Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Size (2025–2030)

The Global Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market was valued at USD 4.2 billion in 2024 and will grow at a CAGR of 13.5% from 2025 to 2030. The market is expected to reach USD 9.2 billion by 2030.

The oligonucleotide synthesis market refers to the commercial production of short sequences of nucleotides (DNA or RNA) that are used as primers, probes, antisense molecules, small interfering RNA, or other molecular tools in diagnostics, therapeutics, and scientific research. Oligonucleotides play a crucial role in modern biotechnology and pharmaceutical applications because they enable precise detection of genetic material, modulation of gene expression, and development of innovative therapies. The sector is benefitting from strong growth in molecular diagnostics, the expansion of nucleotide-based drugs, and the accelerating adoption of next-generation sequencing technologies. Advances in chemical synthesis platforms, the emergence of enzymatic synthesis methods, and automation tools are reducing costs and improving yields, enabling the market to scale rapidly. Demand from personalized medicine, gene editing, and infectious disease monitoring is also supporting consistent expansion. While high purity requirements and regulatory hurdles remain challenges, the combination of rising healthcare investments and the shift toward nucleic acid-based therapeutics makes this market one of the fastest-growing areas in the life sciences industry.

Key market insights:

North America contributed over 32% of revenue in 2024, making it the leading regional market.
The services category represented more than USD 1.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to expand fastest through 2030.
Diagnostics applications accounted for nearly 40% of global demand in 2024, driven by PCR, sequencing, and molecular assays.
Therapeutic applications are expected to grow above 15% CAGR, reflecting clinical expansion of antisense and RNAi therapies.
Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at nearly 15% CAGR during 2025–2030 due to expanding biotech infrastructure and government funding.
Academic institutions remain major consumers, while pharmaceutical and biotech companies are increasingly driving high-value orders.
Automation and enzymatic synthesis methods are reducing synthesis errors and enhancing scalability across regions.

The PwC report notes that while most FDA-approved oligonucleotide therapeutics have so far targeted rare diseases, recent approvals (like inclisiran in 2021, for cardiovascular disease) show a trend of extending into common disease areas, which could substantially increase addressable patient populations.

Global Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Drivers

Expansion of nucleotide-based therapeutics and clinical pipelines is driving the market growth
The global market is strongly driven by the rapid growth of nucleotide-based therapeutics. Antisense oligonucleotides, RNA interference drugs, and emerging mRNA platforms rely on the supply of highly pure, custom synthesized oligos. Many rare diseases and genetic disorders that previously had no treatment options are now the focus of oligonucleotide-based therapies, creating strong commercial interest. Regulatory agencies have begun approving more oligo-based drugs, signaling growing acceptance of this technology. The personalized medicine movement is also expanding therapeutic demand, as treatments must increasingly be customized to individual genetic profiles. During the 2025–2030 period, the number of active clinical trials involving oligonucleotides is expected to increase significantly, translating into greater manufacturing demand. This trend requires higher output capacity, quality control infrastructure, and GMP-certified facilities, stimulating investment across the value chain. As costs decrease and efficacy improves, oligonucleotide therapeutics are projected to become a mainstream drug class, reinforcing this driver as a dominant factor shaping market expansion.

Rising demand for diagnostics and precision testing is driving the market growth
The diagnostics sector is another powerful growth driver. Oligonucleotides are the essential components of PCR assays, microarrays, sequencing technologies, and other molecular diagnostic platforms. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, genetic disorders, and infectious diseases has made precise molecular testing an essential part of healthcare systems. Oligonucleotide primers and probes are required in high volumes, particularly in hospital and research laboratories. As healthcare systems move toward earlier disease detection and real-time monitoring, the need for reliable and cost-effective oligonucleotides will rise. Moreover, growing interest in point-of-care diagnostics and decentralized testing means smaller laboratories and portable devices will consume large numbers of pre-designed oligonucleotide panels. Governments and international health bodies are supporting molecular diagnostics for public health surveillance, strengthening this trend further. Between 2025 and 2030, diagnostics will remain the largest volume-consuming segment of the market, ensuring steady demand and resilience against cyclical industry fluctuations.

Technological innovation and cost reduction through automation is driving the market growth
The third major driver is technological progress. Traditional phosphoramidite synthesis methods have improved steadily, but new innovations are accelerating adoption. Enzymatic synthesis approaches are emerging as viable alternatives, offering greater accuracy, ability to synthesize longer strands, and environmentally friendly processes with less hazardous waste. At the same time, automation is being introduced into oligonucleotide synthesis workflows, enabling high-throughput production and lower per-sample costs. Robotics, AI-driven design software, and digital sequence optimization tools reduce error rates and speed turnaround times. Improvements in purification methods, such as high-performance chromatography, are enhancing product purity to meet therapeutic and diagnostic requirements. The spread of contract development and manufacturing organizations with advanced automated equipment allows even smaller companies to access high-quality oligos without heavy capital expenditure. This technological progress not only reduces costs but also makes oligonucleotide synthesis more accessible worldwide, reinforcing growth momentum during the forecast period.

Global Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Challenges and Restraints

The complex regulatory environment and compliance costs are restricting the market growth
One significant restraint is the highly complex regulatory landscape governing oligonucleotide products, particularly those intended for therapeutic use. National and international health authorities require extensive data on purity, stability, safety, and efficacy. Compliance with good manufacturing practice standards demands advanced infrastructure, validated processes, and comprehensive documentation. For smaller organizations, achieving this level of compliance is financially and operationally challenging. The lack of harmonized regulations across regions further complicates international commercialization. This slows down the speed of clinical translation and increases costs for companies trying to scale up. The burden of quality assurance, frequent inspections, and risk of regulatory delays can discourage investment and limit participation of smaller players. Thus, while demand is strong, navigating regulatory frameworks remains a major restraint on the market.

Market opportunities

The oligonucleotide synthesis market offers numerous opportunities for expansion during 2025–2030. One major opportunity lies in the rise of personalized medicine, which demands customized oligonucleotides for individual patients. Companies that can deliver high-quality, fast-turnaround synthesis services will find strong demand. Another opportunity is in the development of novel therapeutic modalities such as CRISPR-based gene editing, mRNA vaccines, and antisense technologies. These fields rely heavily on synthetic oligos for guide RNAs, regulatory elements, and therapeutic sequences. Organizations investing in GMP-compliant production for these applications will capture new revenue streams. Expansion into emerging markets also offers large opportunities, particularly as Asia-Pacific and Latin America increase investments in biotechnology and healthcare. Establishing local manufacturing facilities or partnerships can help companies capture this growing demand while reducing supply chain risks. Furthermore, the adoption of green chemistry practices and sustainable production processes can serve as a differentiator, aligning with regulatory pressures and corporate sustainability goals. Finally, advances in automation, AI-assisted design, and integration with bioinformatics will allow firms to provide not only synthesis but also complete workflow solutions, creating long-term client partnerships and recurring revenue opportunities.

OLIGONUCLEOTIDE SYNTHESIS MARKET COVERAGE:

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market segmentation

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market By Product:

• Synthesized oligonucleotide products
• Reagents & consumables
• Equipment & synthesizers
• Services

The synthesized oligonucleotide products segment dominates the market. Demand for primers, probes, antisense molecules, and siRNA remains high due to widespread use in diagnostics, therapeutics, and research. Their recurring role in experiments and clinical applications ensures consistent revenue and positions this segment as the largest contributor through 2030.

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market By Application:
• Diagnostics
• Therapeutics
• Research & Development

Diagnostics is the most dominant application segment. The need for PCR primers, qPCR probes, sequencing adapters, and array oligos continues to grow rapidly with the global expansion of molecular diagnostics. Early disease detection, infectious disease monitoring, and genetic testing ensure this application holds the largest share through 2030.

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Regional Segmentation

North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
South America
Middle East & Africa

North America is the dominant region in the global oligonucleotide synthesis market. In 2024, it contributed more than 32% of total revenue, supported by advanced research infrastructure, a mature biotechnology industry, and a strong presence of leading pharmaceutical companies. The region benefits from high investment in genomics, molecular diagnostics, and clinical trials. Government funding and private venture capital support the expansion of synthetic biology and therapeutic oligos. Contract manufacturing organizations with state-of-the-art facilities are widely established, ensuring availability of clinical-grade synthesis. Europe follows with strong academic research output and increasing adoption of oligo therapeutics. Asia-Pacific, while starting from a smaller base, is the fastest-growing region due to rapid expansion of healthcare infrastructure, increasing biotechnology startups, and government support for genomic initiatives. South America and the Middle East & Africa are smaller markets but show growing demand as molecular diagnostics become integrated into public health systems.

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic had a transformative effect on the global oligonucleotide synthesis market. In the early months of the outbreak, laboratories worldwide scrambled to design and deploy diagnostic assays, driving unprecedented demand for PCR primers and probes. This surge exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains, as many companies struggled to meet sudden global demand while facing disruptions in logistics and raw material supply. However, the crisis accelerated investment into automation, capacity expansion, and regional diversification of manufacturing. It also raised awareness of the strategic importance of oligonucleotides in diagnostics and vaccine development. mRNA vaccines, which rely heavily on synthetic oligos during development and production, highlighted the therapeutic potential of this technology. Post-pandemic, healthcare systems have invested in strengthening diagnostic infrastructure, ensuring sustained demand for oligonucleotides. The pandemic therefore acted as both a stress test and a growth catalyst: while it disrupted operations temporarily, it ultimately expanded capacity, improved resilience, and positioned the industry for accelerated growth through the 2025–2030 forecast period.

Latest trends/Developments
Several important trends are shaping the oligonucleotide synthesis market as it moves toward 2030. One notable development is the increasing use of enzymatic synthesis platforms, which promise longer sequences, higher accuracy, and environmentally friendly production processes. Automation and robotics are becoming standard in synthesis facilities, enabling high-throughput production with shorter turnaround times. Modified oligonucleotides are gaining prominence, including locked nucleic acids and phosphorothioate backbones, as these modifications improve stability and therapeutic efficacy. Artificial intelligence is being used to optimize oligo design, minimize errors, and accelerate product development. Another trend is the expansion of contract synthesis services, allowing smaller biotech firms to access GMP-grade oligos without investing heavily in infrastructure. Sustainability is also emerging as a competitive factor, with companies seeking to reduce solvent use and implement greener production practices. Collaborations between academic institutions and industry players are increasing, supporting faster clinical translation of research discoveries. Collectively, these trends are steering the market toward greater efficiency, innovation, and broader application.

Key Players:
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• Merck KGaA
• Agilent Technologies Inc.
• Integrated DNA Technologies
• LGC Biosearch Technologies
• Twist Bioscience
• Eurofins Genomics
• Bio-Synthesis Inc.
• TriLink BioTechnologies
• Biolegio

Latest Market News

• A key development from February 2025 was the collaboration between Biogen and Stoke Therapeutics to develop and commercialize zorevunersen, an investigational antisense oligonucleotide for treating Dravet syndrome. This partnership highlights the growing investment in oligonucleotide-based drugs for rare diseases.
• A notable trend, as reported in July 2024, is the development of enzymatic synthesis methods. A team at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School developed a new method for synthesizing single-stranded RNA using enzymes and water, which offers a greener and potentially more efficient alternative to the traditional, hazardous phosphoramidite chemistry that has dominated the market for decades.