Activotec
Activotec Limited is a Cambridge, UK-based chemical synthesis company founded in 2004 that designs automated peptide synthesizers, provides custom peptide synthesis services, and supplies synthesis chemicals to academic institutions, biotech firms, and pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersCambridge, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Activotec does
Activotec Limited is a Cambridge, UK-headquartered private chemical synthesis company founded in 2004 that designs and manufactures automated peptide synthesizers, provides custom peptide synthesis services, and supplies synthesis chemicals to the global life sciences research market. Its product portfolio spans six core synthesizer platforms (Activo-Darwin, Activo-Darwin LS, Activo-P11, Activo-P14, Activo-PLS, Activo-S44), complementary accessories such as the Activo-P12 Cleavage Device, and a stocked catalog of protected amino acids, resins, and coupling reagents. The proprietary ActivoPep software integrates real-time UV monitoring of Fmoc removal with conditional coupling logic that automatically adjusts deprotection and coupling parameters per amino acid, distinguishing the platform on automation depth rather than AI. Custom peptide synthesis services span 2 to 120+ amino acids at mg to multi-gram scale with 1-2 week turnaround, alongside peptide arrays, bioconjugation, cosmetic peptide synthesis, and DNA-peptide conjugates.
The business operates a hybrid revenue model combining one-time capital equipment sales, recurring consumables and chemical sales, and per-order custom synthesis services. Distribution is direct from the UK headquarters to all European countries, supplemented by an established distributor network across Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Italy, with USA/Canada listed as coming soon. Activotec serves a diversified customer base of 200+ institutions including major pharmaceutical companies (Novo Nordisk, Bayer, Lonza, PolyPeptide), leading academic and research centers (Francis Crick Institute, University Tübingen, MPI Dusseldorf, KU Leuven), and contract peptide manufacturers. The company is privately held by its founding peptide chemistry specialists, with no disclosed institutional investors or external funding rounds in the available data.
Activotec firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Activotec
- Legal name
- Activotec Limited
- Website
- https://activotec.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Activotec Limited is a Cambridge, UK-based chemical synthesis company founded in 2004 that designs automated peptide synthesizers, provides custom peptide synthesis services, and supplies synthesis chemicals to academic institutions, biotech firms, and pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Activotec industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Laboratory Instruments
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Therapeutic Peptides & Protein/Peptide Biologics (HLAAAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK) (HLAGAAAB)
Keywords
Where Activotec is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Activotec business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
Revenue model
- Peptide Synthesizer Sales: Sale of automated peptide synthesizers (Activo-Darwin LS, Activo-Darwin, Activo-P11, Activo-P14, Activo-PLS, Activo-S44) and accessories/consumables (reaction vessels, O-rings, filters, adapters, dry boxes, PTFE reaction vessels). One-time capital equipment purchase model with ongoing consumables revenue.
- Custom Peptide Synthesis Services: Contract custom peptide synthesis service producing peptides at milligram to multi-gram scale, at all required purity levels (crude to >98%), with any modifications required. Peptides produced as TFA salts in lyophilised powder form. Fast delivery times (1-2 weeks typical). Includes difficult sequences, non-natural modifications, and peptide therapeutics. Pricing described as 'lowest per peptide price for quality peptides'.
- Synthesis Chemicals (Amino Acids, Resins, Reagents): Sale of high-purity synthesis chemicals including protected amino acids (Fmoc, Boc, unusual, D-amino acids, pseudoproline dipeptides), resins for solid phase peptide synthesis, and coupling reagents (TBTU, HBTU, HATU, HCTU, PyBOP, COMU, 6Cl-HOBt, OxymaPure, T-BEC). Products available from small to bulk quantities, stocked locally for fast delivery.
- Custom Bioconjugation Services: Specialized bioconjugation services including nucleic acid and oligonucleotide modifications, antibody modifications and conjugations, enzyme modifications, polymer-biopolymer conjugations, avidin-biotin system, and surface immobilization (macrosphere, nanoparticle).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Synthesis chemicals available from small to bulk quantities |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom peptide synthesis scales from 1mg to multi-grams at purities from crude to >98% |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Activotec product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Activotec manufactures and sells automated peptide synthesizers (Activo-P11, Activo-P14, Activo-Darwin, Activo-PLS, Activo-S44) and related lab hardware, while also providing custom peptide synthesis, bioconjugation, and peptide array services. The company additionally supplies synthesis consumables including protected amino acids, resins, coupling reagents, and pseudoproline dipeptides, functioning as a one-stop provider for peptide chemistry workflows.
Product overview
Activotec is a Cambridge, UK-based company founded in 2004 that offers a comprehensive portfolio of peptide and organic synthesis products and services. The product lineup centers on automated peptide synthesizers (Activo-Darwin, Activo-Darwin LS, Activo-P11, Activo-P14, Activo-PLS series, Activo-S44) and complementary instruments like the Activo-P12 cleavage device. These are complemented by synthesis chemicals including protected amino acids (Fmoc, Boc, D-amino acids, unusual amino acids), resins (Wang, 2-Cl-Trityl, unsubstituted), coupling reagents, and pseudoproline dipeptides. The company also provides extensive services including custom peptide synthesis (2-120 amino acids, mg to multi-gram scale, crude to >98% purity), peptide arrays (96-well format), cosmetic peptide synthesis, and DNA-peptide conjugate synthesis. This integrated approach enables customers to access both instrumentation and consumables/services from a single supplier.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Activo-Darwin Peptide Synthesizer
- Activo-Darwin LS Peptide Synthesizer
- Activo-P11 Automated Peptide Synthesizer
- Activo-P14 Peptide Synthesizer
- Activo-PLS Parallel Peptide Synthesizer
- Activo-PLS Organic Synthesizer
- Activo-S44 Automated Organic Synthesizer
- Activo-P12 Cleavage Device
- Custom Peptide Synthesis Service
- Custom Bioconjugation Services
- Peptide Arrays
- Cosmetic Peptide Synthesis
- DNA-Peptide Conjugate Synthesis
- Protected Amino Acids
- Resins for Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis
- Coupling Reagents
- Pseudoproline Dipeptides
- Stock Peptides
- Coronex Lateral Flow Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- Purity of 90-95% typical for custom peptide synthesis with 1-2 week turnaround
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Activotec
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Activotec technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Activotec partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Coronex PartnershipminorActivotec is part of the Coronex collaboration to develop a game-changing platform for lateral flow (LF) tests vital in the fight against COVID-19. The proprietary platform technology has been used to develop highly optimised LF tests for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Activotec's role involves peptide synthesis expertise for the test development. Partners include The Antibody Company Ltd, Lateral DX Ltd, and Axon Healthcare Investments Ltd. Dr John Goodfellow from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Biorepository Network is also involved. The Coronex platform is seeking investment partners for further development.
- SMS SCITECH PTY LTDcoreExclusive distributor for Activotec peptide synthesizers, custom peptides, and chemicals in Australia. Located at Unit 305, 414 Gardeners Road, Rosebery, NSW 2018, Australia. Contact: [email protected]
- BEIJING SMS INSTRUMENTS & EQUIPMENTS CO.,LTDcoreDistributor for Activotec products in China. Located at Room 102, Building C, SOHO Silicon Valley, No.21 Zhongxing Road, Changping District, Beijing 102200, China.
- Mitsuwa Frontech Corp.coreDistributor for Activotec products in Japan. Located at 6-24, Tenjinbashi 3-Chome, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0041, Japan.
- STEPBIO S.r.l.coreDistributor for Activotec products in Italy. Located at Via P. Nanni Costa 12/3/e – 12/3/f, 40133 Bologna, Italy.
- Flochem Co., Ltd.coreDistributor for Activotec products in the Republic of Korea. Located at 1405, MegabizTower B, Dongtan-daero 646-4, Hwasung-si, Gyeonggi-do, 18467, Rep. of Korea.
- Anarghya Innovations and Technology Pvt. Ltd.coreDistributor for Activotec products in India. Located at #32, 7th A Main Road, Muthyalanagar, Mathikere, Bengaluru – 560 054, India.
- S & L Innovations and Technology Pte. Ltd.coreDistributor for Activotec products in Singapore. Located at #19, Woodlands Industrial Park E1, #03-06, Singapore – 757719.
- MEGAH SURIA SDN BHDcoreDistributor for Activotec products in Malaysia. Located at PETI SURAT NO. 1, PEJ POS AMPANG, 68000 AMPANG, SELANGOR DE, Malaysia.
- RAAB Scientific SolutionscoreDistributor for Activotec products in Pakistan. Located at Raab Heights, 4/2 Canal Park, Gulberg, Lahore, Pakistan.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Activotec competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Innovagen (Peptide 2.0 / current entity): Innovagen / Peptide 2.0 is a custom peptide synthesis service provider targeting biotech and academic customers with difficult sequences and modifications, directly overlapping Activotec's service catalog.
- CEM Corporation: CEM is a direct competitor with its Liberty series microwave peptide synthesizers used by pharma and biotech; comparable to Activotec's Activo-P11/P14/Darwin in automated SPPS for therapeutic peptide research.
- AAPPTec: AAPPTec is a US peptide instrument and chemistry company offering automated synthesizers and custom peptides — overlapping with Activotec's full hardware-plus-service-plus-reagent stack.
- Gyros Protein Technologies (part of Mesa Labs): Gyros (formerly Protein Technologies / Activotec-comparable) sells PurePep peptide synthesizers (e.g., Symphony X) directly targeting the same academic/biotech/custom peptide synthesis market.
- Cambridge Research Biochemicals: Cambridge Research Biochemicals is a UK-based custom peptide synthesis and antibody services provider; comparable to Activotec's service business serving the same European research/biotech accounts.
- Biotage: Biotage's Syro and Initiator+ Alstra peptide synthesizers compete head-to-head with Activotec instruments, sold into overlapping pharma/biotech synthesis workflows with parallel reaction capability.
Broad incumbents
- GenScript: GenScript operates a large global custom peptide synthesis service (a broader-incumbent competitor to Activotec's custom peptide business, with much wider scale but less synthesizer-instrument focus).
- Bachem: Bachem is a leading commercial peptide CDMO and serves the same custom peptide market Activotec addresses for research-grade peptides — a much larger broader-incumbent competitor in custom peptide manufacturing.
- PolyPeptide Group: PolyPeptide is a large peptide CDMO that both uses Activotec instruments and competes with Activotec's custom peptide service in the contract manufacturing segment.
Regional players
- Peptron: Peptron is a Korean peptide CDMO operating in a different geography than Activotec but offering comparable custom peptide synthesis and conjugation services, particularly relevant given Activotec's APAC distributor presence.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Activotec social profiles
Digital presenceActivotec financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Activotec leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Activotec funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Activotec 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 Activotec
What does Activotec do?
Activotec manufactures and sells automated peptide synthesizers (Activo-P11, Activo-P14, Activo-Darwin, Activo-PLS, Activo-S44) and related lab hardware, while also providing custom peptide synthesis, bioconjugation, and peptide array services. The company additionally supplies synthesis consumables including protected amino acids, resins, coupling reagents, and pseudoproline dipeptides, functioning as a one-stop provider for peptide chemistry workflows.
Is Activotec a public or private company?
Activotec is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Activotec founded?
Activotec was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Activotec based?
Activotec is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Activotec make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Peptide Synthesizer Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Peptide Synthesis Services, synthesis Chemicals (Amino Acids, Resins, Reagents) and custom Bioconjugation Services.
Who are Activotec's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Innovagen (Peptide 2.0 / current entity), CEM Corporation, AAPPTec, Gyros Protein Technologies (part of Mesa Labs), Cambridge Research Biochemicals and Biotage. Broad incumbents are GenScript, Bachem and PolyPeptide Group. Peptron is listed as a regional player.
Does Activotec have an API?
No public API is recorded for Activotec.
What industry is Activotec in?
Activotec's product category is Laboratory Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAAAH, Therapeutic Peptides & Protein/Peptide Biologics, with a secondary code of HLAGAAAB, Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK). Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 2836.