Codexis
Codexis (NASDAQ: CDXS) is a publicly traded enzyme engineering company that uses its CodeEvolver AI/ML platform and ECO Synthesis enzymatic RNA manufacturing platform to provide biocatalysis and siRNA manufacturing services to pharmaceutical, biotech, and diagnostics companies worldwide.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersRedwood City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Codexis does
Codexis (NASDAQ: CDXS) is a publicly traded biosciences company founded in 2002 and headquartered in Redwood City, California, that engineers enzymes for pharmaceutical manufacturing and therapeutic applications. The company operates two proprietary technology platforms: CodeEvolver, an AI/ML-driven enzyme engineering platform that integrates machine learning, bioinformatics, and high-throughput screening with 20+ years of proprietary training data to design, build, and test enzyme variants in as little as one week; and ECO Synthesis, an enzymatic RNA manufacturing platform that replaces traditional solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis (SPOS) with sequential enzymatic synthesis and ligation-based assembly workflows under aqueous conditions, achieving 99% coupling efficiency, greater than 75% yield, and greater than 90% purity.
The company monetizes through multiple revenue streams including direct enzyme product sales (screening kits such as Codex ATA, KRED, Esterase, ERED, NIT, and MicroCyp panels), pharma biocatalysis services for API synthesis, RNA manufacturing services for therapeutic oligonucleotides (siRNA, gRNA, ASOs) including preclinical and GLP/clinical supply, technology licensing and transfer agreements, and supply assurance agreements. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales supported by dedicated technical program managers, with active industry conference presence (TIDES USA/Europe, CPHI Europe, RNA Leaders USA Congress) and a global CDMO partner network for scaled GMP manufacturing capacity. Primary customer segments are pharmaceutical and biotech RNA therapeutics developers, pharmaceutical API manufacturers, and molecular biology/diagnostics companies. Notable commercial relationships include a $37.8 million Supply Assurance and Technology Transfer Agreement with Merck executed in Q4 2025 and evaluation agreements with Axolabs and Nitto Denko Avecia.
Recent strategic activity includes a November 2025 leadership transition (Alison Moore from CTO to CEO, Stephen Dilly to Executive Chairman, Georgia Erbez adding Chief Business Officer duties), a roughly 24% workforce reduction, and significant capital deployment into GMP manufacturing infrastructure (34,000-square-foot Hayward, California facility opening late 2027 with approximately $20-25 million planned investment). The company holds 250+ patents, has supported 16+ approved drugs with its enzymes, and operates under ISO 9001:2015 certification at its Redwood City headquarters.
Codexis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Codexis
- Legal name
- Codexis, Inc.
- Website
- https://codexis.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Codexis (NASDAQ: CDXS) is a publicly traded enzyme engineering company that uses its CodeEvolver AI/ML platform and ECO Synthesis enzymatic RNA manufacturing platform to provide biocatalysis and siRNA manufacturing services to pharmaceutical, biotech, and diagnostics companies worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Codexis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Enzyme Biocatalysis Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)
- akta.pro primary industry
- RNA Manufacturing & CMC (oligo synthesis, IVT, purification, formulation, QC) (HLAAADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC), mRNA & Nucleic Acid Manufacturing Services (mRNA/saRNA/Plasmid DNA) (HLAGAGAC)
Keywords
Where Codexis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redwood City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Codexis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- RNA Manufacturing Services: Contract manufacturing of therapeutic oligonucleotides (siRNA) using ECO Synthesis platform for preclinical, GLP, and clinical supply. Revenue recognized from production contracts and CDMO agreements.
- Enzyme Products and Biocatalysis Services: Sale of engineered enzymes including screening kits, tailored enzymes, and bespoke enzyme development services for pharmaceutical biocatalysis applications.
- Technology Licensing and Transfer: Technology transfer agreements and licensing deals including $37.8 million agreement with Merck. Platform licensing for ECO Synthesis manufacturing.
- Supply Assurance Agreements: Supply assurance agreements providing revenue visibility and long-term partnerships with pharmaceutical companies for enzyme and RNA manufacturing supply.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Codexis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Codexis engineers custom enzymes and provides manufacturing services for pharmaceuticals using two proprietary platforms: the CodeEvolver enzyme engineering platform (ML-driven protein optimization) and the ECO Synthesis enzymatic RNA manufacturing platform. The company sells off-the-shelf enzyme screening kits, delivers tailored enzyme engineering and scale-up services for pharmaceutical API biocatalysis, and provides RNA manufacturing services (sequential enzymatic synthesis and ligation-based assembly) for therapeutic oligonucleotides including siRNA, gRNA, and ASOs.
Product overview
Codexis is an enzyme engineering company offering two proprietary technology platforms—the CodeEvolver Platform for enzyme engineering powered by machine learning and the ECO Synthesis Platform for RNA manufacturing—alongside specialized service offerings. The portfolio includes RNA Manufacturing Services (encompassing RNA Ligation Services and RNA Sequential Synthesis Services), Pharma Biocatalysis (including Enzyme Screening Kits and Tailored Enzymes), and Molecular Biology and Diagnostic Applications (comprising Bespoke Enzymes and R&D Enzyme Services). Codexis has supported 16+ approved drugs with its enzymes and holds 250+ patents worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ECO Synthesis Manufacturing Platform Enzymatic RNA manufacturing platform that replaces traditional solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis, enabling scalable, sustainable production of siRNA therapeutics through sequential enzymatic synthesis and ligation-based assembly workflows. Used by pharmaceutical and biotech companies developing RNA-based therapeutics.
- CodeEvolver Technology Platform Proprietary enzyme engineering platform integrating machine learning, bioinformatics, and high-throughput screening for rapid design and optimization of enzymes for pharmaceutical manufacturing, RNA, and diagnostic applications. Trained on 20+ years of proprietary experimental data.
- RNA Manufacturing Services Enzyme-powered RNA manufacturing services enabling scalable, sustainable synthesis of therapeutic RNA including siRNA, gRNA, and ASOs through the ECO Synthesis platform. Provides preclinical, GLP, and clinical supply from grams to 10+ kg per run.
- RNA Ligation Services AI/ML-enabled ligation fragment design and bespoke ligase variant screening for scalable assembly of longer RNA constructs from shorter fragments, delivering >75% yield and >90% purity. Joins short ssRNA fragments into full dsRNA duplexes using engineered dsRNA ligases.
- RNA Sequential Synthesis Services Enzymatic sequential synthesis service building RNA strands one nucleotide at a time under mild aqueous conditions, achieving 99% average coupling efficiency and compatibility with modified nucleotides (2'-OMe, 2'-F, PS chemistries).
- Pharma Biocatalysis Enzyme-enabled manufacturing solutions for pharmaceutical active ingredient synthesis, transforming resource-intensive chemical steps into efficient, scalable, and sustainable enzymatic processes from grams to tonnes.
- Enzyme Screening Kits and Panels Off-the-shelf enzyme screening kits including Codex ATA (24 amine transaminases), Codex KRED (24 ketoreductases), Codex Esterase (12 esterases), Codex ERED (7 ene reductases), Codex NIT (12 nitrilases), and MicroCyp Screening Kits for rapid feasibility evaluation.
- Tailored Enzymes Custom enzyme engineering and scale-up services for pharmaceutical manufacturing, supporting API development from enzyme screening through commercial supply with CodeEvolver-powered optimization.
- Molecular Biology and Diagnostic Applications Precision-tuned enzyme solutions for molecular biology and diagnostic applications, offering bespoke enzymes and R&D enzyme services with improved fidelity, selectivity, and activity.
- Bespoke Enzymes Precision-optimized custom enzymes engineered for molecular biology and diagnostic applications, solving challenges that off-the-shelf enzymes cannot address with enhanced fidelity, activity, and performance.
- R&D Enzyme Services End-to-end enzyme evolution services from screening to engineering and scale-up, including assay adaptation and process development for molecular biology and diagnostic applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99% average coupling efficiency demonstrated across enzymatic sequential synthesis cycles
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Codexis
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Codexis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature7 records
Codexis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- AxolabscorePartnership where Axolabs will evaluate Codexis ECO Synthesis Manufacturing Platform for enzymatic RNA synthesis. Collaboration aims to develop efficient and scalable methods for therapeutic oligonucleotide manufacturing with potential for future licensing.
- Merckflagship$37.8 million Supply Assurance Agreement plus Technology Transfer Agreement executed in Q4 2025. Represents major commercial validation of Codexis enzyme manufacturing capabilities.
- Nitto Denko AveciacoreEvaluation agreement to explore Codexis ECO Synthesis Manufacturing Platform for therapeutic siRNA manufacturing. Collaboration aims to expand platform adoption and facilitate licensing discussions.
Scale indicators18 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Codexis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Twist Bioscience: Twist Bioscience is a leading DNA synthesis and synthetic biology provider serving pharma and biotech customers with high-throughput oligo production, broadly comparable to Codexis's nucleic acid manufacturing and enzyme-enabled service business.
- Camena Bioscience: Camena Bioscience is building enzymatic DNA synthesis (gSynth) for high-fidelity gene and oligonucleotide manufacturing, overlapping with Codexis's ECO Synthesis value proposition for scalable, sustainable nucleic acid production.
- Nitto Denko Avecia: Avecia (Nitto Denko Avecia) is a CDMO specializing in therapeutic oligonucleotide manufacturing (including siRNA), making it both a partner evaluating ECO Synthesis and a direct manufacturing-services competitor in RNA therapeutics.
- DNA Script: DNA Script develops enzymatic DNA and RNA synthesis platforms (Syntax platform) targeting research and therapeutic oligo manufacturing, directly competing with Codexis's ECO Synthesis on enzymatic synthesis speed, length, and quality.
- Ansa Biotechnologies: Ansa Biotechnologies is developing enzymatic DNA synthesis technology aimed at long, high-fidelity oligonucleotide assembly, directly competing with Codexis's ECO Synthesis platform on enzymatic nucleic acid manufacturing for therapeutics.
- GenScript Biotech: GenScript provides gene synthesis, oligonucleotide manufacturing, and protein/biocatalysis services to pharma and biotech customers, comparable to Codexis's tailored enzymes, screening kits, and custom oligo manufacturing offerings.
- Axolabs: Axolabs is a CDMO focused on oligonucleotide-based therapeutics (siRNA, antisense, aptamers) and recently signed an evaluation agreement with Codexis; it is a direct peer in commercial-scale therapeutic RNA manufacturing services.
- Molecular Assemblies: Molecular Assemblies is pioneering terminator-free enzymatic DNA synthesis using proprietary polymerases, pursuing the same enzymatic alternative-to-SPOS positioning as Codexis's ECO Synthesis platform for therapeutic and synthetic biology applications.
Broad incumbents
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher operates a global life sciences tools and pharma services/CDMO business (including oligonucleotide manufacturing through Patheon), making it a broad incumbent competing with Codexis in nucleic acid manufacturing and pharmaceutical services.
- Novonesis (formerly Novozymes): Novonesis is a global enzyme engineering and production leader; while focused on industrial enzymes, its scale in protein engineering provides a broad competitive reference point for Codexis's CodeEvolver-driven enzyme business.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Codexis social profiles
Digital presenceCodexis compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Codexis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Codexis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Codexis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Codexis M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Codexis
What does Codexis do?
Codexis engineers custom enzymes and provides manufacturing services for pharmaceuticals using two proprietary platforms: the CodeEvolver enzyme engineering platform (ML-driven protein optimization) and the ECO Synthesis enzymatic RNA manufacturing platform. The company sells off-the-shelf enzyme screening kits, delivers tailored enzyme engineering and scale-up services for pharmaceutical API biocatalysis, and provides RNA manufacturing services (sequential enzymatic synthesis and ligation-based assembly) for therapeutic oligonucleotides including siRNA, gRNA, and ASOs.
Is Codexis a public or private company?
Codexis is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Codexis founded?
Codexis was founded in 2002. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Codexis based?
Codexis is headquartered in Redwood City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Codexis make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. RNA Manufacturing Services are the primary driver. The others are enzyme Products and Biocatalysis Services, technology Licensing and Transfer and supply Assurance Agreements.
Who are Codexis's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Twist Bioscience, Camena Bioscience, Nitto Denko Avecia, DNA Script, Ansa Biotechnologies, GenScript Biotech, Axolabs and Molecular Assemblies. Broad incumbents are Thermo Fisher Scientific and Novonesis (formerly Novozymes).
Does Codexis have an API?
No public API is recorded for Codexis.
What industry is Codexis in?
Codexis's product category is Enzyme Biocatalysis Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAADAF, RNA Manufacturing & CMC (oligo synthesis, IVT, purification, formulation, QC), with a secondary code of HLAAAIAC, Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2834.