Axolabs

What Axolabs does

Axolabs is a privately held, integrated CRO and CDMO specializing in nucleic acid therapeutics, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based life science conglomerate LGC Limited. The company supports biotech and pharmaceutical sponsors developing oligonucleotide-based drugs — including siRNA, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), aptamers, sgRNA, and mRNA — across the full development arc from in silico lead identification through GMP manufacturing for clinical phases I–III and initial commercial supply.

The platform is anchored in three facilities: a CRO discovery and preclinical site in Kulmbach, Germany (proprietary sequence selection algorithms, multiplex high-throughput screening, PNA-HPLC and LC-MS/MS bioanalytics, mRNA analytics with 150+ validated methods, and LNP formulation); and dual cGMP manufacturing sites in Berlin, Germany (up to 1,500+ mmol per batch using Cytiva OligoProcess and AKB THESYS Synth1500) and Petaluma, California (up to 300 mmol per batch). The Berlin and Petaluma sites hold active GMP and GLP certifications and operate to EMA, FDA, and ICH analytical standards. Core technology differentiators include proprietary bioinformatics-driven sequence design that predicts off-target interactions and species cross-reactivity before benchwork, automated 96-well synthesis for early-stage SAR, and specialized bioanalytical methods for oligonucleotide pharmacokinetics and biodistribution.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees from CRO engagements and CDMO contracts, supplemented by potential future licensing revenue from the recently signed evaluation partnership with Codexis for enzymatic RNA synthesis. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, supported by conference presence at major oligonucleotide and RNA therapeutics events and a published scientific resource library. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with custom B2B CRO/CDMO contracting. The company employs 11–50 staff per its public listing (likely understated given the operational footprint) and is led by EVP Dr. Susanne Leonhartsberger with senior leaders recruited from Euroapi, Johnson Matthey Health, Seqens, Roche, and Alnylam.

Name

Axolabs

Legal name

LGC Limited

Website

https://axolabs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Axolabs is an integrated CRO/CDMO for nucleic acid therapeutics, serving biotech and pharma sponsors with discovery, preclinical, and cGMP manufacturing services for siRNA, ASOs, aptamers, sgRNA, and mRNA from sites in Kulmbach, Berlin, and Petaluma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oligonucleotide CDMO / CRO Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

mRNA/LNP & Nucleic Acid Therapeutics CDMO (HLAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK) (HLAGAAAB), mRNA & Nucleic Acid Manufacturing Services (mRNA/saRNA/Plasmid DNA) (HLAGAGAC), Plasmid DNA & mRNA Manufacturing Services (HLAAAKAE)

Keywords

• Oligonucleotide therapeutics
• Contract research services
• Nucleic acid manufacturing
• RNA drug development
• CGMP oligonucleotide production

Headquarters

HQ city

Kulmbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CRO Services: Integrated contract research organization services including discovery (lead identification and chemistry optimization), preclinical studies (safety, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution), and bioanalytics for nucleic acid therapeutics.
2. CDMO Services: Contract development and manufacturing organization services spanning non-GMP to GMP manufacturing, process development, and synthesis scale-up for clinical trial phases I-III and initial commercial requirements.
3. Technology Evaluation and Licensing: Evaluation of Codexis ECO Synthesis Manufacturing Platform for enzymatic RNA synthesis with potential for future licensing arrangements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Axolabs operates an integrated CRO/CDMO platform for nucleic acid therapeutics, spanning lead identification and bioinformatics-driven discovery through preclinical development and cGMP manufacturing of oligonucleotides (siRNA, ASOs, aptamers, sgRNA, mRNA). The Kulmbach site delivers CRO services including in silico design, synthesis, screening, bioanalytics, mRNA analytics, and LNP formulation, while the Petaluma and Berlin sites deliver CDMO services including early-stage to large-scale oligonucleotide synthesis, cGMP production for clinical phases I-III, GMP analytics/QC, and integrated technology transfer.

Product overview

Axolabs operates an integrated CRO | CDMO platform for nucleic acid therapeutics spanning discovery through commercial GMP manufacturing. The platform is organized into two divisions: CRO Services (offered at the Kulmbach site) covering in silico and bioinformatics lead design, rational design and synthesis, preclinical screening, cell-based evaluations, advanced bioanalytics including PNA-HPLC and LC-MS/MS, mRNA analytics with over 150 validated methods, and LNP Formulation Services; and CDMO Services (offered at Petaluma and Berlin sites) providing early-stage to large-scale oligonucleotide synthesis, cGMP production supporting clinical phases I-III and initial commercial supply (up to 300 mmol in Petaluma and 1,500+ mmol in Berlin per batch), GMP analytics and quality control, and integrated technology transfer. The platform supports multiple therapeutic modalities including ASOs, siRNA, sgRNA, aptamers, and bioconjugates, utilizing Cytiva OligoPilot/OligoProcess and Asahi Kasei Bioprocess THESYS manufacturing platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CRO Services (Discovery and Preclinical) Integrated contract research services for nucleic acid therapeutics including in silico/bioinformatics lead design with proprietary off-target prediction algorithms, rational design and solid-phase synthesis with chemical modifications and conjugations, preclinical screening via automated synthesis and multiplexed assays (Quantigene, qPCR, RNA-Seq), cell-based evaluations, advanced PNA-HPLC and LC-MS/MS bioanalytics, mRNA analytics with 150+ validated methods, and LNP formulation services. Delivered from the Kulmbach, Germany facility for biotech, pharma, and academic customers.
• CDMO Services (Process Development and GMP Manufacturing)

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces attrition by ensuring lead candidates are chemically optimized and biologically validated before progression
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• CodexisstrategicTechnology or Integration · 9 January 2026Codexis and Axolabs partnered to evaluate Codexis' ECO Synthesis Manufacturing Platform for enzymatic RNA synthesis. The collaboration aims to develop more efficient and scalable methods for therapeutic oligonucleotide manufacturing, with potential for future licensing and broader adoption in the industry.
• Asahi KaseicoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Asahi Kasei for oligonucleotide therapeutics development utilizing AKB THESYS synthesis platforms (Synth100 and Synth1500) in Axolabs' Berlin cGMP facility.
• CytivacoreTechnology or IntegrationEquipment partnership for large-scale oligonucleotide manufacturing using Cytiva's OligoPilot and OligoProcess systems at both Petaluma and Berlin facilities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WuXi STA: WuXi STA is a global CDMO offering oligonucleotide and nucleic acid therapeutic manufacturing services, competing with Axolabs particularly in clinical and commercial-scale GMP supply.
• Lonza: Lonza has been actively expanding into oligonucleotide and mRNA manufacturing services, representing a well-capitalized incumbent with global GMP capacity that competes with Axolabs for nucleic acid therapeutic sponsors.
• Asahi Kasei Bioprocess: Asahi Kasei supplies the THESYS synthesis platforms used by Axolabs' Berlin facility and also engages in contract oligonucleotide manufacturing, making it both an equipment partner and a broader-incumbent competitor.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher offers broad CDMO services including nucleic acid therapeutics through its Patheon business, competing with Axolabs from a much larger commercial footprint with broader modality coverage.

Direct peers

• Nitto Denko Avecia: Avecia is one of the most established oligonucleotide CDMOs, offering process development, scale-up, and cGMP manufacturing for therapeutic oligonucleotides — directly comparable to Axolabs' CDMO service line.
• CordenPharma: CordenPharma provides oligonucleotide API manufacturing and integrated CDMO services for nucleic acid therapeutics, competing head-to-head with Axolabs for clinical and commercial supply contracts.
• Eurofins Genomics: Eurofins Genomics provides oligonucleotide synthesis, sequencing, and bioanalytical services for research and therapeutic applications, overlapping with Axolabs' discovery CRO and bioanalytics capabilities.
• BioSpring: BioSpring is a Frankfurt-based oligonucleotide CDMO offering development, manufacturing, and analytics for therapeutic nucleic acids — a directly comparable German-headquartered peer in the oligonucleotide CDMO market.

Emerging players

• Samsung Biologics: Samsung Biologics has been investing in oligonucleotide and mRNA CDMO capabilities, positioning itself as an emerging large-scale competitor to specialized players like Axolabs in nucleic acid therapeutics manufacturing.

Others

• LGC Biosearch Technologies: LGC Biosearch Technologies is a sister business within LGC Group providing custom oligonucleotide manufacturing and genomics reagents, sharing parent-group resources and customer relationships with Axolabs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/axolabs-gmbh

Compliance5 records

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 Axolabs