BioGrammatics

What BioGrammatics does

BioGrammatics, Inc. is a Carlsbad, California-based biotechnology company founded in 2008 that specializes exclusively in the Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii) protein expression system. The company sells a curated catalog of expression vectors (pJAG, pJUG, pJAN, pJUN, pJAH, pJUH, pJAZ series), competent Pichia expression strains (BG-series including protease-deleted and SILAC-labeling variants), glycoengineered GlycoSwitch strains (SuperMan5 series) for humanized glycosylation patterns, and supporting selection media. Underlying technology includes proprietary GlycoSwitch glycoengineering (och1 deletion, GAP-mannosidaseHDEL), configurable promoters (methanol-regulated AOX1, constitutive UPP), multiple secretion signal options, and four drug selection markers. BioGrammatics serves two primary customer segments: biotechnology and pharmaceutical researchers needing reliable recombinant protein production tools, and biopharmaceutical/industrial biotech companies requiring scalable protein production with glycoengineering capabilities for therapeutic and industrial enzyme applications.

The company operates a dual business model: transactional catalog sales of vectors, strains, and media through a direct e-commerce website at $250-$600 per unit, alongside full-service custom Pichia strain development covering gene optimization, vector construction, expression profiling, and genomic sequencing for regulatory submissions. Pricing is publicly disclosed on product pages. Notable project contributions include WHO-funded HIV inhibitor research and production of flavorings for Impossible Burger plant-based meat (US Patent 10,172,380). The company maintains a lean 1-10 employee footprint with global direct distribution and no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, partnerships, or acquisitions — indicating a founder-operated, self-sustaining niche business focused on depth of Pichia expertise rather than scale.

Name

BioGrammatics

Legal name

BioGrammatics, Inc.

Website

https://biogrammatics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BioGrammatics, founded in 2008 in Carlsbad, California, sells Pichia pastoris protein expression vectors, competent strains, and glycoengineered GlycoSwitch strains, plus custom strain development services, to biotech researchers and biopharmaceutical companies globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recombinant Protein Expression Tools

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development) (HLAAAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC), Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services (HLAGANAE)

Keywords

• Protein expression systems
• Pichia pastoris vectors
• Glycoengineered expression strains
• Recombinant protein production
• Custom strain development

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlsbad

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Expression Vector Sales: Sale of plasmid expression vectors for Pichia genome integration. Vectors are sold as physical DNA constructs with SnapGene files included. Single transaction model with no recurring component.
2. Pichia Expression Strain Sales: Sale of competent Pichia pastoris expression strains including wild-type, auxotrophic markers, protease deletions, and electrocompetent formats. Both standard and glycoengineered GlycoSwitch strains available.
3. Custom Strain Development Services: Full-service custom Pichia strain construction including gene optimization, vector construction, and genomic sequencing for regulatory submissions. Professional services engagement model.
4. Selection Media: Sale of specialized selection media for Pichia strain propagation and maintenance

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

BioGrammatics, Inc. manufactures and sells Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii) protein expression tools, including expression vectors, competent cell strains, glycoengineered GlycoSwitch strains, and specialized selection media, sold directly to research and biopharmaceutical customers via its e-commerce website. The company also provides full-service custom Pichia strain construction, spanning gene optimization, vector construction, expression profiling, and genomic sequencing for regulatory submissions.

Product overview

BioGrammatics is a biotechnology company established in 2008 that provides a comprehensive suite of Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii) protein expression tools. The core product portfolio includes: (1) Expression Vectors (pJAG, pJUG, pJAN, pJUN, pJAH, pJUH, pJAZ series) for genome integration with configurable promoters, secretion signals, and drug selection; (2) Pichia Expression Strains (BG series) as competent cells with various genotypes for protein production; (3) GlycoSwitch Expression Strains (SuperMan5 series) for glycoengineering with humanized glycosylation patterns; and (4) Selection Media as supporting consumables. Beyond product sales, BioGrammatics offers two service tiers: a DIY Pichia Strain Construction toolkit enabling customers to build custom strains independently, and a full-service Custom Strain Construction Service that handles everything from gene optimization to regulatory-grade genomic sequencing. The company has contributed to projects including WHO-funded HIV inhibitor research and production of flavorings for the Impossible Burger.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Expression Vectors (pJAG, pJUG, pJAN, pJUN, pJAH, pJUH, pJAZ series) A comprehensive collection of plasmids for integration into the Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii) genome for protein expression, sold to researchers for $500 per unit. Available with various promoters, secretion signals (alpha mating factor pre-pro, Ost1p, Aga2p, none), and drug selection markers (G418, Hygromycin, Nourseothricin, Zeocin).
• Pichia Expression Strains (BG series) Competent Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii) expression strains with various genotypes, sold to researchers for $250–$600. Includes wild-type, protease deletions, auxotrophic markers (his4, arg4, lys2), and methanol utilization phenotypes, available as standard or electrocompetent aliquots for transformation.
• GlycoSwitch Expression Strains (SuperMan5 series) Glycoengineered Pichia pastoris strains utilizing GlycoSwitch Technology for modified N-linked oligosaccharide structures, sold to researchers and biopharmaceutical developers for $400–$600. Genotype includes och1 deletion and GAP-mannosidaseHDEL, with additional protease deletions and methanol utilization phenotypes, designed for producing glycoproteins with human-compatible glycosylation patterns.
• Selection Media Specialized culture media for selection and propagation of engineered Pichia expression strains with antibiotic markers, sold as a supporting consumable alongside BioGrammatics' vectors and competent strains.
• Custom Pichia Strain Construction Service Full-service contract research for custom Pichia strain development, spanning gene optimization, vector construction, expression profiling, and genomic sequencing or transcriptome analysis to support regulatory submissions. Provided as a professional services engagement to biopharmaceutical and industrial biotech clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully contributed to WHO-funded HIV inhibitor research and Impossible Burger flavorings production

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

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GenScript: GenScript offers gene synthesis and custom protein expression services across multiple hosts including Pichia pastoris, with catalog reagents and CRO services that directly overlap BioGrammatics' vector/strain sales and custom strain development offerings.
• Atum (formerly DNA2.0): Atum provides gene synthesis, codon optimization, and protein expression services for research and therapeutic applications, competing with BioGrammatics' custom Pichia strain construction service and expression vector toolkit.
• Eurofins Genomics: Eurofins Genomics offers gene synthesis and custom protein expression services across multiple expression hosts, competing for the same custom service and catalog reagent spend that BioGrammatics targets with its Pichia-focused offering.
• ACROBiosystems: ACROBiosystems provides recombinant protein production services and reagents across multiple expression systems, serving biopharma customers with similar custom service and catalog reagent needs as BioGrammatics.
• OriGene Technologies: OriGene manufactures antibody, protein, and gene expression products with custom services spanning expression vectors and recombinant proteins, overlapping with BioGrammatics' vector and protein expression service portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher's Life Sciences Solutions portfolio (including Gibco and Invitrogen brands) includes Pichia expression vectors, strains, and media, making it a broad incumbent alternative to BioGrammatics' specialized Pichia catalog.
• Sartorius: Sartorius provides bioprocessing platforms (e.g., ambr, Biostat) and consumables widely used for Pichia fermentation, offering customers a broader integrated alternative to BioGrammatics' specialized tools.
• Cytiva (Danaher): Cytiva supplies bioprocessing equipment, media, and process development services that compete with BioGrammatics' offerings at a broader scale, including Pichia-relevant expression workflows.

Emerging players

• Codexis: Codexis engineers enzymes and proteins using proprietary directed evolution platforms, making it an emerging peer in protein engineering for therapeutic and industrial applications that intersects with BioGrammatics' engineered Pichia work.
• Twist Bioscience: Twist offers high-throughput DNA synthesis and is expanding into protein expression services and antibody/scaffolds, providing an emerging synthetic biology alternative for customers evaluating BioGrammatics' custom expression work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/biogrammatics
• Facebookfacebook.com/biogrammatics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 BioGrammatics