What Hokkaido System Science does

Hokkaido System Science Co., Ltd. ("HSS") is a privately held Japanese life sciences service company founded in 1988 and headquartered in Sapporo, Hokkaido. The company operates a Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) model organized around custom nucleic acid synthesis and downstream analytical services. Core service lines include unmodified and modified DNA/RNA oligonucleotide synthesis at scales from research (picomoles) to commercial (grams), antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) design and synthesis, GMP-manufactured nucleic acid pharmaceutical active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), next-generation sequencing on Illumina and PacBio platforms, capillary/Sanger sequencing, microarray analysis using Agilent platforms, custom peptide synthesis, polyclonal and monoclonal antibody production, and N-terminal protein sequencing. HSS also distributes branded consumables (LaboPass, LipoTrust) and bench equipment (DuxCycler PCR thermal cycler, X-ray irradiation unit).

HSS serves three primary customer verticals: research institutions and academia (universities and national labs requiring custom oligos and analytical services), pharmaceutical companies (requiring CRDMO services for nucleic acid drug development including GMP manufacturing), and secondary diagnostics/testing labs (requiring primers, probes, and quality-controlled reagents). Its proprietary differentiation rests on a strategic partnership with Nagoya University's Asanuma Laboratory for the commercial synthesis of acyclic artificial nucleic acids (SNA and iL-αTNA) that exhibit higher nuclease resistance and lower toxicity than conventional sugar-modified nucleic acids, plus a pending PCT patent (PCT/JP2021/003332) covering D-sU modified anti-miRNA oligonucleotides. The company maintains ISO 9001 certification for contract analysis services and is structured for traceability and regulatory compliance.

The business model is overwhelmingly project-based and fee-for-service, with one-time per-order pricing on most synthesis and sequencing lines and quote-based pricing on CRDMO engagements. Orders are captured through a self-serve member portal ("MY HSS Web"), dedicated email channels per service category (NGS, protein, bio, array), a toll-free NGS inquiry line, and dedicated consultation desks launched in 2026 for nucleic acid synthesis feasibility. Customers are reached via the corporate website, technical publications, and academic conference participation including the Japanese Society for Nucleic Acid Medicine annual meeting. Services are delivered domestically across Japan, with operational concentration in Hokkaido evidenced by recent changes to Sapporo/Ebetsu delivery zones. HSS employs 51-100 staff and operates independently with no disclosed parent company, external investors, or M&A activity.

Name

Hokkaido System Science

Legal name

Hokkaido System Science Co., Ltd.

Website

https://hssnet.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hokkaido System Science is a Sapporo-headquartered Japanese life sciences service company that provides custom DNA/RNA oligonucleotide synthesis, modified nucleic acids, next-generation sequencing, peptide synthesis, antibody production, and nucleic acid pharmaceutical API CRDMO services to research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and diagnostics labs across Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotechnology Contract Research and Manufacturing Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

mRNA/LNP & Nucleic Acid Therapeutics CDMO (HLAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Genomics & Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services (HLAGANAA), Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services (HLAGANAE)

Keywords

• Nucleic acid synthesis
• Oligonucleotide manufacturing
• DNA sequencing services
• Contract research services
• Peptide synthesis services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sapporo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Nucleic Acid Synthesis Services: Synthesis services for DNA, RNA, and modified oligonucleotides offered on a per-order basis with various scale and purity options. Customers select synthesis scale, purification method, and modifications based on their research needs.
2. NGS and Sequencing Services: Next-generation sequencing and capillary sequencing analysis services provided on a project basis. Pricing varies by sequencer type, read depth, and analysis options selected.
3. CRDMO Services: Contract research, development, and manufacturing organization services for nucleic acid pharmaceutical APIs including antisense oligonucleotides, with GMP manufacturing capabilities.
4. Peptide Synthesis Services: Custom peptide synthesis services with various purity levels (Immunological >50% to >98%), scale options, and modification services.
5. Antibody Production Services: Polyclonal and monoclonal antibody production services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Hokkaido System Science provides custom DNA, RNA, and modified oligonucleotide synthesis, next-generation sequencing (NGS) and capillary sequencing analysis, microarray analysis, peptide synthesis, antibody production, and nucleic acid pharmaceutical API CRDMO services. The company operates as a one-stop contract research, development, and manufacturing organization for nucleic acid drugs and related biotechnology research services for research institutions and pharmaceutical companies in Japan.

Product overview

Hokkaido System Science (北海道システム・サイエンス株式会社) operates as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) for nucleic acid pharmaceuticals, offering a comprehensive portfolio of services centered on oligonucleotide synthesis and analysis. The core offerings include DNA/RNA synthesis services (unmodified and modified), CRISPR-related services (off-target evaluation, cell-based assays), and the nucleic acid pharmaceutical API CRDMO service with GMP manufacturing. The company provides complete downstream analytical services including next-generation sequencing (NGS) using Illumina and PacBio platforms, capillary/Sanger sequencing, microarray analysis, and bioinformatics data processing. Supporting services include peptide synthesis, antibody production (polyclonal and monoclonal), N-terminal sequencing, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry (ISH/IHC) products, primary cell culture kits and tools, and various laboratory consumables (LaboPass, LipoTrust series). The product architecture is organized into seven main categories: Nucleic Acid Pharmaceutical CRDMO, DNA/RNA/Modified Nucleic Acids, NGS, DNA Sequencing, Microarray, Protein-related services, and Related Products & Services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MY HSS Web: Member service portal for DNA and RNA synthesis orders
• LaboPass™
• LipoTrust™
• GRAS-Di®
• Corocoro Rack
• Hiezo (冷藏くん)
• Raku Rack (楽ラック)
• DuxCycler

Products and services

• DNA Synthesis Service Unmodified DNA oligonucleotide synthesis service for research applications, available in scales from OLIGO KIDS to gram-scale.
• RNA Synthesis Service Unmodified RNA oligonucleotide synthesis service for research and in vitro applications.
• Modified Oligonucleotide Synthesis Synthesis of chemically modified oligonucleotides including phosphorothioate (PS) modifications, Rf modifications for cell membrane permeability, fluorescent labels, and various backbone modifications for research and therapeutic applications.
• Antisense Oligonucleotide (ASO) Design and Synthesis Antisense oligonucleotide design and synthesis service including gapmer-type ASOs targeting sequences for gene silencing applications, supporting nucleic acid drug discovery and preclinical development.
• Nucleic Acid Pharmaceutical API CRDMO Service Full-service Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization service for nucleic acid pharmaceutical active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), including GMP-grade oligonucleotide synthesis, off-target evaluation, cell-based assays, and animal/non-clinical testing.
• Scale-up Synthesis (mg to g) Large-scale oligonucleotide synthesis service from milligram to gram scale for preclinical and commercial applications of nucleic acid drugs.
• Nucleic Acid Synthesis Express Plan Expedited-turnaround nucleic acid synthesis service for customers requiring faster delivery of custom oligonucleotides at a premium price.
• Nucleic Acid Synthesis Consultation Desk Dedicated consultation service for researchers and pharmaceutical customers to receive guidance on nucleic acid synthesis specifications, feasibility, and experimental design prior to order placement.
• Acyclic Artificial Nucleic Acid Synthesis (SNA/iL-aTNA) Specialty synthesis service for non-cyclic artificial nucleic acids SNA (Serinol Nucleic Acid) and iL-aTNA, developed by Nagoya University, offering improved nuclease resistance and lower toxicity for siRNA, AMO, and ASO applications.
• Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Analysis Service Comprehensive NGS analysis services including whole genome sequencing, exome sequencing, transcriptome analysis, microbial community analysis, amplicon sequencing, and CRISPR screening analysis on Illumina and PacBio platforms.
• Illumina Amplicon Sequencing Deep sequencing of PCR products using Illumina sequencers (NovaSeq, NextSeq, MiSeq) with quantitative read counting and sample comparison analysis.
• Capillary Sequencing (Sanger) Sanger DNA sequencing service using capillary electrophoresis, including primer walking and microbial identification applications.
• Microarray Analysis Service Gene expression microarray and miRNA microarray analysis services using Agilent platforms, with scanning, feature extraction, and data mining.
• Peptide Synthesis Custom peptide synthesis service offering purity levels from Immunological >50% to >98%, scale options from 5–100 mg, and modifications including FITC, biotin, phosphorylation, and cyclic peptides.
• Polyclonal Antibody Production Custom polyclonal antibody production service covering antigen design, animal immunization, and bleed collection for research and diagnostic reagent generation.
• Monoclonal Antibody Production Custom monoclonal antibody production service using hybridoma technology for research-grade and diagnostic antibody generation.
• N-terminal Amino Acid Sequence Analysis Protein N-terminal sequencing service for amino acid sequence determination by Edman degradation or related chemistry.
• Metabolome Analysis Service Contract metabolome analysis service for detecting and quantifying small molecule compounds, organic acids, and amino acids in biological samples.
• ISH/IHC Related Products and Services In situ hybridization (FISH, CISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) services including tissue sectioning, IHC staining, and laser microdissection.
• Primary Cell Culture Related Products Primary cell culture kits and tools including hepatocytes, cardiomyocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, osteoclasts, and adipose tissue-related products.
• LaboPass Products Series Laboratory reagent product line including FFPE sample purification kits and various laboratory consumables.
• LaboPass FFPE Sample Purification Kit Two new LaboPass purification kits for genomic DNA extraction and RNA extraction from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, launched in June 2026.
• LipoTrust Series Lipid-related research products and tools sold under the LipoTrust brand.
• Cell Membrane Permeable Rf Modification Special Trial Special limited trial offering free provision of cell-membrane-permeable Rf modification reagent and special-trial modified oligonucleotide synthesis to qualified customers.
• PS Modification Fee Free Campaign Limited-time campaign offering PS (phosphorothioate) modification of oligonucleotides at no additional charge for orders received between April 22 and July 31, 2026.
• Inspection Primer Primers designed for genetic detection testing of viruses and bacteria, manufactured under strict quality control for diagnostic kits.
• Off-Target Gene Search/Evaluation Service Bioinformatics service for searching and evaluating potential off-target effects of antisense oligonucleotides and siRNAs to support nucleic acid drug safety assessment.
• Cell-based Assay Service Cell-based screening and assay services for evaluating oligonucleotide efficacy and toxicity in support of nucleic acid drug development.
• Animal Testing/Non-clinical Studies Non-clinical animal testing services for evaluating oligonucleotide therapeutics in vivo, supporting IND-enabling preclinical development.
• X-ray Irradiation Unit System X-ray irradiation equipment system for research applications including cell irradiation studies, sold as a research instrument.
• DuxCycler PCR Thermal Cycler PCR thermal cycler instrument for research use, sold under the DuxCycler brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% or higher of approximately 1,000 bacterial strains successfully sequenced and genotyped for a government research institute
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Nagoya University - Asanuma Laboratory (浅沼研究室)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Nagoya University Life Science Division, Molecular Chemistry Laboratory (浅沼研究室) to provide SNA (Serinol Nucleic Acid) and iL-αTNA (interrupted L-α-threonine nucleic acid) artificial nucleic acid synthesis services. These proprietary artificial nucleic acids developed by the university offer superior properties for nucleic acid drug applications including stable double-strand formation with natural DNA/RNA, high nuclease resistance, and lower toxicity. A separate contract with Nagoya University is required for customers to use these products.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT, Danaher): Global market-leading custom oligonucleotide manufacturer with extensive modification catalogue; competes across HSS's research-oligo and modified-oligo service lines.
• Asahi Kasei (Asahi Kasei Bioprocess / Life Science): Diversified Japanese conglomerate with oligonucleotide manufacturing operations serving nucleic-acid therapeutics — provides a scaled domestic competing reference point for HSS.
• Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma: Japanese CDMO with nucleic-acid and oligonucleotide manufacturing capability as part of a broader pharma services portfolio — relevant benchmark for HSS's CRDMO ambitions.
• Lonza: Largest global CDMO with active oligonucleotide and mRNA manufacturing services — sets the upper-bound competitive standard against which HSS's CDMO ambitions will be evaluated.
• Eurofins Genomics: Global genomics services provider offering custom oligos, Sanger sequencing, and NGS — competing with HSS's catalogue synthesis and sequencing service lines.

Direct peers

• Takara Bio: Japan-headquartered life-science tools and CDMO business with overlapping offerings in oligonucleotide synthesis, NGS services, and nucleic-acid drug support reagents — directly comparable Asian peer in the oligo/CRDMO space.
• Macrogen: Asia-headquartered DNA sequencing and oligo-synthesis service provider with comparable NGS and custom-synthesis offerings.
• GeneDesign (Eurofins Genomics Japan): Japan-based custom oligonucleotide synthesis and DNA sequencing service provider, directly competing with HSS's research-oligo and Sanger/NGS service lines.
• Nitto Denko Avecia (Kinovate Life Sciences): Specialist oligonucleotide CDMO serving therapeutic ASO and siRNA programs with GMP capacity — direct competitor in HSS's nucleic-acid API CRDMO target segment.

Emerging players

• Bioneer Corporation: Korean molecular-diagnostics and oligonucleotide-synthesis company with overlapping DNA synthesis and NGS service offerings targeted at research customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

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 Hokkaido System Science