1st BASE
1st BASE is a Singapore-based manufacturer of biochemicals, buffers, and nucleic acid extraction kits, and a fee-for-service provider of Sanger sequencing, next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, and contract manufacturing for life science researchers across Asia Pacific.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersSingapore, Singapore
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What 1st BASE does
1st BASE is a Singapore-headquartered manufacturer of biochemicals, buffers, and reagents serving life science researchers across Asia Pacific. Founded in 2002, the brand is operated by two private entities: Axil Scientific Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) and Apical Scientific Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia), with 11-50 employees. Its operations span two integrated lines: (1) proprietary molecular biology kits under the PrimeWay, PrimeMag, and SEPa brands covering genomic, plasmid, stool, soil, viral, food, and plant DNA/RNA extraction; and (2) fee-for-service laboratory testing including Sanger sequencing, next-generation sequencing (NGS), fragment analysis, bioinformatics, human cell line authentication, and broader molecular biology services. The company also offers specialty services (peptide synthesis, antibody production, proteomics, metabolomics, mycoplasma detection, avian DNA testing) and a contract manufacturing division launched in 2020 for custom reagents, buffers, and ready-to-use products.
The technology stack is built on multi-vendor sequencing platforms including Illumina MiSeq and NovaSeq 6000, Pacific Biosciences Sequel II, and Oxford Nanopore GridION, combined with Applied Biosystems Genetic Analyzers for Sanger and fragment work. Its proprietary PrimeWay extraction kit line is validated for downstream NGS use, and the 24-locus STR profiling service (using Promega's GenePrint 24) exceeds the standard 8-locus requirement under ASN-0002. The Malaysia service laboratory holds MS ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation, with bacterial and fungal DNA barcoding accredited under SAMM 1084 by Jabatan Standard Malaysia. Core technology integrations with Illumina, PacBio, Nanopore, and Promega are documented, alongside a co-branded '1st BASE Powered By Nacalai' cell culture and decontamination line.
The business model is hybrid. Product sales of kits, buffers, and PCR reagents generate one-time revenue; fee-for-service Sanger sequencing, NGS, bioinformatics, fragment analysis, and cell line authentication generate professional services revenue; and the 2020 contract manufacturing division generates managed services revenue. Distribution is direct in Singapore and Malaysia via dedicated sales teams and online ordering portals (1oo, Apical portal), while international reach across 12 APAC countries (Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, UAE, Vietnam) is delivered through regional distributors. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with per-reaction unit pricing for sequencing and minimum 80-reaction 96-well plate orders for high-throughput work.
1st BASE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 1st BASE
- Legal name
- 1st BASE
- Website
- https://base-asia.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 1st BASE is a Singapore-based manufacturer of biochemicals, buffers, and nucleic acid extraction kits, and a fee-for-service provider of Sanger sequencing, next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, and contract manufacturing for life science researchers across Asia Pacific.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
1st BASE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Life Sciences Reagents and Laboratory Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services (HLAGANAE)
Keywords
Where 1st BASE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Singapore
- HQ country
- Singapore
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
1st BASE 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
- Laboratory Services: Fee-for-service laboratory testing including Sanger sequencing, NGS, fragment analysis, molecular biology services. Pricing based on reaction counts, sample types, and service complexity.
- Research Products: Sale of biological reagents, buffers, PCR reagents, extraction kits, molecular biology kits, and laboratory consumables. Products sold through direct sales and online ordering portal.
- Contract Manufacturing: Custom manufacturing of reagents, buffers, and ready-to-use products for life science researchers and companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Laboratory services priced per reaction or sample basis |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
1st BASE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
1st BASE manufactures and distributes molecular biology kits, PCR reagents, biological buffers, biochemicals, and cell culture media, and operates service laboratories in Singapore and Malaysia providing Sanger sequencing, next-generation sequencing (Illumina, PacBio, Nanopore), bioinformatics, fragment analysis, human cell line authentication, molecular biology services, peptide synthesis, antibody production, proteomics, metabolomics, and contract manufacturing. The company is the manufacturing arm of Axil Scientific (Singapore) and Apical Scientific (Malaysia), serving academic, pharmaceutical, and biotech researchers primarily across the Asia Pacific region.
Product overview
1st BASE is a manufacturer brand of Axil Scientific Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) and Apical Scientific Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia) that has been producing high-quality locally made products to serve life science researchers since 2002. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of molecular biology products and services organized into three main categories: (1) PrimeWay Nucleic Acid Extraction Kits including spin-column based kits (Genomic II, Plasmid II, Gel Extraction/PCR Purification, Total RNA, Viral DNA/RNA, Soil DNA, Stool DNA, Food DNA extraction kits), PrimeMag magnetic bead-based kits for high-throughput automation, and SEPa reagent-based kits for plant samples; (2) Core laboratory services including Sanger Sequencing Services, Next-Generation Sequencing Services (Illumina, PacBio, Nanopore platforms), Bioinformatics Analysis, Standard Fragment Analysis, Human Cell Line Authentication, and Molecular Biology Services; and (3) Specialty services including Peptide Synthesis, Antibody Production, Proteomics, Metabolomics, Mycoplasma Detection, Avian DNA Testing, and Contract Manufacturing. The product portfolio also includes PCR reagents (AmpliPLUS Q, AmpliPLUS HiFi), biological buffers, biochemicals, microbiology culture products, protein biology reagents, and cell culture media. 1st BASE distributes its products globally through a network of regional partners across Asia Pacific.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PrimeWay Genomic II DNA Extraction Kit Spin-column based purification kit to isolate high-quality genomic DNA from 16 different sample types, validated for use with NGS platforms across 7 sample types (cultured cells, bacteria, yeast, whole blood, buffy coat, nucleated blood, white blood cells). Sold to life science researchers.
- PrimeWay Stool DNA Extraction Kit Kit for isolating genomic DNA from animal and human stools and gut content, optimised for normal, dry, hard, and high-fibre stool using ceramic beads for maximum microorganism lysis; validated for NGS workflows.
- PrimeWay Plasmid II DNA Extraction Kit Rapid alkaline lysis kit with silica spin-column purification of plasmid DNA up to 15 kb within 25 minutes, including RNase A. For molecular biology researchers.
- PrimeWay Gel Extraction/PCR Purification Kit Dual-application kit for gel extraction and PCR purification using silica spin-column to purify DNA fragments from 65 bp to 1.5 kb with up to 95% recovery, removing primers, dNTPs, enzymes, and salts.
- PrimeWay Total RNA Extraction Kit Kit for extracting high-quality total RNA from various biological samples for downstream RT-PCR, RT-qPCR, and NGS applications.
- PrimeWay Viral DNA/RNA Extraction Kit Kit designed for extraction of viral DNA and RNA from various sample types for diagnostic and research applications.
- PrimeWay Soil DNA Extraction Kit Specialised kit for extracting DNA from soil samples to enable metagenomic studies and microbial community analysis from environmental samples.
- PrimeWay Food DNA Extraction Kit Kit optimised for extracting DNA from a wide range of raw and processed foods (animal, plant, mixed source, or cultured bacteria), suitable for food source authentication and GMO DNA isolation.
- PrimeMag Plant Genomic DNA Extraction Kit Magnetic bead-based kit for isolating and purifying genomic DNA from plant samples, suited for high-throughput and automated workflows with minimal centrifugation.
- 1st BASE Magnetic Rack Magnetic rack accessory for use with PrimeMag magnetic bead-based nucleic acid extraction kits, supporting high-throughput and automated workflows.
- SEPa Plant DNA Isolation Reagent Kit Ready-to-use solution for isolating total DNA from plant samples (especially those rich in polyphenolics or polysaccharides), QC-tested for sterility and consistency.
- SEPa Plant RNA Isolation Reagent Kit Organic solution-based extraction with cationic detergent for high-quality total RNA from plant tissues (especially polyphenolic/polysaccharide-rich), including DNA removal components.
- 1st BASE Stool DNA Collection Kit Collection kit for stool sample preservation and transport, designed to work with stool DNA extraction kits for microbial studies.
- Stool DNA Collection Kit Kit for collecting and preserving stool samples for DNA extraction, enabling stable storage and transport for downstream molecular analysis.
- AmpliPLUS Q qPCR mix product line for quantitative PCR applications, used by molecular biology researchers.
- AmpliPLUS HiFi High-fidelity PCR master mix for high-accuracy DNA amplification in sequencing and cloning workflows.
- Avian DNA Testing DNA testing services for birds including avian DNA sexing PCR test and avian disease testing for PBFD and Polyomavirus.
- Sanger Sequencing Services DNA sequencing services (Single Pass, High Throughput, Difficult Template, M13-Tailed, Ready-to-Load Sequencing) using ABI PRISM 3730xl Genetic Analyzers, delivering cycle sequencing reactions and automated base-calling to academic and biotech researchers.
- Next-Generation Sequencing Services NGS services using Illumina MiSeq, NovaSeq 6000, Pacific Biosciences Sequel II, and Nanopore GridION for whole genome sequencing, exome sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, metagenomics, amplicon sequencing, and other applications.
- Bioinformatics Analysis Standard to personalised bioinformatics including whole genome re-sequencing, de novo assembly, variant calling, transcriptome analysis, metagenomics, amplicon sequencing (16s/18s/ITS via DADA2 and QIIME2), ChIP-seq, and custom analysis pipelines.
- Standard Fragment Analysis DNA fragment analysis using Applied Biosystems Genetic Analyzer for microsatellite analysis, AFLP, genotyping, SNP analysis, and allele calling with +/-0.5 bp accuracy.
- Human Cell Line Authentication STR genotyping service analysing 24 loci plus Amelogenin for gender identification using Promega GenePrint 24, providing higher discrimination than the 8 loci required by ASN-0002.
- Molecular Biology Services Comprehensive molecular biology services including sample preparation, PCR services, cloning and synthetic biology, DNA barcoding, and custom research projects.
- Peptide Synthesis Custom peptide synthesis services for research applications.
- Antibody Production Custom antibody production services for research and diagnostic applications.
- Proteomics Services Proteomics analysis services for protein identification, characterisation, and quantification.
- Metabolomics Services Metabolomics analysis including untargeted and targeted metabolomics, and untargeted and targeted lipidomics, for studying metabolites in cells, biofluids, tissues, or organisms.
- Mycoplasma Detection Service Quality control testing service to detect mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures.
- Contract Manufacturing Contract manufacturing services leveraging expertise in producing reagents, buffers, and ready-to-use products; Singapore facility equipped for large- and small-scale custom projects for life science clients.
- PrimeAmp Enrichment Suite Customised product suite for target enrichment applications in molecular biology research.
- 1X DPBS Dulbecco's Phosphate-Buffered Saline (DPBS) solution for cell culture and laboratory applications.
- Biological Buffers Laboratory buffer solutions for various molecular biology and biochemistry applications.
- Biochemicals Biochemical reagents for molecular biology research including enzymes, nucleotides, and other essential research chemicals.
- Microbiology Culture Media and reagents for microbiology culture applications.
- PCR Reagents PCR enzymes, polymerases, master mixes, and nucleotides for PCR applications.
- Cell Culture Media and Buffers Cell culture media and buffer solutions for maintaining cells in culture.
- 1st BASE Powered By Nacalai Cell culture media and decontamination reagents (including RNase quiet decontamination reagents) powered by Nacalai, distributed under the 1st BASE Powered By Nacalai line.
Companies that use 1st BASE
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
1st BASE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
1st BASE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- IlluminacoreUses Illumina MiSeq and NovaSeq 6000 sequencing technologies for next-generation sequencing services. Partnered for access to industry-leading short-read sequencing platforms.
- Pacific BiosciencescoreUses Pacific Biosciences Sequel II sequencing technology for long-read sequencing applications including de novo assembly and structural variant analysis.
- Nanopore (Oxford Nanopore Technologies)coreUses Nanopore GridION sequencing technology for third-generation sequencing. Listed as official partner on Nanopore website for sequencing service providers.
- PromegacoreUses GenePrint 24 System from Promega for human cell line authentication service, analyzing 24 STR loci plus Amelogenin for enhanced discrimination power.
- Ward Medic Ltd Partnership (Thailand)minorRegional distributor for Thailand handling biochemicals, buffers and reagents products.
- Invent Technologies Ltd (Bangladesh)minorRegional distributor for Bangladesh handling all service and product inquiries.
- Infinita SciTech (HK) LimitedminorRegional distributor for Hong Kong handling ordering and inquiries.
- Genematrix LLP (India)minorRegional distributor for India handling sequencing services.
- PT Genetika Science IndonesiaminorRegional distributor for Indonesia handling all service and product inquiries.
- Roobin Teb Gostar (Iran)minorRegional distributor for Iran handling service and product inquiries.
- Crispr Cas Co. limited (Myanmar)minorRegional distributor for Myanmar handling all inquiries.
- Excel Scientific (Pakistan)minorRegional distributor for Pakistan handling inquiries.
- HiTech BioTech (Pakistan)minorRegional distributor for Pakistan handling inquiries.
- Noveaulab Asia Corp (Philippines)minorRegional distributor for Philippines handling inquiries.
- OT Health Traders (Philippines)minorRegional distributor for Philippines handling inquiries.
- BNK Bioscience Limited (Thailand)minorRegional distributor for Thailand handling all service and product inquiries.
- Advanced Biotechnology Center (UAE)minorRegional distributor for UAE handling inquiries.
- ATGC Co., Ltd (Vietnam)minorRegional distributor for Vietnam with offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
- Nam Anh Biomed Technology (Vietnam)minorRegional distributor for Vietnam handling inquiries.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
1st BASE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Zymo Research: Specialist manufacturer of nucleic acid purification kits (DNA/RNA extraction from diverse sample types including stool, soil, viral) and epigenetics reagents. Direct competitor to 1st BASE's PrimeWay extraction kit portfolio with similar application breadth.
- Macrogen: Asia-based (Korea-headquartered) genomics services provider offering Sanger sequencing, NGS, and bioinformatics analysis. Closest comparable service-provider peer to 1st BASE, with similar multi-platform sequencing capabilities and regional commercial model.
- Novogene: Global genomics service provider with strong NGS, Sanger sequencing, and bioinformatics offerings, headquartered in China with extensive APAC presence. Competes directly with 1st BASE in NGS services and bioinformatics across the same regional customer base.
- Bioneer: Korean molecular biology tools manufacturer producing DNA/RNA extraction kits, PCR reagents, and providing oligonucleotide synthesis services. Comparable product breadth and APAC regional focus to 1st BASE.
- Omega Bio-tek: Specialist in nucleic acid purification kits (DNA/RNA extraction from blood, tissue, soil, stool) with global distribution. Direct competitor to 1st BASE's PrimeWay extraction kit family, particularly in research-grade sample preparation.
Broad incumbents
- Promega: Major life science tools manufacturer of PCR reagents, nucleic acid purification systems, and STR-based cell line authentication kits (GenePrint 24). Comparable reagent portfolio to 1st BASE; 1st BASE even uses Promega's GenePrint 24 for its human cell line authentication service.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global life sciences conglomerate offering molecular biology reagents, PCR kits, extraction products (e.g., Invitrogen, Thermo Scientific brands), and outsourced services. Broad incumbent competitor across nearly every 1st BASE product category.
- Eurofins Genomics: Global genomics services provider under Eurofins Scientific offering Sanger sequencing, NGS, oligonucleotides, and bioinformatics. Overlaps with 1st BASE's core services portfolio at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.
- QIAGEN: Global leader in nucleic acid extraction kits, sample preparation reagents, and molecular biology consumables. Directly comparable to 1st BASE's PrimeWay extraction and PCR reagent product lines, though QIAGEN operates at vastly larger scale with a global commercial footprint.
Regional players
- Bio Basic: Asia-based (Singapore-affiliated) manufacturer of biochemicals, reagents, buffers, and molecular biology products. Similar product mix and APAC customer base to 1st BASE, with overlapping distribution channels in the region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
1st BASE social profiles
Digital presence1st BASE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
1st BASE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
1st BASE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
1st BASE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
1st BASE 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 1st BASE
What does 1st BASE do?
1st BASE manufactures and distributes molecular biology kits, PCR reagents, biological buffers, biochemicals, and cell culture media, and operates service laboratories in Singapore and Malaysia providing Sanger sequencing, next-generation sequencing (Illumina, PacBio, Nanopore), bioinformatics, fragment analysis, human cell line authentication, molecular biology services, peptide synthesis, antibody production, proteomics, metabolomics, and contract manufacturing. The company is the manufacturing arm of Axil Scientific (Singapore) and Apical Scientific (Malaysia), serving academic, pharmaceutical, and biotech researchers primarily across the Asia Pacific region.
Is 1st BASE a public or private company?
1st BASE is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was 1st BASE founded?
1st BASE was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 1st BASE based?
1st BASE is headquartered in Singapore, Singapore, in the Asia region.
How does 1st BASE make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Laboratory Services are the primary driver. The others are research Products and contract Manufacturing.
Who are 1st BASE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Zymo Research, Macrogen, Novogene, Bioneer and Omega Bio-tek. Broad incumbents are Promega, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eurofins Genomics and QIAGEN. Bio Basic is listed as a regional player.
Does 1st BASE have an API?
No public API is recorded for 1st BASE.
What industry is 1st BASE in?
1st BASE's product category is Life Sciences Reagents and Laboratory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAF, Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays), with a secondary code of HLAGANAE, Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.