Biosearch Technologies

Biosearch Technologies is an American biotechnology company focused on products and services used in molecular biology, genomics, diagnostics, and biotechnology manufacturing. The company supplies custom and research-use nucleic-acid products, including oligonucleotides, primers, fluorescent probes, PCR-related reagents, and other components used to detect, amplify, and analyze genetic material. Its portfolio also includes laboratory kits, molecular assay development capabilities, and software intended to support the design of real-time PCR and SNP-genotyping assays. The company was founded in 1993 by Dr. Ronald Cook, building on technical experience associated with an earlier venture, Biosearch Inc. That predecessor produced DNA-synthesis instruments, including the SAM I synthesizer. Biosearch's historical importance in PCR research is linked to the use of one of those early instruments by Kary Mullis during work connected with the development of polymerase chain reaction. Mullis later acknowledged Biosearch Inc. and Cook in his 1993 Nobel lecture. Biosearch Technologies expanded through acquisitions before becoming part of the LGC group. In 2013, it acquired the oligonucleotide-manufacturing business of DNA Technology and acquired VitraBio, a company associated with porous-glass production. LGC acquired Biosearch Technologies in 2015, after which the business operated within LGC's Genomics division. In 2016, LGC acquired Douglas Scientific and combined its operations with Biosearch Technologies, strengthening the broader group's capabilities in PCR instrumentation and molecular biology workflows. The business serves customers in pharmaceutical research and development, agricultural biotechnology, clinical and molecular diagnostics, food and environmental testing, government laboratories, and academic research. According to the referenced company description, its operating network includes nine manufacturing facilities and three service laboratories in the United States and Europe. Its offerings include licensed dyes and primers, Stellaris fluorescence in situ hybridization probes, custom oligonucleotide production, assay-design support, and RealTimeDesign, a web-based design tool for real-time PCR and SNP-genotyping assays. The company has also developed detection panels for influenza-related applications, including H1N1 and avian influenza A. Biosearch Technologies is now presented as an LGC Genomics business rather than as an independently listed public company. Its role within LGC is that of a specialized provider of nucleic-acid manufacturing, molecular assay components, and genomic laboratory solutions for research, industrial, and diagnostic users.

Biosearch Technologies was established in 1993 by Dr. Ronald Cook. Its origins are connected with Biosearch Inc., an earlier enterprise that developed and manufactured DNA-synthesis instruments. This technical heritage placed the company in the emerging field of automated oligonucleotide production, which became increasingly important as PCR, genomic research, and molecular diagnostics expanded. The company's historical connection to PCR research is particularly notable. Kary Mullis, whose work on polymerase chain reaction led to the 1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, referred in his Nobel lecture to Biosearch Inc. and Cook's contribution. An early SAM I DNA synthesizer supplied by Cook's organization was used in work supporting Mullis's PCR research. This recognition does not mean that Biosearch invented PCR, but it identifies the company as an early instrumentation supplier in the development of practical nucleic-acid research workflows. Biosearch Technologies subsequently developed a broader molecular-biology portfolio. Its activities came to include nucleic-acid production, primers, fluorescent dyes, probes, PCR systems, diagnostic products, and laboratory kits and services. The company also developed or supplied tools for assay design, including RealTimeDesign, a web-based platform intended to help researchers design real-time PCR and SNP-genotyping assays. Its probe technologies included Stellaris FISH products, which are used for fluorescence-based detection of RNA and other molecular targets. Expansion through acquisition became an important part of the company's development. In 2013, Biosearch Technologies acquired the oligonucleotide-manufacturing arm of DNA Technology. It also acquired VitraBio, a producer of porous glass. These transactions expanded the company's manufacturing and materials capabilities and supported its position as a supplier of integrated components for nucleic-acid workflows. In 2015, LGC acquired Biosearch Technologies. The business became part of LGC's Genomics division and continued operating under the Biosearch Technologies name, also described in the reference material as LGC Biosearch Technologies. The acquisition placed Biosearch within a larger international life-sciences group with activities spanning genomics, analytical measurement, and laboratory-related markets. LGC expanded the associated capabilities again in 2016 by acquiring Douglas Scientific and combining its operations with Biosearch Technologies. The combination linked Biosearch's nucleic-acid and assay expertise with additional PCR and laboratory-system capabilities. Over time, the business served a wide customer base that included pharmaceutical companies, agricultural-biotechnology organizations, diagnostic developers, food-safety laboratories, environmental-testing users, government agencies, and academic institutions. The referenced company description states that Biosearch Technologies operates through nine manufacturing facilities and three service laboratories in the United States and Europe. Its activities include custom and commercial nucleic-acid production, molecular assay components, PCR-related systems, and technical services. The company has also worked on detection panels for infectious-disease applications, including H1N1 and avian influenza A. In its current organizational context, Biosearch Technologies is best understood as an LGC Genomics business specializing in genomic reagents, oligonucleotides, probes, molecular diagnostics, and supporting laboratory technologies.

1. 2016Douglas Scientific operations are merged with Biosearch

   LGC combined Douglas Scientific's operations with Biosearch Technologies after acquiring Douglas Scientific.

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2. 2015Acquisition by LGC

   LGC acquired Biosearch Technologies and incorporated it into the LGC Genomics organization.

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3. 2013Expansion through DNA Technology and VitraBio acquisitions

   Biosearch Technologies acquired DNA Technology's oligonucleotide-manufacturing arm and acquired VitraBio, a porous-glass producer.

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4. 1993Biosearch Technologies is founded

   Dr. Ronald Cook founded Biosearch Technologies, building on expertise from the earlier Biosearch Inc. DNA-synthesis-instrument business.

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5. 1993Biosearch technology is recognized in PCR research history

   Kary Mullis referred to Biosearch Inc. and Ronald Cook in his Nobel lecture concerning PCR, citing the role of an early SAM I DNA synthesizer in supporting his research.

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A specialized genomics and molecular-biology supplier combining custom nucleic-acid manufacturing, probe and assay technologies, PCR-related products, and laboratory services for pharmaceutical, diagnostic, agricultural, food-safety, environmental, government, and academic customers.

• Custom oligonucleotidesNucleic-acid manufacturing

  Custom-produced oligonucleotides are supplied for research, assay development, genomics, diagnostics, and biotechnology manufacturing. The company's manufacturing heritage is rooted in DNA-synthesis instrumentation and later expanded through the acquisition of an oligonucleotide-manufacturing business.

• Stellaris FISH probesMolecular probes

  Stellaris products are fluorescence in situ hybridization probes used for imaging and detecting RNA targets in biological samples. They form part of Biosearch Technologies' broader portfolio of labeled probes and molecular detection products.

• RealTimeDesignBioinformatics and assay design software

  RealTimeDesign is a web-based design service intended to help scientists develop oligonucleotides for real-time PCR and SNP-genotyping assays. It supports the design stage of molecular workflows before laboratory synthesis and testing.

• PCR primers, dyes, and assay componentsPCR and molecular diagnostics

  Biosearch Technologies supplies primers, fluorescent dyes, and related components used in PCR, qPCR, genotyping, and molecular detection workflows. These products serve research and applied laboratory users across diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food safety, and environmental testing.

• Influenza detection panelsMolecular diagnostic panels

  The company has developed detection panels for influenza-related applications, including H1N1 and avian influenza A. These panels illustrate the use of its probe, primer, and assay-development capabilities in infectious-disease testing.

• Molecular biology laboratory kits and servicesLaboratory products and services

  Biosearch Technologies offers laboratory kits and related services supporting nucleic-acid analysis, PCR workflows, diagnostics, and biotechnology research. The portfolio is aimed at both routine laboratory use and custom or contract-oriented molecular applications.

• 2016Combine Douglas Scientific operations with Biosearch TechnologiesStrategy

  LGC acquired Douglas Scientific after acquiring Biosearch Technologies and sought to combine complementary molecular-biology capabilities.

  What changed. LGC merged Douglas Scientific's operations with Biosearch Technologies.

  Aftermath. The combination strengthened the broader business's association with PCR systems, molecular assays, and genomic laboratory workflows.

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• 2015Join the LGC Genomics groupM&A

  Biosearch Technologies had developed a portfolio spanning nucleic-acid production, diagnostics, PCR systems, probes, and laboratory services.

  What changed. LGC acquired Biosearch Technologies and placed it within the group's Genomics division.

  Aftermath. Biosearch Technologies continued as an LGC genomics business serving customers in the United States, Europe, and multiple applied life-sciences markets.

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• 2013Acquire DNA Technology's oligonucleotide business and VitraBioM&A

  Biosearch Technologies sought to expand its nucleic-acid manufacturing and materials capabilities.

  What changed. The company acquired the oligonucleotide-manufacturing arm of DNA Technology and the entirety of VitraBio, a porous-glass manufacturer.

  Aftermath. The transactions broadened the company's manufacturing base and supported its integrated genomics-product offering.

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• 2016Douglas Scientific operations are combined with Biosearch Technologies

  Following LGC's acquisition of Douglas Scientific, the companies' operations were merged, broadening the molecular-biology and PCR capabilities associated with the Biosearch Technologies business.

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• 2015Biosearch Technologies is acquired by LGC

  LGC acquired Biosearch Technologies, bringing the California biotechnology business into LGC's genomics operations.

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• 1993Biosearch technology is acknowledged in the history of PCR research

  Kary Mullis acknowledged Biosearch Inc. and Dr. Ronald Cook in his Nobel lecture for supplying an early SAM I DNA synthesizer associated with PCR research.

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1. Biosearch Technologies