| LGC Biosearch Technologies | |
| Former Name: | Biosearch Technologies, Inc. |
| Type: | Private |
| Foundation: | 1993 |
| Location: | Hoddesdon, United Kingdom |
| Num Locations: | 11 |
| Key People: | Tim Robinson CEO |
| Industry: | Biotechnology |
| Homepage: | Biosearchtech.com |
LGC Biosearch Technologies is a biotechnology company headquartered in Hoddesdon, UK. It is a subsidiary of LGC Ltd specializing in nucleic acid production, PCR systems, and other molecular biology lab kits and services.[1] [2]
LGC Biosearch Technologies employs over 1,200 people across 4 countries.[3] Part of the Genomics Division of LGC, Biosearch Technologies has a network of nine manufacturing facilities and three service labs and serves customers across a number of markets including pharmaceuticals, agricultural biotechnology, diagnostics, food safety, environment, government and academia.
Although Biosearch Technologies was founded in 1993, its roots can be traced back to 1979 when it was preceded by Dr. Ronald Cook's first company, Biosearch, Inc. Biosearch, Inc. experienced 9 years of DNA synthesis instrumentation and chemistry by playing a key role in engineering and manufacturing one of the first automated solid-phase DNA synthesis instruments, the SAM I. As time progressed, Biosearch was also able to bring other DNA synthesizers to market such as the Biosearch 8700, Biosearch 8800 Prep, and the Cyclone.
In 1987, Biosearch was acquired by New Brunswick Scientific,[4] who sold the Biosearch unit to Millipore Corporation in 1988.[5] By 1989, Biosearch was renamed Milligen-Biosearch. Due to the loss of several corporate officers, Milligen-Biosearch was subsequently acquired by PerSeptive Biosystems, which in turn was acquired by Applied Biosystems who eventually retired the Biosearch name and products.
After taking a short hiatus, Dr. Cook decided to return to the oligonucleotide industry and founded what is currently known as Biosearch Technologies, Inc.[6] In 2013, Biosearch acquired the oligonucleotide manufacturing arm of DNA Technology and the entirety of VitraBio, a maker of porous glass.
Biosearch Technologies was acquired by LGC in 2015.[7] In 2016 Douglas Scientific was also acquired by LGC, and merged operations with Biosearch Technologies.[8]
When Kary Mullis received the Nobel Prize in 1993 and gave his Nobel Lecture concerning his invention of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, he acknowledged Biosearch and Dr. Cook's role in providing him one of the first SAM I DNA synthesizers which was used to support Kary Mullis' PCR research.[9]
Biosearch Technologies licenses products meant for lab work and biotechnology manufacturing, including dyes and primers, as well as Stellaris FISH probes.[10] [11] [12] In the past, they have developed detection panels for both H1N1 and Avian Influenza A. In addition, they offer a web-based software called RealTimeDesign to help scientists craft custom oligonucleotides.[13]