlapping customer base in clinical and food-safety labs.

Broad incumbents

• Sysmex Corporation: Global Japanese in-vitro diagnostics and life-science instruments leader with broad PCR and molecular diagnostic offerings. Comparable to TBA as a Japan-headquartered diagnostics company targeting clinical genetic testing, but at vastly larger scale and product breadth.
• OraSure Technologies, Inc. US point-of-care diagnostics company (OraQuick, DNA Genotek) developing rapid visual tests. Comparable to TBA in targeting equipment-free, decentralized diagnostic workflows for infectious disease and other applications, but at established commercial scale.
• H.U. Group Holdings, Inc. Large Japanese clinical diagnostics and laboratory services group (SRL, BML). Comparable to TBA as a Japan-based diagnostics player, but operates a much broader portfolio spanning clinical lab services, IVD kits, and preventive medicine rather than a focused nucleic acid lateral-flow component.
• QuidelOrtho Corporation: Major US IVD company known for Sofia and QuickVue lateral-flow rapid diagnostic tests. Comparable to TBA in lateral-flow/visual-read diagnostic format, but with FDA-cleared clinical products, broad distribution, and global commercial infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tba2150
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tba-co.-ltd.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about TBA