ChemGenes

What ChemGenes does

ChemGenes Corporation is a privately held specialty biotechnology manufacturer founded in 1981, focused on nucleic acid chemistry — the synthesis of DNA and RNA reagents, phosphoramidites, CPG solid supports, nucleosides, and a broad portfolio of modified oligonucleotide chemistries used by academic, pharmaceutical, biotech, and clinical diagnostics customers. The company positions itself as the market leader in nucleic acid chemistry with the broadest range of modified chemistries in the market, including modified DNA and RNA, 2'/3'-O-methyl RNA, CombiClick combinatorial click chemistry reagents, chromophores and ligands, and morpholino phosphorodiamidates. Notable product franchises include Drop-Seq beads for single-cell mRNA sequencing (used by 410+ research labs globally and backed by the authors of the original Macosko et al. 2015 publication), the SARS-CoV-2 VoCs Multiplex RT-qPCR diagnostic kit, and custom oligonucleotide synthesis delivered through a web-based Custom Oligo Builder Tool. The company operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Wilmington, MA, alongside a corporate office in Billerica, MA, and holds ISO 9001:2015 certification valid through 2028.

ChemGenes monetizes almost entirely through one-time catalog and quote-based product sales rather than subscriptions or licensing. Drop-Seq beads carry public pricing ($2,114 for 75mg, $3,524 for 150mg) with volume discounts; COVID-19 kits are sold in 100, 500, 1,000, and 5,000 reaction packs with bulk pricing on inquiry; and custom oligonucleotide orders are priced per quote. Distribution is direct-to-customer through an account-based website ordering system (requiring corporate or institutional email), toll-free and local phone lines, and inside sales support — with no third-party resellers or distributor network referenced in the source materials. Go-to-market is enterprise-oriented: named accounts include Broad Institute, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, UCSF, Johns Hopkins, Max Planck, RIKEN, plus commercial platform partners Bio-Rad (Celsee) and Dolomite Bio (Nadia), indicating penetration across elite academic and enterprise single-cell sequencing customers. The company supplements direct sales with consistent participation as both attendee and sponsor at major nucleic acid therapeutics conferences (IRT, RNA Leaders USA, OTS, TIDES Europe/Asia, OPT Congress) through 2027, signaling sustained investment in technical, relationship-driven selling rather than high-velocity digital marketing.

Name

ChemGenes

Legal name

ChemGenes Corporation

Website

https://chemgenes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nucleic Acid Synthesis Reagents and Specialty Chemistry

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

mRNA & Nucleic Acid Manufacturing Services (mRNA/saRNA/Plasmid DNA) (HLAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

RNA Manufacturing & CMC (oligo synthesis, IVT, purification, formulation, QC) (HLAAADAF)

Keywords

• Nucleic acid synthesis
• DNA RNA reagents
• Oligonucleotide manufacturing
• Phosphoramidite chemistry
• Custom oligo synthesis

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Oligonucleotide Synthesis Reagents: One-time product sales of DNA/RNA synthesis reagents including phosphoramidites, CPG solid supports, nucleosides, mononucleotides, and other reagents. Products sold in various packaging configurations with catalog numbers.
2. Drop-Seq Beads: Specialty beads for single cell RNA sequencing sold in catalog sizes (75mg for $2,114, 150mg for $3,524) with discounted bulk pricing available.
3. COVID-19 RT-qPCR Kits: RT-PCR test kits sold in pack sizes of 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 reactions. Bulk pricing and custom pack sizes available upon inquiry.
4. Custom Synthesis Services: Custom synthesis of oligonucleotides and modified products based on customer specifications. Quote-based pricing for custom orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ChemGenes manufactures and sells nucleic acid chemistry reagents used in DNA and RNA synthesis, including phosphoramidites, CPG solid supports, nucleosides, mononucleotides, and a broad portfolio of modified amidites and specialty reagents. The company also produces Drop-Seq beads for single cell RNA sequencing, an FDA-style multiplex RT-qPCR kit for SARS-CoV-2 variant detection, and offers custom oligonucleotide synthesis services via its Custom Oligo Builder Tool to academic, pharmaceutical, biotech, and diagnostics customers worldwide.

Product overview

ChemGenes manufactures DNA and RNA synthesis reagents with a broad portfolio of products organized into core synthesis reagents and specialty additions. The core offerings include Oligonucleotide Synthesis Reagents (phosphoramidites and CPG solid supports), Mononucleotides & Nucleosides, and the full range of natural and modified DNA and RNA products including 2' & 3' -O-Methyl RNA, CombiClick Click Chemistry reagents, Chromophores & Ligands, and Morpholino Phosphorodiamidates. Specialty products include new additions like Quenchers, BMEG Amidites and Supports, ssH-H Amino Modifiers, Reverse RNA Amidites, DDTT Sulfurizing Reagent, Cyclic Phosphate Oligonucleotides, and 5'-Triphosphate Oligonucleotides. The company also offers Drop-Seq Beads for single cell RNA sequencing and the SARS-CoV-2 VoCs Multiplex RT-qPCR Kit for COVID-19 research. Custom Oligonucleotide Synthesis via the Custom Oligo Builder Tool enables researchers to order modified oligos to exact specifications. ChemGenes is ISO 9001:2015 certified and has supplied materials for COVID-19 vaccines and diagnostics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Drop-Seq: Superior Quality Beads for Single Cell mRNA sequencing applications using Drop-Seq methods. A technology that allows biologists to analyze genome-wide gene expression in thousands of individual cells in a single experiment.

Products and services

• Oligonucleotide Synthesis Reagents Phosphoramidites, CPG solid supports, and ancillary reagents for automated DNA and RNA synthesis on synthesizers, including natural and modified DNA and RNA amidites, 2' & 3'-O-Methyl RNA, CombiClick click chemistry, chromophores & ligands, and morpholino phosphorodiamidates. Sold to academic, pharmaceutical, biotech, and diagnostics customers.
• Mononucleotides & Nucleosides Building block nucleosides and mononucleotides for oligonucleotide synthesis and research applications.
• Custom Oligonucleotide Synthesis Custom synthesis service for modified oligonucleotides ordered to customer-specified sequence, scale, and chemistry through the Custom Oligo Builder Tool on the ChemGenes website, with quote-based pricing.
• Drop-Seq Beads DNA-barcoded beads for single cell mRNA sequencing using Drop-Seq technology, enabling highly parallel genome-wide expression profiling of thousands of individual cells in a single experiment. Scalable to 250 million beads per batch with catalog sizes of 75mg ($2,114) and 150mg ($3,524) and bulk pricing available.
• SARS-CoV-2 VoCs Multiplex RT-qPCR Kit In-vitro diagnostic multiplex RT-qPCR kit for detection and discrimination of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (Omicron, Delta, and wild-type), with high sensitivity and specificity and compatibility with a wide array of RT-qPCR instruments. Sold in 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 reaction pack sizes with bulk and custom options on inquiry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Manufacturing the broadest range of modified chemistries available in the market
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT): IDT is a leading manufacturer of custom oligonucleotides and nucleic acid reagents, including modified DNA/RNA amidites and synthesis supports. Now part of Danaher, IDT competes directly with ChemGenes in phosphoramidite chemistry and custom oligo services for research and therapeutic customers.
• Glen Research: Glen Research specializes in reagents for oligonucleotide synthesis, including phosphoramidites, supports, and modifiers for DNA and RNA. It is one of ChemGenes' closest direct competitors in catalog amidite and modified-chemistry products.
• TriLink BioTechnologies: TriLink manufactures modified nucleic acid products, including mRNA, oligonucleotides and CleanAmp amidites, for research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications. It directly overlaps with ChemGenes in modified RNA chemistry and custom oligo manufacturing.
• LGC Biosearch Technologies: Biosearch Technologies produces oligonucleotide synthesis reagents, custom probes, and modified nucleic acids for genomics and diagnostics. It is comparable to ChemGenes in catalog reagents and custom oligo services for research and applied markets.
• Eurogentec: Eurogentec manufactures custom oligonucleotides, modified amidites, and nucleic acid-based reagents under ISO and cGMP quality systems for therapeutic and diagnostic customers. It is a direct European-headquartered peer in ChemGenes' modified-chemistry niche.
• BioAutomation: BioAutomation synthesizes specialty oligonucleotides and modified amidites and operates custom DNA/RNA synthesis services. It is a direct competitor in custom and modified oligo manufacturing for research and applied customers.

Broad incumbents

• MilliporeSigma (Sigma-Aldrich, Merck KGaA): MilliporeSigma offers a broad portfolio of nucleic acid synthesis reagents, modified amidites, and oligo building blocks under the Sigma-Aldrich brand. As a much larger life-science tools incumbent, it competes with ChemGenes across most of its catalog while serving a far broader customer base.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher supplies nucleic acid chemistry reagents, custom oligos, and synthesis services across its Life Sciences Solutions segment. Its scale, GMP capabilities and global distribution make it a broad incumbent competing with ChemGenes for nucleic-acid therapeutic supply contracts.

Emerging players

• 10x Genomics: 10x Genomics is the dominant single-cell genomics platform provider via its Chromium technology, which is increasingly displacing Drop-Seq methods. It represents a competitive threat to ChemGenes' Drop-Seq bead franchise rather than a direct reagent peer.
• Twist Bioscience: Twist Bioscience manufactures synthetic DNA and oligonucleotides using silicon-based DNA synthesis, with growing capability in modified and therapeutic-grade nucleic acids. It is an emerging peer in the nucleic acid manufacturing space that could compete with ChemGenes' custom synthesis offerings over time.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chemgenes-corp.

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 ChemGenes