PGL

What PGL does

PGL (合同会社ゴウドウPGL / Progress Gene Laboratories) is a privately held Japanese contract research organization (CRO) founded in September 2014 and domiciled in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture. The company delivers specialized genetic analysis and molecular biology services on a fee-for-service basis to a domestic Japanese customer base spanning national universities, public research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, general hospitals and clinics, and individual consumers.

Its core service portfolio centers on six offerings: (1) the proprietary "PGL Method" (patent pending) for detecting foreign gene insertion sites and fusion genes in host genomes; (2) Short Tandem Repeat (STR)-based DNA paternity testing and personal identification performed on Life Technologies' (Thermo Fisher) AmpFlster Identifiler platform across 15 STR loci; (3) SNP analysis and viral testing for research and predictive purposes; (4) genetic recombination experiments including cloning, mutagenesis, and protein expression via a proprietary plant cell-based expression system; (5) gut bacteria DNA extraction and real-time PCR-based absolute quantification of total bacteria, Bacteroides, Clostridium, and Bifidobacterium from fecal samples; and (6) R&D services for in vitro diagnostic marker development using RNA-seq, exome analysis, and non-invasive body-fluid assays. The company also manufactures and sells molecular biology research reagents.

PGL operates a sales-led, inquiry-driven go-to-market: customers initiate engagement through the company website contact form, and technical staff respond with custom protocols and quotes. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the model is quote-based with multi-year contracts possible. Distribution is direct and single-geography (Japan), with no disclosed app, API, or channel partnerships beyond the underlying Life Technologies technology relationship. No external funding, subsidiaries, M&A activity, or AI/ML capability is associated with the firm in the available record.

Name

PGL

Legal name

合同会社ゴウドウPGL（ピージーエル）

Website

https://progressgenelaboratories.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

PGL (Progress Gene Laboratories) is a privately held Japanese contract genetic analysis CRO based in Okazaki, Aichi, that delivers DNA testing, SNP analysis, gene recombination, gut bacteria quantification, and proprietary virus DNA insertion site analysis to Japanese universities, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Genetic Analysis Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Genetic & Genomic Testing (germline, somatic, carrier, pharmacogenomics) (HLAAALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Genomics & Molecular Diagnostics (Trial Support) (HLAGAEAD), Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services (HLAGANAE)

Keywords

• Contract genetic analysis
• DNA paternity testing
• SNP genotyping
• Gut microbiome analysis
• Recombinant protein expression

Headquarters

HQ city

Okazaki

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contracted Analysis Services (受託解析サービス): B2B contracted genetic analysis services for research institutions, universities, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies. Services include DNA testing, gene analysis, gene recombination experiments, and gut bacteria analysis. Revenue generated through project-based service contracts.
2. Research Reagent Manufacturing and Sales (研究用試薬製造販売): Manufacturing and sales of research reagents for molecular biology applications including genetic analysis, gene testing, and DNA testing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

PGL provides outsourced molecular biology and genetic analysis services on a contract basis. Service lines include DNA paternity and personal identification (STR), SNP-based genetic analysis, gene cloning and recombinant protein expression, gut bacteria extraction and quantification, virus DNA insertion site analysis using the proprietary PGL Method, and R&D for in vitro diagnostic marker development. Customers are research institutions, universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and individuals in Japan.

Product overview

PGL (Progress Gene Laboratories) offers a suite of genetic analysis and testing services as a contract research organization. The core offerings include the proprietary PGL Method for viral DNA insertion site analysis, DNA testing using STR analysis for paternity and forensic identification, SNP-based genetic analysis, genetic recombination experiments with protein expression, gut bacteria extraction and analysis, and R&D services for in vitro diagnostic marker development. Services are delivered to research institutions, universities, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies across Japan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PGL Method — Virus DNA Insertion Site Analysis (ウイルスDNA挿入位置の解析) Contract analysis service using PGL's proprietary method (patent pending) to detect foreign genes integrated into host genomes. Identifies where a target gene sequence is located in the genome at low cost, supports multiple integration sites, and reports results as fusion genes with flanking genomic sequences. Applications include transgene insertion site identification, viral integration site mapping, and fusion gene discovery.
• DNA Testing — Paternity and Personal Identification (DNA鑑定) Parentage testing and individual identification using Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis on 15 STR loci simultaneously with the Life Technologies AmpFlster Identifiler system — the same platform used by U.S. government agencies and Japanese police institutions. Theoretical probability of non-paternity exclusion in the hundreds of millions to one.
• Genetic Analysis — SNP Analysis (遺伝子解析 / SNP解析)

Quantifiable outcome

• DNA paternity testing accuracy: theoretical false positive rate of hundreds of millions to one, expressed as 99.99%+ probability of parentage

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific)coreTechnology or IntegrationPGL uses Life Technologies' AmpFlster Identifiler system for DNA paternity testing and personal identification. This is the same technology used by U.S. government agencies and Japanese police institutions, providing PGL's services with established forensic-grade reliability.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Takara Bio: Japanese molecular biology tools and services company offering gene cloning, protein expression, PCR reagents, and genetic analysis services. Highly comparable to PGL's genetic recombination and SNP analysis offerings, with a much broader product catalog and international presence.
• Sysmex: Japanese in vitro diagnostics leader expanding into molecular diagnostics and genetic testing for clinical applications. Comparable to PGL's diagnostic biomarker R&D trajectory, though operating at vastly larger scale with regulatory IVD expertise.
• BGI Group: China-based global genomics powerhouse offering high-throughput sequencing, genetic analysis, and contract research services. Comparable to PGL in genetic analysis capabilities, though operating at enormous scale with comprehensive multi-omic offerings.
• Eurofins Genomics: A global contract genomics services provider offering DNA sequencing, SNP genotyping, gene synthesis, and paternity testing across pharma, academic, and consumer segments. Directly comparable to PGL's full-service genetic analysis menu, though at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Macrogen: Korea-based genomics services company providing DNA sequencing, SNP genotyping, and molecular biology services to research institutions and pharma. Direct comparable to PGL's contract research offerings, though Macrogen operates at larger scale with global reach.
• DNAFORM (RIKEN Genesis): Japanese contract genomics company providing DNA sequencing, SNP analysis, and genetic testing services. Direct comparable to PGL's SNP analysis and DNA testing service lines, targeting the same Japanese research and clinical customers.

Regional players

• Medical & Biological Laboratories (MBL): Japanese life sciences company providing molecular biology reagents, antibody products, and genetic analysis services. Comparable to PGL in domestic Japanese research market, with broader reagent and IVD offerings.
• Cosmos Bio: Japanese life science reagent and contract services company offering molecular biology products and genetic analysis services. Direct comparable to PGL in the Japanese market, with overlapping gene analysis and reagent offerings.
• Hokkaido System Science: Japanese contract research organization providing genetic analysis, DNA testing, and molecular biology services to research institutions and individuals. Direct comparable to PGL in domestic Japanese paternity testing and research services market.

Others

• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Life Technologies): Global life sciences technology and services company whose AmpFlSTR Identifiler platform PGL uses for paternity testing. Functions as a key technology supplier/partner to PGL, and offers broader genetic analysis services that compete with PGL's menu at the upper end of the market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 PGL