What Agena Bioscience does

Agena Bioscience is a San Diego-based molecular diagnostics company that develops and markets the MassARRAY System, a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry platform for targeted genetic analysis in research settings. The company serves research laboratories, molecular genomics programs, and pharmacogenomics researchers across applications including pharmacogenetics, liquid biopsy, mutation profiling, hereditary genetics, methylation, sample integrity, and specimen validity testing. Its product portfolio is built on the proprietary iPLEX Pro chemistry and SpectroCHIP Arrays, and includes pre-designed panels such as the VeriDose Core Panel (85 SNPs/INDELs across 16 PGx genes), the VeriDose DPYD Plus Panel, the VeriDose CYP2D6 CNV Panel, the CFTR 100+ Panel for cystic fibrosis research, and the HFE Genotyping Panel, alongside custom assay design services.

The company operates a razor-and-blade business model, generating revenue from MassARRAY instrument sales and from recurring consumables and reagents tied to the installed base. Distribution runs through a combination of direct sales, certified service providers, and a worldwide distributor network, while pre-designed panels are available via quote-based ordering. Agena Bioscience has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mesa Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: MLAB) since fiscal 2021, when it was acquired for approximately $300 million, and operates within Mesa Labs' Clinical Genomics division.

Products are marketed as Research Use Only (RUO). The Clinical Genomics division contributed approximately 19% of Mesa Labs' $249.1 million in fiscal 2026 revenues while experiencing a 10.1% organic decline attributed to regulatory headwinds in China and the US. Despite the downturn, Agena has continued to launch new panels — including the VeriDose Core PGx Panel in November 2024 and the CFTR 100+ Panel in April 2026 — to reinforce its position in pharmacogenetics and hereditary genetics research.

Name

Agena Bioscience

Legal name

Agena Bioscience, Inc.

Website

https://agenabio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Agena Bioscience is a San Diego-based molecular diagnostics company that develops the MassARRAY System, a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry platform for targeted genetic analysis. It serves research laboratories and pharmacogenomics programs with pre-designed panels spanning pharmacogenetics, cystic fibrosis, and hereditary genetics applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Molecular Diagnostics Instrumentation

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Genetic & Genomic Testing (germline, somatic, carrier, pharmacogenomics) (HLAAALAD), Material Characterization & Spectroscopy (NMR/FTIR/MS) (HLAGADAK)

Keywords

• Molecular genetic testing
• MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry
• Pharmacogenomics panels
• Genotyping assay reagents
• Liquid biopsy research

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. MassARRAY System Instruments: Sale of MassARRAY hardware systems and software for genetic analysis research
2. Consumables and Reagents: Recurring revenue from kits, chips, reagents and panel consumables for the MassARRAY platform
3. Pre-designed Panels: Catalog products including VeriDose Core v2.0 Panel Sets and CFTR 100+ Panel Sets available in multiple formats (96 CPM and 384 CPM)
4. Custom Assay Design Services: Customized panel creation and design services for specific research requirements

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Agena Bioscience develops and sells the MassARRAY System, a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry platform for genetic analysis, along with pre-designed genotyping panels (VeriDose Core, VeriDose DPYD Plus, VeriDose CYP2D6 CNV, CFTR 100+, HFE), consumables such as SpectroCHIP arrays and iPLEX Pro reagents, and custom assay design services targeting research laboratories and molecular genomics programs.

Product overview

Agena Bioscience offers the MassARRAY System as its core platform, a mass spectrometry-based molecular analysis system for genetic research. The system supports a portfolio of targeted genotyping panels including the VeriDose family of pharmacogenetics panels (Core Panel, DPYD Plus Panel, CYP2D6 CNV Panel) and hereditary genetics panels (CFTR 100+ Panel, HFE Genotyping Panel). These panels run on the MassARRAY System using iPLEX Pro chemistry and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, enabling laboratories to perform multiplex genetic analysis across applications including pharmacogenetics, liquid biopsy, mutation profiling, hereditary genetics, methylation, sample integrity, and specimen validity testing. Custom assay design services are also available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MassARRAY: The company's core technology platform for rapid and accurate genetic analysis using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
• VeriDose
• CFTR 100+ Panel

Products and services

• MassARRY System Mass spectrometry-based molecular analysis system for genetic research applications using MALDI-TOF technology, used by research laboratories and molecular genomics programs.
• VeriDose Core PGx Panel Pre-designed pharmacogenetics panel targeting 85 SNPs/INDELs across 16 key genes implicated in drug metabolism pathways, aligned with AMP Tier 1 and Tier 2 guidelines and CPIC recommendations, run on the MassARRY System for pharmacogenomics research.
• VeriDose DPYD Plus Panel DPYD pharmacogenomics panel targeting 18 relevant DPYD variants covering all AMP Tier 1 and Tier 2 alleles plus four additional future-proofing variants, used on the MassARRY System for pharmacogenomics and oncology research.
• CFTR 100+ Panel Expanded CFTR variant coverage panel for cystic fibrosis research, including all 100 CF-causing variants from ACMG recommendations plus 21 additional variants of interest, run on the MassARRY System.
• VeriDose CYP2D6 CNV Panel Copy number variation panel for CYP2D6 gene analysis, designed to run on the same plate with the VeriDose Core Panel on the MassARRY System.
• HFE Genotyping Panel Genetic testing panel for HFE gene variants associated with hereditary hemochromatosis, run on the MassARRY System.
• Custom Assays (Assays by Agena) Custom genotyping assay design services allowing laboratories to create tailored assays for specific genetic targets, delivered through Agena's custom design team.

Quantifiable outcome

• >95% concordance in beta site testing for low-quality and saliva DNA samples

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• nRichDXcoreTechnology or Integration · 14 April 2023Agena Bioscience and nRichDX announced a commercial partnership in April 2023 to create solutions for the extraction and detection of liquid biopsy analytes. This partnership combines nRichDX's extraction technology with Agena's detection capabilities for liquid biopsy applications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sequenom (now part of LabCorp): Original developer of the MassARRAY platform. Agena's technology lineage directly traces to Sequenom's MassARRAY business, making this the most direct historical peer in targeted MALDI-TOF genotyping.
• Fluidigm: Provides targeted genotyping and targeted DNA analysis solutions (e.g., SNP Type assays on Biomark HD), competing with MassARRAY in research-focused, low-to-mid plex targeted genotyping workflows.

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Sells mass spectrometry instruments (Orbitrap, TSQ) and genomic analysis reagents across pharma, clinical research and applied markets. Competes with MassARRAY in mass spec-based detection and is a much broader incumbent in life science instruments.
• Agilent Technologies: Major supplier of mass spectrometry (GC/MS, LC/MS, ICP-MS) and genomics reagents. Overlaps with Agena in mass-spec-based analytical instrumentation and in genomics sample-prep/reagent workflows.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Offers digital PCR, real-time PCR and related molecular biology tools serving genetic analysis and life science research labs. Competes in the broader targeted-genotyping and molecular-research tooling category.
• Illumina: Dominant NGS platform vendor whose sequencing technology competes directly with MassARRAY for genetic analysis budgets in research and clinical labs; Agena explicitly markets MassARRAY as a cost-effective alternative to NGS.
• PerkinElmer (now Revvity): Provides genomics, life science reagents and diagnostics tools including genetic analysis kits and instruments. Operates in overlapping research and translational genomics markets.
• QIAGEN: Supplies sample-prep, assays and bioinformatics for molecular biology and genetic analysis, including pharmacogenomics and liquid biopsy research workflows that overlap with Agena's panel applications.

Emerging players

• Bruker Corporation: Offers MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry systems (e.g., for clinical microbiology and genotyping). Competes in MALDI-based genotyping adjacent to MassARRAY's core detection technology.

Others

• Natera: Clinical genetic testing company with cell-free DNA and liquid biopsy offerings. Not a direct technology competitor, but competes for pharmacogenomics and hereditary genetics research/testing budget alongside Agena's panels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/agena_bio
• Facebookfacebook.com/AgenaBioscienceSD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agena-bioscience

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Agena Bioscience