BioAssay Systems
BioAssay Systems develops and manufactures 280+ assay kits and provides custom assay and lead discovery services for life sciences research, drug discovery, and medical device testing, serving academic, pharmaceutical, and medical device customers across 60+ countries via direct, distributor, and marketplace channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersHayward, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What BioAssay Systems does
BioAssay Systems is a privately held life sciences tools company founded in 2003 and headquartered in Hayward, California (San Francisco Bay Area), operating under a Vion Biosciences affiliation. The company develops and manufactures a catalog of more than 280 assay kits spanning enzyme activity, metabolism, oxidative stress, signal transduction, oncology, and cations/anions applications, organized under the EnzyChrom (colorimetric), QuantiChrom (quantitative colorimetric), QuantiFluo (fluorimetric), and EnzyFluo (fluorescent immunoassay) brand families. Detection technologies rely on absorbance, fluorescence (including FI, FP, TRF, and FRET), and luminescence readouts optimized for 96/384-well high-throughput plate formats, with proprietary methods including a patented turbidometric Protein Disulfide Isomerase inhibitor screening assay (US Patent 6,977,142) and a kinetic fluorometric PLA/PLGA polymer quantification assay developed for medical device degradation testing.
The company monetizes through two revenue streams: one-time product sales of catalog kits (priced individually between approximately $199 and $679) and fee-for-service offerings covering analytical sample testing, custom assay development, and lead discovery support including ADMET profiling, kinase inhibitor screening, and cell-based assays. Distribution is multi-channel, combining direct e-commerce through bioassaysys.com, major laboratory supply distributors Fisher Scientific and VWR, and marketplace platforms ScienceExchange and Scientist.com, with cold-chain shipping into more than 60 countries.
BioAssay Systems serves a horizontally diversified customer base that includes academic researchers (Santa Clara University), mid-market pharmaceutical companies (Orinda Pharma), medical device manufacturers (XTENT, Inc. for drug-eluting stent polymer quantification), and startups (DermaTec LLC). Value propositions center on validated ready-to-use kits, custom assay design, fast service turnaround (results often within 24-48 hours), and vertically integrated manufacturing that enables competitive pricing. The company operates with 11-50 employees and has not disclosed external funding rounds, suggesting a self-sustaining niche player rather than a venture-backed high-growth profile.
BioAssay Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BioAssay Systems
- Legal name
- BioAssay Systems
- Website
- https://bioassaysys.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BioAssay Systems develops and manufactures 280+ assay kits and provides custom assay and lead discovery services for life sciences research, drug discovery, and medical device testing, serving academic, pharmaceutical, and medical device customers across 60+ countries via direct, distributor, and marketplace channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BioAssay Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Life Sciences Assay Kits
- NAICS
- In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reagents, Chemicals & Assay Kits (Buffers, Antibodies, ELISA, Enzymes) (HLAGAIAI)
Keywords
Where BioAssay Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hayward
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
BioAssay Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Assay Products and Kits: Sale of proprietary assay kits and reagents for life sciences research and drug discovery. Products include enzyme activity kits, metabolism assays, oxidative stress markers, signal transduction assays, and more across 280+ product catalog.
- Lead Discovery Services: Fee-for-service drug discovery support including enzyme inhibitor screening, signal transduction profiling, ADMET testing, and mitochondrial membrane potential assays.
- Assay Customization Services: Custom assay development and optimization services modifying existing kits or creating novel assays for specific customer requirements.
- Analytical Services: Sample analysis services performing biological sample testing including oxidative stress markers, metabolic markers, oncological markers, and cell-based assays.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard assay kits sold individually with tiered pricing based on quantity |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
BioAssay Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BioAssay Systems develops, manufactures, and sells a catalog of 280+ proprietary assay kits and reagents for life sciences research and drug discovery, covering enzyme activity, signal transduction (phosphorylation ELISA), metabolism, oxidative stress, oncology, diabetes/obesity, and cation/anion targets using absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence detection chemistries. The company also offers fee-for-service laboratory services including analytical testing, assay customization, novel assay design and development, and high-throughput lead discovery (enzyme inhibitor screening, ADMET profiling, cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, and solubility assays).
Product overview
BioAssay Systems develops and manufactures a comprehensive portfolio of assay kits and provides laboratory services for life sciences research and drug discovery. The product portfolio includes multiple assay kit brands: EnzyChrom™ kits for colorimetric assays, QuantiChrom™ kits for quantitative colorimetric assays, QuantiFluo™ kits for fluorimetric assays, and EnzyFluo™ kits for high-sensitivity fluorescent immunoassays. Key product categories include enzyme activity assays, phosphorylation ELISA kits for signal transduction pathways (AKT1, AMPK, ERK, NFκB, GSK3, 4EBP1, LKB1, RPS6, SHP2), metabolism assays (lactate, creatine, citrate, choline), and diabetes/obesity research assays. The company also provides fee-for-service offerings including analytical services, assay customization, assay design and development, and lead discovery services (enzyme inhibitor screening, ADMET profiling, cell-based assays). Founded in 2003 in the San Francisco Bay Area, the company has developed over 250 assay kits with products distributed in over 60 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- EnzyChrom™ Enzyme Activity Assay Kits Colorimetric enzymatic assay kits covering kinases, phosphatases, dehydrogenases, oxidoreductases, and metabolic enzymes (catalase, creatine kinase, α-amylase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase/reductase, glucose oxidase, fumarase, invertase, aspartate transaminase, aconitase, and others) for life sciences and drug discovery research.
- EnzyFluo™ Phosphorylation ELISA Kits (Signal Transduction) Quantitative fluorescent immunoenzymatic assays measuring phosphorylation status of key signaling proteins—NFkB (p65 Ser-536), AMPK (Thr-172), ERK1/2 (T202/Y204, T185/Y187), AKT1 (S473), 4EBP1 (S65), RPS6 (S235/236), SHP2 (Y542), LKB1 (S431), GSK3A (S21), GSK3B (S9)—in cultured whole cells without cell lysis, normalizing phosphorylation to total protein. Includes a customizable cell-based ELISA format for user-specified targets.
- EnzyChrom™ Metabolism Assay Kits Colorimetric and fluorimetric assays for quantifying metabolic markers in biological samples, including D-lactate, L-lactate, creatine, citrate, choline, D-mannitol, cholesterol, free fatty acids, fumarate, ascorbic acid, coenzyme A, glucose, and uric acid for metabolic, food, beverage, and agricultural research.
- QuantiChrom™ and QuantiFluo™ Oxidative Stress Assay Kits Quantitative colorimetric and fluorimetric kits for measuring oxidative stress markers, including peroxide (peroxide assay kits I and II) and other reactive oxygen species indicators for oxidative stress research.
- EnzyFluo™ and QuantiFluo™ High-Throughput Screening Reagents & Kits Fluorescent and fluorimetric assay reagents optimized for high-throughput screening in 96/384-well plate formats for drug discovery applications. Includes QuantiFluo acid phosphatase, ammonia, and diamine oxidase kits alongside signal transduction and metabolism HTS formats.
- Inhibitor HTS Kits Assay kits developed for inhibitor screening applications in high-throughput drug discovery workflows targeting kinases, phosphatases, and signaling proteins, used alongside signal transduction kits.
- EnzyChrom™ Diabetes & Obesity Assay Kits Colorimetric assay kits for adipogenesis and adipolysis quantification supporting diabetes and obesity research.
- Oncology Assay Kits Assay kits supporting oncology research, including metabolism, signaling, and biomarker targets aligned with the BioAssay Systems broader portfolio.
- Cations & Anions Assay Kits Colorimetric assay kits for quantifying cations and anions in biological, food, beverage, and agricultural samples, including QuantiChrom zinc kits (I and II).
- Blood & Urine Chemistry Assay Kits Colorimetric and fluorimetric kits for quantifying clinical chemistry markers in serum, plasma, and urine, including creatine kinase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, glucose, uric acid, and other analytes for clinical and preclinical research.
- Food & Beverage Analysis Assay Kits Colorimetric and fluorimetric kits for quantifying analytes in food, beverage, and agricultural samples, including choline, citrate, D-mannitol, and related metabolites for quality control and analysis.
- Agriculture & Environment Assay Kits Colorimetric and fluorimetric kits for quantifying analytes in agricultural and environmental samples, including D-mannitol and QuantiFluo ammonia for water and soil analysis applications.
- Quick Test Strips Rapid test strips for point-of-use measurement of analytes, complementing the company's colorimetric and fluorimetric assay kits.
- Polylactate (PLA/PLGA) Assay Service Proprietary kinetic fluorometric assay service that quantifies D-lactate-containing polymers (PLA and PLGA) in tissue samples for medical device degradation assessment used in CE Mark and FDA IDE regulatory submissions.
- Analytical Services Bioanalysis of biological samples including oxidative stress markers, metabolic markers, oncological markers, signal transduction measurements, and cation/anion analysis performed by BioAssay Systems laboratory staff, with results typically delivered within 24 to 48 hours.
- Assay Customization Service Customization and optimization of existing BioAssay Systems assay kits to fit specific customer requirements, modifying protocols for unique experimental setups.
- Assay Design & Development Service Novel assay development from concept through sample testing, including format development for 96/384-well plates, cuvette-based, and paper-based assay formats tailored to specific customer research needs.
- Lead Discovery Services High-throughput drug discovery screening services including enzyme inhibitor screening, signal transduction profiling, ADMET analysis, and mitochondrial membrane potential assays for pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers running hit-to-lead and lead optimization programs.
- Kinase Inhibitor Screening Service High-throughput kinase inhibitor screening service with IC50 determination, evaluating test compounds as inhibitors of kinase activity for drug discovery programs.
- NFκB Phosphorylation Status Screening Service Screening service for modulators affecting NFκB phosphorylation with kinetics, EC50, and IC50 determination.
- AMPK Phosphorylation Status Screening Service Screening service for modulators affecting AMPK phosphorylation with kinetics, EC50, and IC50 determination.
- ERK Phosphorylation Status Screening Service Screening service for modulators affecting ERK phosphorylation with kinetics, EC50, and IC50 determination.
- ADMET Services Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity screening services including solubility (filter plate and shake flask methods), membrane permeability (BBB, GI, skin via PAMPA), and in vitro cell viability testing for preclinical drug discovery customers.
- Membrane Permeability Services PAMPA-based permeability testing for blood brain barrier (BBB), gastrointestinal (GI), and skin permeability assessment in drug discovery workflows.
- In Vitro Cell Viability Service Cell viability testing service using ATP levels, LDH release, and cellular reduction capacity methods for compound toxicity and efficacy profiling.
- Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Service High-throughput screening service measuring mitochondrial membrane potential in living mammalian cells and permeabilized yeast for drug discovery and toxicity profiling.
- Solubility Services (Filter Plate & Shake Flask) Quantitative solubility testing using filter plate method (1.5-hour turnaround) and shake flask method (18-hour turnaround) for compound characterization in drug discovery.
Quantifiable outcome
- Assay results delivered within 24-48 hours for standard services
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use BioAssay Systems
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
BioAssay Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
BioAssay Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Fisher ScientificcoreMajor laboratory supply distributor offering BioAssay Systems assay products through their extensive catalog of life sciences research products.
- VWRcoreLaboratory supply distributor providing global distribution of BioAssay Systems products alongside other research reagent suppliers.
- ScienceExchangeminorOnline laboratory services marketplace listing BioAssay Systems products and services for researcher discovery and ordering.
- Scientist.comminorScientific marketplace platform where BioAssay Systems maintains a provider profile and offers products and assay services.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
BioAssay Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cayman Chemical: Ann Arbor-based manufacturer of biochemical assay kits, reagents, and research tools for life sciences. Directly comparable to BioAssay Systems in catalog breadth (enzyme activity, metabolism, oxidative stress assays) and customer base (academic and pharma researchers).
- Cell Signaling Technology: Specializes in antibodies and ELISA/assay kits targeting signaling pathways (AKT, MAPK, NFkB, AMPK). Overlaps directly with BioAssay Systems' EnzyFluo™ phosphorylation product line and shares the same biopharma/academic customer profile.
- Enzo Life Sciences: Develops and sells assay kits, labeling reagents, and small molecules for life sciences research. Comparable catalog breadth (oxidative stress, apoptosis, metabolism assays) and similar distribution model via direct sales and major lab supply distributors.
- Arbor Assays: Mid-sized developer of immunoassay and enzymatic assay kits for research use, focused on hormone, oxidative stress, and environmental testing. Closely comparable in scale, product philosophy (easy-to-use kits), and target customer mix.
- AAT Bioquest: Specializes in fluorescent and luminescent assay kits, reagents, and instruments for life sciences and drug discovery. Overlaps with BioAssay Systems' EnzyFluo™ and QuantiFluo™ fluorimetric product lines and shares HTS drug discovery customer use cases.
- AnaSpec (Kaneka): Provides peptides, antibodies, and assay kits (including protease, kinase, and cell signaling assays). Now part of Kaneka Corporation, it competes directly in the same research-use assay market that BioAssay Systems serves.
Broad incumbents
- Abcam: Global life sciences tools company offering a vast catalog of antibodies, ELISA kits, and assay kits. Much larger than BioAssay Systems but competes head-to-head in research-use immunoassay and cell-based assay categories, including after its acquisition of BioVision.
- Promega Corporation: Major life sciences tools provider with broad portfolio including cell-based assays, kinase assays, and ADMET/toxicology services. Comparable on both kit products and services, though at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
- Bio-Rad Laboratories: Diversified life sciences and clinical diagnostics manufacturer with a significant assay kits and reagents business. Competes with BioAssay Systems across multiple assay categories but operates at vastly greater scale with dedicated enterprise sales.
- MilliporeSigma (Sigma-Aldrich): Largest life sciences reagents and kits supplier globally; offers extensive assay kits (enzymatic, ELISA, fluorescent) overlapping many of BioAssay Systems' catalog items. Sets the pricing and distribution benchmark for the entire niche.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
BioAssay Systems social profiles
Digital presenceBioAssay Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BioAssay Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
BioAssay Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BioAssay Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BioAssay Systems
What does BioAssay Systems do?
BioAssay Systems develops, manufactures, and sells a catalog of 280+ proprietary assay kits and reagents for life sciences research and drug discovery, covering enzyme activity, signal transduction (phosphorylation ELISA), metabolism, oxidative stress, oncology, diabetes/obesity, and cation/anion targets using absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence detection chemistries. The company also offers fee-for-service laboratory services including analytical testing, assay customization, novel assay design and development, and high-throughput lead discovery (enzyme inhibitor screening, ADMET profiling, cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, and solubility assays).
Is BioAssay Systems a public or private company?
BioAssay Systems is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was BioAssay Systems founded?
BioAssay Systems was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BioAssay Systems based?
BioAssay Systems is headquartered in Hayward, United States, in the North America region.
How does BioAssay Systems make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Assay Products and Kits are the primary driver. The others are lead Discovery Services, assay Customization Services and analytical Services.
Who are BioAssay Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cayman Chemical, Cell Signaling Technology, Enzo Life Sciences, Arbor Assays, AAT Bioquest and AnaSpec (Kaneka). Broad incumbents are Abcam, Promega Corporation, Bio-Rad Laboratories and MilliporeSigma (Sigma-Aldrich).
Does BioAssay Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for BioAssay Systems.
What industry is BioAssay Systems in?
BioAssay Systems's product category is Life Sciences Assay Kits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAI, Reagents, Chemicals & Assay Kits (Buffers, Antibodies, ELISA, Enzymes). Its NAICS code is 325413 and its SIC code is 2835.