Takara Bio

What Takara Bio does

Takara Bio is a Japanese life sciences tools and services company operating through Takara Bio Inc. (parent, Shiga, Japan) and its wholly owned US subsidiary Takara Bio USA, Inc. (San Jose, CA), with additional operations in France and Sweden. The company provides kits, reagents, instruments, and services for gene discovery, regulation, and function research, with core technology pillars in next-generation sequencing library preparation (SMART-Seq family), spatial transcriptomics (Trekker Single-Cell Spatial Mapping), automated single-cell analysis (Shasta Single Cell System), PCR/qPCR enzymes, gene delivery tools including AAV and lentiviral systems, cloning (In-Fusion), and stem cell research products. Supporting its reagent and instrument business, Takara Bio operates ISO 13485:2016 certified GMP manufacturing facilities in Kusatsu, Japan and Göteborg, Sweden for clinical-grade mRNA, plasmid, viral vector, and cell therapy contract manufacturing, plus an OEM Custom Enzyme Service for diagnostic and therapeutic developers. The company is structured as a horizontal tools provider selling across academic, biopharmaceutical, CRO, and molecular diagnostics customer segments via direct sales, e-commerce, regional distributors, and a newly launched Certified Service Provider Program. Strategic positioning is reinforced by more than 50 years of operating history, the RetroNectin reagent as an industry standard in gene therapy protocols, and recent partnerships with Illumina (spatial transcriptomics workflow) and Hamilton Company (automated NGS library prep), complemented by the Curio Bioscience acquisition expanding spatial genomics capabilities.

Name

Takara Bio

Legal name

Takara Bio Inc.

Website

https://takarabio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Takara Bio is a global life sciences tools company providing reagents, instruments, and contract manufacturing services for gene discovery, NGS, single-cell analysis, spatial transcriptomics, and cell/gene therapy development across academic, biopharmaceutical, CRO, and diagnostics customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Life Sciences Research Tools (Molecular Biology Reagents and Instruments)

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reagents, Chemicals & Assay Kits (Buffers, Antibodies, ELISA, Enzymes) (HLAGAIAI), Genomics & Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services (HLAGANAA), Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services (HLAGANAE)

Keywords

• NGS library preparation
• Single-cell analysis
• Spatial transcriptomics
• Gene therapy manufacturing
• PCR enzymes reagents

Headquarters

HQ city

Palo Alto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Reagents and Kits: Sale of molecular biology reagents including PCR enzymes, qPCR kits, reverse transcriptases, cloning kits, nucleic acid purification products, and NGS library preparation kits. Products sold through direct sales, e-commerce, and distribution channels.
2. Instruments and Automation Systems: Sale of laboratory instruments including SmartChip Real-Time PCR System, ICELL8 system, and automated sample preparation platforms.
3. Gene and Cell Therapy Manufacturing Services: GMP-grade contract manufacturing services including mRNA production, plasmid production, cell processing, cell banking, viral vector production (research-grade and clinical-grade), and quality testing services. Facilities located in Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan and Göteborg, Sweden.
4. OEM Custom Enzyme Services: Custom enzyme supply services for incorporating Takara Bio enzymes into customer formulations, workflows, kits, or consumables. ISO 13485:2016 certified capabilities.
5. Instrument Services: Service and support for instruments including Apollo services, ICELL8 services, and SmartChip ND system services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Takara Bio USA develops, manufactures, and sells kits, reagents, instruments, and services that help researchers explore questions about gene discovery, regulation, and function. Core offerings include NGS library preparation kits (SMART-Seq), high-throughput single-cell analysis platforms (Shasta, ICELL8), spatial transcriptomics solutions (Trekker), PCR/qPCR enzymes and reagents, viral vector tools, and proprietary cloning technology. The company also provides GMP-grade contract manufacturing services for gene and cell therapy and OEM custom enzyme services.

Product overview

Takara Bio is a life sciences tools company offering an integrated portfolio of reagents, instruments, automated platforms, and contract services. The core product lines include: SMART-Seq RNA-seq library preparation kits (SMART-Seq mRNA 3' DE, SMART-Seq Stranded mRNA, SMART-Seq mRNA LP) for NGS workflows; Trekker spatial mapping technology (Trekker FX, Trekker Single-Cell Spatial Mapping Kit) for spatial transcriptomics; and Shasta Single Cell System with Total RNA-Seq and WGA kits for automated high-throughput single-cell analysis. Supporting product categories span PCR enzymes (PrimeSTAR, TaKaRa, Titanium Taq families), qPCR reagents (TB Green Premix, Premix Ex Taq), reverse transcriptases (PrimeScript, SMARTScribe), viral vector tools (AAV-X GoStix Plus, AAV-X Packaging Single Shots, Lenti-X), cloning technology (In-Fusion), and GoStix rapid test products (dsRNA GoStix Plus). The company provides GMP-grade contract manufacturing services for gene and cell therapy (mRNA, plasmid, viral vectors) at facilities in Japan and Sweden, OEM custom enzyme services, and a Certified Service Provider Program. Bioinformatics is addressed through Cogent tools integrated with the Shasta platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clontech: Brand under Takara Bio Group for molecular biology reagents and kits
• TaKaRa
• Cellartis
• SMART-Seq
• Shasta
• Trekker
• ICELL8
• Apollo

Products and services

• SMART-Seq mRNA 3' DE High-sensitivity mRNA sequencing kit for cost-effective 3' differential expression analysis from direct cell input. Used by academic and industrial researchers for RNA-seq workflows.
• SMART-Seq Stranded mRNA Kit Stranded mRNA-seq library prep kit enabling library preparation from 10 ng to 1 µg of RNA in 3.5 hours, reducing hands-on time by 50% and producing gene expression, splicing, and gene fusion data.
• SMART-Seq mRNA LP kit Full-length mRNA-seq library preparation kit for automated NGS workflows on Hamilton Microlab STAR systems. Targeted at high-throughput core facilities and labs seeking reduced hands-on time.
• Shasta Single Cell System High-throughput automated single-cell analysis platform for genomic and transcriptomic profiling. Processes up to 100,000 single cells per run and is used by core facilities, CROs, and large-scale research programs.
• Shasta Total RNA-Seq Kit Single-cell Total RNA-Seq kit for the Shasta platform with full gene-body coverage, enabling detection of splicing isoforms, gene fusions, and novel biomarkers.
• Trekker Single-Cell Spatial Mapping Kit Spatial mapping kit enabling high-density spatial transcriptomics with true single-cell resolution. Used with Illumina workflows by researchers studying tissue organization and tumor microenvironment.
• Trekker FX 10x10 Bundle Trekker FX spatial mapping bundle with FFPE compatibility for analyzing archived tissue samples at single-cell resolution, using donation-based spatial tagging for improved whole-transcriptome detection.
• ICELL8 Single-Cell System Single-cell analysis system using combinatorial indexing technology for high-throughput single-cell RNA-seq applications.
• SmartChip ND Real-Time PCR System High-throughput qPCR platform for large-scale real-time PCR experiments without high costs. Used for gene expression screening and assay development.
• PrimeSTAR DNA Polymerase family High-fidelity DNA polymerase product line including PrimeSTAR Max Ver.2 and PrimeSTAR GXL for high-fidelity PCR, complex template amplification, and GC-rich PCR applications.
• TB Green Premix products Dye-based qPCR master mixes including TB Green Premix Ex Taq and FAST qPCR variants with ROX Plus for different instrument compatibility.
• PrimeScript Reverse Transcriptase products Reverse transcriptase product line including PrimeScript RT, SMARTScribe Reverse Transcriptase, and SMART MMLV Reverse Transcriptase for cDNA synthesis.
• In-Fusion Seamless Cloning Technology Seamless cloning technology for fast, efficient, restriction enzyme-free molecular cloning with high fidelity and precision.
• dsRNA GoStix Plus Rapid test kit for quantifying residual dsRNA impurities in mRNA samples in 10 minutes via smartphone app, with strong correlation to gold-standard ELISA methods. Used in mRNA manufacturing QC.
• AAV-X GoStix Plus Rapid AAV titer quantification kit delivering results in 10 minutes with smartphone analysis for AAV2, AAV8, and AAV9 serotypes.
• AAV-X Packaging Single Shots Ready-to-use, single-tube AAV packaging system for high-titer AAV production exceeding 1 x 10^12 vg/vial, available for AAV2, AAV8, and AAV9 serotypes.
• BspQ I GMP Grade Restriction enzyme available in GMP grade for seamless linearization of IVT-ready templates, with animal/human-free and β-lactam-free formulation ensuring GMP-quality purity.
• Lenti-X Transduction Products Lentiviral transduction reagents including Lenti-X transduction sponges that increase virus-cell contact via macroporous structure for high transduction efficiency without spinoculation.
• Cogent Bioinformatics Tools End-to-end bioinformatics software for NGS data analysis including single-cell RNA-seq processing and interpretation, integrated with the Shasta platform.
• Gene and Cell Therapy Manufacturing Services GMP-grade contract manufacturing services for mRNA production, plasmid production, cell processing, cell banking, viral vector production (research-grade and clinical-grade), and quality testing. Located at ISO 13485:2016-certified facilities in Kusatsu, Japan and Göteborg, Sweden.
• OEM Custom Enzyme Service Custom enzyme supply services for incorporating Takara Bio enzymes into customer formulations, workflows, kits, or consumables. Leverages ISO 13485:2016-certified capabilities for custom enzyme development and benchmarking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trekker FX identified 3X more statistically significant ligand-receptor interactions in tumor microenvironment studies
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Admera HealthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 April 2026Admera Health is recognized as the first certified service provider on the Shasta Single Cell System through the Takara Bio Certified Service Provider Program. As CSP, Admera provides single-cell genomics services using Shasta workflows to the scientific community, gaining early access to upcoming Shasta technologies and marketing exposure.
• Hamilton CompanystrategicTechnology or Integration · 30 March 2026Development and co-marketing agreement to deliver integrated, automated next-generation sequencing library preparation workflows. Partnership automates Takara Bio's SMART-Seq library preparation kits on Hamilton's Microlab STAR Liquid Handling Systems, aiming to reduce hands-on time and errors while increasing throughput for core facilities and high-volume research environments. The first automated technology is the SMART-Seq mRNA LP kit for full-length mRNA-seq libraries.
• IlluminastrategicTechnology or Integration · 26 February 2026Collaboration on spatial transcriptomics workflow developed for AGBT 2026. The combined workflow integrates Takara Bio's Trekker Single-Cell Spatial Mapping Kit with Illumina's Single Cell 3' RNA Prep assay, enabling high-density spatial mapping with true single-cell resolution that can recover over 100,000 spatially resolved nuclei per sample without specialized instrumentation. Provides researchers with turnkey, instrument-free solution for high-resolution spatial insights.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Promega Corporation: Promega supplies nucleic acid purification, PCR/qPCR reagents, cloning tools, and OEM custom enzyme services that compete directly with Takara Bio's reagent and OEM offerings. Both companies also supply GMP-grade enzymes to molecular diagnostics developers.
• New England Biolabs: New England Biolabs is a leading supplier of restriction enzymes, PCR/qPCR reagents, and NGS library prep enzymes that directly compete with Takara Bio's PrimeSTAR polymerases, TB Green qPCR reagents, and BspQ I GMP-grade enzymes. Both serve molecular biology researchers globally.
• NanoString Technologies (Bruker Spatial Biology): NanoString's GeoMx digital spatial profiler and CosMx SMI spatial molecular imager directly compete with Takara Bio's Trekker FX in spatial transcriptomics. Both target translational researchers needing spatial gene expression data from tissue samples.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Bio-Rad's ddSEQ single-cell platform and digital PCR offerings (Droplet Digital PCR) compete directly with Takara Bio's ICELL8 single-cell system and SmartChip real-time PCR. Bio-Rad also sells laboratory reagents and enzymes that overlap with Takara Bio's PrimeSTAR and TB Green product lines.
• 10x Genomics: 10x Genomics is the dominant player in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics (Chromium, Visium, Xenium), competing directly with Takara Bio's Shasta single-cell platform and Trekker spatial kits. Both serve core facilities and translational researchers with NGS-based discovery tools.

Broad incumbents

• Beckman Coulter Life Sciences (Danaher): Beckman Coulter provides automated liquid handling workstations, flow cytometry, and laboratory automation that are adjacent to and increasingly integrated with Takara Bio's NGS library prep and single-cell workflows through the Hamilton partnership and broader automation ecosystem.
• Agilent Technologies: Agilent's Resolution Bioscience and cell analysis solutions (including the BioTek and Seahorse product lines) intersect with Takara Bio's offerings in genomics workflows, lab automation, and cell-based research reagents used in drug discovery.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher's Life Sciences Solutions segment (Invitrogen, Applied Biosystems) competes with Takara Bio across PCR/qPCR reagents, NGS library prep, cloning (e.g., GeneArt), and gene synthesis. Their Cell Therapy Services and viral vector manufacturing capabilities also overlap with Takara Bio's GMP service offering.
• Illumina: Illumina is the dominant NGS sequencer vendor and a strategic partner via the Trekker/Illumina spatial transcriptomics workflow. It also sells library prep kits (e.g., Illumina Single Cell 3' RNA Prep) that overlap with Takara Bio's SMART-Seq chemistry.
• Qiagen: Qiagen provides sample preparation, PCR/qPCR reagents, NGS library prep, and bioinformatics tools that overlap substantially with Takara Bio's portfolio, particularly in nucleic acid purification and molecular biology reagents. Qiagen also serves the molecular diagnostics market with FDA-cleared tests.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/takarabiousa
• Facebookfacebook.com/dsstakarabio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/takarabiousa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Takara Bio