Company Directory

Reference materials, genomics tools and measurement science for life sciences

LGC is a life science reagents and reference materials company providing analytical standards, genomics tools and measurement science services to the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, food safety and research sectors. Its portfolio spans certified reference substances, nucleic acid synthesis, genomic analysis reagents and proficiency testing schemes embedded in quality assurance workflows globally. LGC hosts the UK's National Measurement Laboratory for chemical and biological measurement and performs the statutory role of Government Chemist.

Molecular biology reagents and immunological raw materials for diagnostics

Meridian Bioscience's UK operation manufactures and supplies molecular biology reagents and immunological raw materials to diagnostic test developers, pharmaceutical companies, and research institutions worldwide. Products include ultra-pure nucleotides, DNA polymerases, PCR master mixes, purified antigens and antibodies, and isothermal amplification reagents used as critical components in the development and manufacture of molecular and immunological diagnostic tests. The London facility is one of the world's few producers of ultra-pure dNTPs.

Semiconductor platform for benchtop gene synthesis

Evonetix is a company developing a semiconductor chip platform for de novo gene synthesis. Its silicon array technology uses thermal control and on-chip error correction to enable accurate, gene-length DNA synthesis at the benchtop, with applications across engineering biology, medicine, agriculture, and materials science. The company has raised approximately $70 million in funding and is progressing towards commercial scale-up.

Enzymatic synthetic DNA manufacture for gene therapy and molecular biology

NunaBio is a specialist DNA synthesis company developing a cell-free enzymatic platform for scalable production of synthetic DNA, including long oligonucleotides, whole genes and DNA fragments. Its technology avoids the plasmid and primer-dependent steps that constrain conventional phosphoramidite chemistry, enabling higher accuracy and length at reduced cost. Applications span gene therapy, T cell engineering, viral vector synthesis, mRNA therapeutics, diagnostics and DNA data storage.

Computational DNA design for durable genetic medicines

Houdini Bio is an early-stage biotechnology company using computational synthetic biology to redesign DNA for improved performance in genetic medicines. The company is developing approaches to enhance the durability and scalability of gene expression, with potential applications across gene therapies and DNA-based therapeutics. Houdini Bio is currently operating in stealth and is backed by Future Planet Capital.

Custom peptide synthesis, antibodies, and protein analysis services

Alta Bioscience is a manufacturer and accredited analytical laboratory specialising in custom biochemical synthesis and protein analysis services. The company produces custom peptides, peptide libraries, DNA oligonucleotides, and polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for academic, pharmaceutical, and food industry clients worldwide. Analytical services include amino acid analysis, N-terminal Edman protein sequencing, HPLC, and mass spectrometry. The laboratory holds UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for amino acid analysis and protein sequencing.

Novel gene synthesis technology for faster, lower-cost DNA production

Blue Beagle Bio is an early-stage biotechnology company developing a novel gene synthesis method aimed at delivering faster turnaround times and lower costs compared to existing commercial services. The company targets researchers in academia, SMEs, and the pharmaceutical industry, where access to accurate synthetic DNA remains a limiting factor in biological research and development workflows. Blue Beagle Bio was establishing its first commercial offering in 2026.

GMP-grade cell-free synthetic DNA for genetic medicines

4basebio is a biotechnology manufacturing company producing GMP-grade synthetic DNA for use in cell and gene therapies, mRNA vaccines and genome editing applications. Using an enzymatic, cell-free synthesis process, the company manufactures application-specific linear DNA constructs that overcome the purity and scalability limitations of conventional plasmid-based systems. 4basebio holds MHRA GMP certification for clinical-grade manufacture and also develops non-viral nanoparticle delivery systems for genetic medicine applications.

Global life science tools, reagents, and bioprocessing supplier

Merck Life Science UK Limited is the UK subsidiary of Merck KGaA, a German science and technology company founded in 1668. The UK life science operation supplies research reagents, laboratory chemicals, filtration products, and bioprocessing materials to academic, industrial, and pharmaceutical customers. UK sites include commercial offices in Poole and Cambridge, a major distribution centre in Gillingham, and a European Centre of Excellence for oligonucleotide manufacturing in Haverhill, Suffolk.

Programmable synthetic organelle tools for protein expression and purification

Ailurus is a synthetic biology company that develops programmable biological systems and sells them as research tools to life science customers. Its current product uses synthetic membraneless organelles engineered through genetic code to streamline protein expression and purification in bacterial hosts, reducing reliance on traditional column-based downstream processing. The company also provides cloud-lab services for protein engineering, gene synthesis, and codon optimisation, with a longer-term mission to develop standardised programming biological systems at scale.

Contract synthesis of custom and modified oligonucleotides

ATDBio is a UK-based contract oligonucleotide synthesis company specialising in chemically modified DNA and RNA oligonucleotides for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Its services span discovery through preclinical scale, encompassing antisense oligonucleotides, siRNA, aptamers, and diagnostic probes, with a broad range of backbone, sugar, and terminal modifications including LNA, phosphorothioate, and GalNAc conjugates. Laboratories are ISO 9001 certified and based at the University of Southampton and Oxford Science Park.

Biological IP management platform combining DNA barcoding and version control

GitLife Biotech is a synthetic biology company developing infrastructure for biological asset management and IP protection. Its platform combines a version-controlled digital registry for engineered biological assets with cryptographically secure DNA barcodes physically embedded into organisms, enabling biotech organisations to track provenance, enforce licensing, and prevent unauthorised reuse of engineered strains. The technology addresses IP leakage and reproducibility challenges across synthetic biology and industrial biotechnology.