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A life-science technology company supplying research reagents, analytical instruments, diagnostic products and bioprocessing solutions.

Last updated August 31, 2026

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Overview

Bio-Techne is an American life-science technology company that develops, manufactures and sells reagents, instruments and related services for scientific research, clinical diagnostics and bioprocessing. Its portfolio serves laboratories working in areas such as cell biology, genomics, proteomics, immunology, spatial biology, molecular diagnostics and biologic-drug development. The company is best known as a supplier of specialized biological materials and analytical platforms rather than as a consumer-facing healthcare brand. The business began in 1976 as Research and Diagnostic Systems, founded by Roger C. Lucas. In 1985 it merged into Techne Corporation, which became a public company. The organization subsequently expanded from a reagent-focused operation into a broader life-science platform through organic development and a long series of acquisitions. In February 2014, the company changed its name to Bio-Techne, a rebranding intended to represent a wider set of technologies and applications than its earlier corporate identity. Bio-Techne's products include recombinant proteins, antibodies, immunoassays, molecular biology reagents, cell and gene-analysis tools, sample-preparation products and laboratory instruments. Its instruments and platforms support protein characterization, automated western blotting, single-cell and spatial analysis, tissue imaging, biomarker detection and other workflows. The company also supplies materials and testing solutions used in bioprocessing and diagnostic development. A substantial portion of its business is organized around specialist brands and acquired technology platforms, allowing it to address both basic research and more translational applications. The company broadened its capabilities particularly quickly between 2013 and 2019. Acquisitions during that period included Bionostics, PrimeGene, Novus Biologicals, ProteinSimple, CyVek, Cliniqa, Zephyrus Biosciences, Space Import-Export, Advanced Cell Diagnostics, Trevigen, Atlanta Biologicals, Quad Technologies, Exosome Diagnostics and B-Mogen. These transactions added capabilities in clinical quality control, recombinant proteins, antibody research, protein analysis, molecular diagnostics, single-cell analysis, tissue and spatial biology, and exosome-based testing. Bio-Techne continued its expansion in the 2020s. It acquired Asuragen in 2021, adding molecular-diagnostic and RNA-analysis capabilities, announced the planned acquisition of Namocell in 2022, and announced the acquisition of Lunaphore Technologies in 2023. Lunaphore extended the company's presence in spatial biology and tissue-analysis instrumentation. Through these activities, Bio-Techne has positioned itself as an enabling supplier whose products are incorporated into research, diagnostic and biopharmaceutical workflows worldwide. The company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and operates internationally. Its customers include academic and government researchers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, clinical laboratories and other life-science organizations. Bio-Techne's positioning combines high-value biological reagents with increasingly integrated instruments, software and workflow solutions. The authoritative subject here is the American company Bio-Techne, not a France-based standalone brand; the supplied France country field conflicts with the referenced company history and has therefore been corrected.

History

Bio-Techne traces its origins to Research and Diagnostic Systems, Inc., founded in 1976 by Roger C. Lucas. The original business focused on research and diagnostic biological products. In 1985, it merged into Techne Corporation, which became a public company and provided the corporate structure from which the modern Bio-Techne organization developed. For many years, the company was associated primarily with biological reagents, including proteins, antibodies and immunoassays. Its later strategy was to build a broader life-science tools platform by combining internally developed products with acquisitions of specialized companies. This approach enabled Bio-Techne to participate in more stages of laboratory and biopharmaceutical workflows, from basic discovery and biomarker research to clinical testing and bioprocess development. A significant management and portfolio transition began in 2013. Charles Kummeth was named chief executive in March of that year, and the company acquired Bionostics in July. Bionostics added diagnostic quality-control products. In 2014, the organization changed its name from Techne Corporation to Bio-Techne. During the same year it agreed to acquire Shanghai PrimeGene Bio-Tech Company, acquired Novus Biologicals and acquired ProteinSimple. These transactions expanded its reach in recombinant proteins, antibodies, protein analysis and laboratory instrumentation. The acquisition program continued in 2014 and 2015. Bio-Techne agreed to acquire CyVek, a company associated with multiplex protein-analysis technology, and later agreed to acquire Cliniqa Corporation. In 2016 it acquired Zephyrus Biosciences, adding further protein-analysis capabilities, and Space Import-Export. It also acquired Advanced Cell Diagnostics, strengthening its position in molecular and tissue analysis. In 2017, Trevigen joined the company, followed by Atlanta Biologicals in 2018. Bio-Techne also agreed to acquire Quad Technologies and acquired Exosome Diagnostics, broadening its capabilities in cell handling, exosome science and molecular diagnostics. In 2019, the company acquired B-Mogen. The next major phase came in 2021 with the acquisition of Asuragen, which added technologies and products related to molecular diagnostics and RNA analysis. In 2022 Bio-Techne announced that it would acquire Namocell. In 2023 it announced the acquisition of Lunaphore Technologies and completed the transaction in July. Lunaphore's technologies strengthened Bio-Techne's position in spatial biology, tissue imaging and multiplexed analysis. The resulting company operates across several connected markets. Its reagent activities support protein science, immunology, cell biology, genomics and molecular biology. Its instrument and platform activities provide automated or quantitative methods for analyzing proteins, cells, nucleic acids and tissue samples. Its diagnostic and bioprocessing activities address more regulated or translational applications. Rather than concentrating on one therapeutic product, Bio-Techne supplies enabling technologies used by academic laboratories, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical developers and diagnostic organizations. The company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has international operations. Its evolution from a reagent supplier into a diversified life-science technology company has been driven primarily by specialist acquisitions and the integration of complementary product lines. The available reference material does not provide enough information to document specific advertising campaigns, scandals, regulatory controversies or current executive succession beyond the leadership information listed below.

  • 2023

    Lunaphore acquisition completed

    [1]

    The completed acquisition strengthened Bio-Techne's spatial-biology and tissue-analysis activities.

  • 2021

    Asuragen acquired

    [1]

    Asuragen expanded Bio-Techne's molecular-diagnostic and RNA-analysis portfolio.

  • 2018

    Exosome Diagnostics acquired

    [1]

    Bio-Techne added exosome-focused molecular-diagnostic technology.

  • 2016

    Advanced Cell Diagnostics acquired

    [1]

    The acquisition broadened the company's molecular and tissue-analysis capabilities.

  • 2014

    Corporate rebranding and platform expansion

    [1]

    Techne Corporation adopted the Bio-Techne name and expanded through PrimeGene, Novus Biologicals and ProteinSimple transactions.

  • 2013

    New chief executive and Bionostics acquisition

    [1]

    Charles Kummeth became chief executive, and Bio-Techne acquired Bionostics.

  • 1985

    Merger into Techne Corporation

    [1]

    Research and Diagnostic Systems merged into Techne Corporation, which became a public company.

  • 1976

    Research and Diagnostic Systems founded

    [1]

    Roger C. Lucas founded Research and Diagnostic Systems, the predecessor of Bio-Techne.

Products and positioning

A specialized, multi-platform supplier for life-science research, diagnostics and bioprocessing, combining biological reagents with analytical instruments and workflow technologies.

  • Research reagents

    R&D Systems proteins and antibodies

    Bio-Techne's reagent portfolio includes recombinant proteins, antibodies, immunoassays and related biological materials used in protein science, immunology, cell biology and biomarker research. These products support laboratory detection, assay development and experimental analysis across academic, pharmaceutical and biotechnology settings.

  • Protein-analysis instruments

    ProteinSimple platforms

    ProteinSimple contributed instruments and workflow technologies for automated protein analysis. The platform family is associated with methods that streamline characterization and quantification of proteins, helping laboratories reduce manual processing and improve consistency in research and biopharmaceutical development.

  • Molecular and spatial biology

    Advanced Cell Diagnostics products

    Advanced Cell Diagnostics added molecular detection products used to study RNA and gene expression in cells and tissue. Its technologies support in situ analysis and help researchers connect molecular signals with cellular or tissue context, including applications in pathology, oncology and translational research.

  • Molecular diagnostics

    Exosome Diagnostics technologies

    The Exosome Diagnostics portfolio brought exosome-based approaches into Bio-Techne's broader diagnostic and translational technology offering. Exosomes can carry molecular information from cells, making them relevant to biomarker discovery and the development of minimally invasive diagnostic tests.

  • Spatial biology instruments

    Lunaphore spatial-biology platforms

    Lunaphore's technologies strengthen Bio-Techne's spatial-biology offering by enabling multiplexed analysis of biological markers in tissue. These platforms are designed for research workflows that require spatial context, including tumor biology, immunology, pathology and translational medicine.

Brand decisions

  • 2023

    Acquisition of Lunaphore TechnologiesM&A

    Background

    Bio-Techne sought to expand its capabilities in spatial biology and tissue analysis.

    Action taken

    The company announced the acquisition of Lunaphore Technologies and completed the transaction in July 2023.

    Aftermath

    Lunaphore's spatial-biology instrumentation became part of Bio-Techne's broader research-tools portfolio.

  • 2014

    Adoption of the Bio-Techne corporate nameStrategy

    Background

    The company was expanding beyond its historical reagent activities into instruments, diagnostics and broader life-science technologies.

    Action taken

    Techne Corporation changed its name to Bio-Techne.

    Aftermath

    The new identity represented the company's broader multi-platform life-science positioning.

Recent events

  • Bio-Techne and Thermo Fisher agree to develop and commercialize ExoTRU[3]

    Bio-Techne announced an agreement with Thermo Fisher Scientific to exclusively complete development of and commercialize ExoTRU, a kidney transplant rejection test developed by Exosome Diagnostics, a Bio-Techne brand.

  • Reported

    Bio-Techne launches ExCellerate iPSC Expansion Medium[4]

    Bio-Techne announced the launch of ExCellerate iPSC Expansion Medium, a new medium for expanding and maintaining induced pluripotent stem cells for research and translational workflows.

  • Reported

    Bio-Techne completes acquisition of Asuragen[5]

    Bio-Techne announced that it had completed its acquisition of Asuragen. The transaction included initial consideration of $215 million in cash plus contingent consideration of up to $105 million upon achievement of certain future milestones.

  • Reported

    Bio-Techne announces B-MoGen portfolio rebrand as R&D Systems[6]

    Bio-Techne announced that the B-MoGen Biotechnologies portfolio of genome engineering services, GMP therapeutic manufacturing services and its TcBuster gene transfer system would be rebranded as R&D Systems. The B-MoGen website would be retired, with service details and purchasing options maintained on the R&D Systems website.

  • Reported

    Bio-Techne announces rebrand of Atlanta Biologicals portfolio[7]

    Bio-Techne announced that the Atlanta Biologicals serum and media portfolio would be rebranded as R&D Systems. The Atlanta Biologicals website would be retired, with portfolio information and purchasing options maintained through the R&D Systems website.

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