NATiAS

NATiAS Inc., formerly known as Shikoku Nucleic Acid Chemistry, is a Japanese biotechnology company established on October 2, 2015. The company was founded by Masanori Kataoka, Ph.D., an expert in nucleic acid chemistry with a history as an assistant professor at Nagoya University and a research associate professor at Kochi University. His expertise in nucleotide synthesis, including liquid-phase and solid-phase synthesis technologies, forms the foundation of the company. The company name is an acronym for Nucleic Acid Technologies in Accelerated Synthesis, which also reads as \"Saitan\" (shortest) when reversed in Japanese, reflecting its core technical mission to shorten manufacturing processes.

NATiAS operates as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in oligonucleotide Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). The company serves pharmaceutical companies and drug discovery ventures by providing high-purity oligonucleotides on scales ranging from milligrams to tons. Its primary business streams include contract manufacturing of nucleic acids (such as APIs and primers for PCR genetic testing), sales of its proprietary \"Blockmer™\" intermediates, and joint development of equipment and synthesis technologies. The business model leverages its proprietary Blockmer™ technology, which significantly shortens the synthesis process, improves purity by reducing impurities, and lowers production costs compared to conventional methods. This technology also enables the creation of stereo-controlled oligonucleotides, a significant advancement over traditional methods that produce a mixture of diastereomers.

The company is headquartered in Kobe, Japan, within the Kobe International Business Center, placing it in a major biocluster. NATiAS has received investments from prominent entities including Mitsui Chemicals, Toray Engineering, Nissei Capital, and Minato Capital. A key business alliance was formed with Mitsui Chemicals in March 2022 to establish a business for oligonucleotide raw materials and a CDMO service. As part of its social contribution, NATiAS offers free oligonucleotide samples to academic researchers studying rare and intractable diseases to alleviate financial burdens and promote R&D.

Keywords: Oligonucleotide synthesis, API manufacturing, CDMO, nucleic acid therapeutics, Blockmer technology, liquid-phase synthesis, contract development, pharmaceutical raw materials, PCR primers, drug discovery, biotechnology, gene synthesis, Kobe, Japan, nucleic acid chemistry, CpG ODN, mRNA production, rare diseases research support, nucleotide analogs.