Custom Synthesis
Our expertise includes:
  • mg to Kg Scale Synthesis
  • API's & Building Blocks
  • Amino Acids & Peptides
  • Asymmetric Synthesis
  • Speciality Fine Chemicals
Chemical Sourcing
We can provide access to:
  • Natural Products
  • Carbohydrates
  • Prostaglandins
  • Nucleotides
  • Fermentation Products
Chemical Analysis
Our analytical services include:
  • Multinuclear NMR
  • HPLC
  • MS & LC-MS
  • Optical Rotation
  • IR Spectrometry

Tocris History

Working with scientists for over 25 years

Tocris Bioscience is the trading name for the companies in the Tocris Cookson Group, consisting of Tocris Cookson Ltd., which is headquartered in Bristol, UK and its US subsidiary Tocris Cookson Inc., located in St. Louis, MO, USA. There are approximately 50 employees in the Group worldwide, operating out of two sites in the UK and one in the US. In May 2011 Tocris Bioscience was wholly acquired by R&D Systems, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

Key Dates

1982Tocris Neuramin founded by Professor Jeff Watkins
1985Cookson Chemicals founded by Professor Richard Cookson
1994Merger of the two creates Tocris Cookson
1995US subsidiary Tocris Cookson Inc., opens
2002Tocris receives Queen's Award for Enterprise
2005Tocris Bioscience brand launched
2006Founders retire – MBO
2008Target Detective Launched
2011Tocris Bioscience Joins R&D Systems
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise

Tocris Neuramin was founded in 1982 by Professor Jeff Watkins of the Pharmacology Department at the University of Bristol, UK, to make standard research tools and novel probes in the field of glutamate research.

Cookson Chemicals was formed in 1985 by Richard Cookson, Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Southampton, UK. Cookson Chemicals provided custom synthesis services as well as a range of neurochemicals to the pharmaceutical and allied industries.

In October 2005 Tocris announced the opening of new laboratories at the IO Centre, Bristol, UK. At this time, to reflect the increasingly biological nature of the products and customer base the trading name was changed to Tocris Bioscience.

In January 2007 Tocris Bioscience announced the successful completion of a $40 million management buy-out (MBO) deal, providing Tocris with the ability and freedom to further develop its existing business areas and to offer additional products and services to its international client base.

In May 2011 Tocris Bioscience announced that it was combining with R&D Systems, whose products include a wide selection of biotechnology-based tools for cell biology research including proteins, antibodies, assays and kits.

Today, Tocris Bioscience provides world class custom synthesis, chemical sourcing and chemical analysis services to customers in major pharmaceutical companies, universities and research institutes worldwide.