Market Size and Overview:

The Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market was valued at USD 6.82 billion and is projected to reach a market size of USD 19.75 billion by the end of 2030. Over the forecast period of 2025-2030, the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 23.69%.

Oligonucleotide synthesis is a process of chemical synthesis of short nucleic acid fragments with defined chemical structures. These synthetic DNA or RNA molecules have a wide range of applications in research, diagnostics, and therapeutics. With continuous advancements in synthesis technologies and increasing applications in genomics, personalised medicine, and molecular diagnostics, the demand for custom oligonucleotides is rising rapidly. This has attracted both academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies, creating numerous career opportunities in the field of molecular biology, synthetic biology, and biotechnology over the next decade.

Key Market Insights:

According to a survey conducted by the International Nucleic Acid Society, approximately 78% of research laboratories report increased utilisation of synthetic oligonucleotides in their genomic research projects. This growing reliance on synthetic nucleic acids has significantly contributed to the market expansion, with annual consumption of custom oligonucleotides increasing by 23% compared to previous years.

The therapeutic oligonucleotide segment has witnessed remarkable growth, with over 15 FDA-approved oligonucleotide-based drugs currently in the market and more than 200 candidates in various stages of clinical trials. Industry analysts project that the market for therapeutic oligonucleotides alone will reach USD 7.5 billion by 2028, representing a substantial portion of the overall oligonucleotide synthesis market.

Market surveys involving 350 biotechnology companies revealed that 62% have increased their budget allocation for oligonucleotide-based technologies by an average of 18% compared to the previous fiscal year. This financial commitment reflects growing confidence in oligonucleotide applications, particularly in CRISPR gene editing technologies, where synthetic guide RNAs are essential components.

The diagnostic applications of oligonucleotides have expanded dramatically, with PCR-based diagnostic tests utilising synthetic oligonucleotide primers showing a market growth of 35%. This surge is partly attributed to increased demand for molecular diagnostic testing, with an estimated 1.2 billion PCR tests conducted globally in 2022, each requiring specific oligonucleotide primers and probes.

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Drivers:

The expanding applications of synthetic oligonucleotides in therapeutic development and genomic research are propelling the global oligonucleotide synthesis market to unprecedented growth levels.

The therapeutic potential of oligonucleotides has revolutionized drug development approaches, creating substantial demand for high-quality synthetic nucleic acids. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), aptamers, and CRISPR guide RNAs represent powerful therapeutic modalities capable of addressing previously undruggable targets. According to recent industry reports, over 200 oligonucleotide-based therapeutics are currently in clinical development, with approximately 15 already approved by regulatory agencies worldwide. This robust pipeline necessitates large-scale, high-purity oligonucleotide production, driving market expansion. Recent technological breakthroughs in oligonucleotide chemistry have significantly enhanced their drug-like properties, including improved cellular uptake, reduced immunogenicity, and enhanced metabolic stability. These advancements have expanded the therapeutic applications of oligonucleotides beyond rare genetic disorders to include more prevalent conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and various cancers. The success of recent market entrants like Spinraza (nusinersen) for spinal muscular atrophy, which generated over $2 billion in annual sales, demonstrates the commercial viability of oligonucleotide therapeutics. This commercial success has triggered a surge in investment, with pharmaceutical companies allocating approximately $4.5 billion to oligonucleotide therapeutic development in 2022 alone. Furthermore, the emergence of personalized medicine approaches has created demand for patient-specific oligonucleotide therapeutics, exemplified by the FDA's approval of milasen, a custom-designed antisense oligonucleotide created for a single patient with Batten disease. This precedent has opened the pathway for individualized oligonucleotide treatments, potentially creating a new market segment requiring rapid, flexible synthesis capabilities. 

The technological advancements in synthesis methodologies and the rising adoption of oligonucleotide-based diagnostic tools are significantly accelerating market expansion.

The oligonucleotide synthesis landscape has been transformed by technological innovations that have dramatically improved synthesis efficiency, scale, and cost-effectiveness. High-throughput synthesis platforms now enable parallel production of thousands of unique oligonucleotide sequences, reducing per-base synthesis costs by approximately 60% over the past five years. These efficiency gains have made synthetic oligonucleotides more accessible for diverse applications, expanding the customer base beyond traditional research institutions to include clinical laboratories, biotechnology startups, and educational institutions. The diagnostic sector represents another significant growth driver, with PCR-based molecular diagnostics, microarray technologies, and point-of-care nucleic acid tests all requiring specific oligonucleotide components. 

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Restraints and Challenges:

Despite promising growth prospects, the oligonucleotide synthesis market faces several significant challenges. Complex regulatory frameworks governing therapeutic oligonucleotides create lengthy approval timelines and increase development costs, particularly for novel chemical modifications. Manufacturing scale-up remains technically challenging, with synthesis efficiency decreasing at larger scales and impurity profiles becoming more complex. This creates bottlenecks in transitioning from research to commercial production. Intellectual property landscapes surrounding synthesis technologies and chemical modifications are increasingly complex, leading to potential licensing costs and legal uncertainties for market participants. Additionally, the high cost of GMP-grade oligonucleotide production for clinical applications limits accessibility, especially for smaller research institutions and biotechnology startups. 

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Opportunities:

The oligonucleotide synthesis market presents substantial growth opportunities across multiple sectors, particularly in emerging therapeutic applications. The success of early oligonucleotide-based drugs has validated this approach, creating opportunities for new targets and delivery technologies. The CRISPR gene editing revolution represents another significant opportunity, with each application requiring custom-designed guide RNAs. Market research indicates that the CRISPR market is expected to grow at approximately 25% CAGR through 2030, directly driving demand for specialized synthetic oligonucleotides. Expanding applications in molecular diagnostics present additional opportunities, particularly in point-of-care testing, liquid biopsy technologies for cancer detection, and infectious disease surveillance. 

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Segmentation:

Market Segmentation: By Product Type

•    Synthesized Oligonucleotides
•    Reagents
•    Equipment

In 2022, the synthesized oligonucleotides segment dominated the global market with approximately 58.7% revenue share. This segment includes various types of synthetic DNA and RNA molecules such as primers, probes, antisense oligonucleotides, and siRNAs. The dominance of this segment can be attributed to the wide range of applications across research, diagnostics, and therapeutics, coupled with the recurring nature of oligonucleotide purchases. The increasing adoption of next-generation sequencing technologies, which require large quantities of synthetic oligonucleotides for library preparation and target enrichment, has further strengthened this segment's market position.

The reagents segment is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR of approximately 15.3% during the forecast period. This growth is driven by the expanding base of oligonucleotide synthesis equipment installations, each requiring a continuous supply of synthesis reagents, coupling agents, deprotection chemicals, and purification materials. Additionally, advancements in chemical modifications for enhanced oligonucleotide properties have introduced specialized reagents for incorporating modified nucleotides, contributing to segment growth. The reagents segment benefits from recurring revenue streams as laboratories conducting regular synthesis require consistent replenishment of these consumables.

Market Segmentation: By Application

•    Research Applications
•    Therapeutics
•    Diagnostics

The research applications segment held the largest market share of approximately 45.2%. This dominance stems from the widespread use of synthetic oligonucleotides in molecular biology techniques, including PCR, qPCR, sequencing, cloning, gene synthesis, and CRISPR genome editing. Academic research institutions, pharmaceutical R&D departments, and biotechnology companies collectively consume vast quantities of oligonucleotides for these fundamental research applications. The segment's stable growth is supported by consistent research funding and the expanding scope of genomic research worldwide.

The therapeutics segment is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period, with a CAGR of approximately 17.5%. This accelerated growth is driven by the expanding pipeline of oligonucleotide-based drug candidates and increasing clinical success rates. As more antisense oligonucleotides, siRNAs, and other therapeutic modalities receive regulatory approval, manufacturing demand for GMP-grade oligonucleotides increases substantially. Recent breakthroughs in delivery technologies and chemical modifications have expanded the range of addressable diseases, creating new market opportunities within this segment.

Market Segmentation: Regional Analysis

•    North America
•    Asia-Pacific
•    Europe
•    South America
•    Middle East and Africa

                                                    
North America led the global oligonucleotide synthesis market with approximately 42.3% revenue share. This regional dominance can be attributed to robust pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, significant research funding, early adoption of advanced genomic technologies, and the presence of major market players. The United States alone accounted for approximately 85% of the North American market, supported by substantial NIH funding for genomic research and a favourable regulatory environment for oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. The region's leadership in developing and commercializing oligonucleotide therapeutics significantly drives market growth, with most FDA-approved oligonucleotide drugs originating from North American companies.

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest CAGR of approximately 16.8% during the forecast period. This accelerated growth is driven by increasing government investment in biotechnology research infrastructure, expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, and growing adoption of molecular diagnostic technologies. China and India represent particularly dynamic markets, with rapidly growing biotechnology sectors and increasing domestic capabilities in oligonucleotide synthesis. 

COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Global Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market:

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented demand for synthetic oligonucleotides used in diagnostic testing, significantly impacting the market dynamics. PCR-based testing for SARS-CoV-2 required specific primers and probes, resulting in a surge in oligonucleotide synthesis volumes that strained global production capacity. Major synthesis service providers reported order volume increases of 200-300% during peak testing periods, necessitating rapid expansion of production capabilities and prioritization systems for critical diagnostic components. While the diagnostic segment experienced explosive growth, other market segments faced disruptions due to laboratory closures, reduced academic research activities, and clinical trial delays. However, these initial setbacks were followed by accelerated adoption of oligonucleotide technologies as research focus shifted toward infectious disease surveillance, vaccine development, and therapeutic solutions for COVID-19.

Latest Trends/ Developments:

The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into oligonucleotide design platforms represents a significant trend, enabling improved prediction of oligonucleotide properties and optimization of sequences for specific applications. These computational approaches have enhanced success rates for therapeutic oligonucleotides by predicting potential off-target effects and optimizing target binding properties.

Advances in large-scale oligonucleotide synthesis technologies are transforming manufacturing capabilities, with flow-based and microarray-based synthesis platforms enabling dramatic increases in production scale while maintaining quality. Agilent Technologies recently expanded its oligonucleotide production facility, incorporating automated synthesis and quality control systems that increase manufacturing capacity by approximately 30%.

Strategic partnerships between oligonucleotide manufacturers and therapeutic developers are increasingly common, creating integrated development pathways from discovery to commercial production.

Key Players:

•    Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
•    Danaher Corporation (Integrated DNA Technologies)
•    Merck KGaA
•    Agilent Technologies
•    Eurofins Scientific
•    Twist Bioscience
•    Evonetix Ltd.
•    GenScript Biotech Corporation
•    LGC Biosearch Technologies