10x Genomics Acquires Spatial Genomics Company

By Bio-IT World Staff 

December 10, 2018 10x Genomics has acquired Stockholm-based Spatial Transcriptomics, a pioneer in the emerging field of spatial genomics. The new field enables researchers to not only see what is in a cell but how cells are organized in relation to one another, offering up invaluable insight into understanding disease, according to a company announcement. This opens up a field of possibilities within disease areas, such as oncology, neurology and immunology, as well as in the broader area of biology.

The announcement builds on a number of recent milestones from 10x Genomics including the acquisition of pioneering epigenetics company Epinomics; introduction of new products; and the expansion of headquarters and manufacturing into Pleasanton, California.

“10x Genomics is on a quest to unlock a complete understanding of biology, and our recent growth and acquisition activities are accelerating our progress exponentially,” said Serge Saxonov, 10x Genomics’ CEO and co-founder, in a press release. “We are thrilled to have the Spatial Transcriptomics team join forces with us. Now, researchers will not only be able to understand what is happening within a cell but also understand where cellular activities are happening in relation to one another. It’s another integral piece of the puzzle that gets us closer to seeing the whole picture of biology to drive new discoveries.”

Spatial Transcriptomics was founded on the principle that understanding cells in their morphological context is critical to better understanding genetic activity. The company has developed foundational IP and is the first to capture the transcriptome, all active genes, from tissue section. The Spatial Transcriptomics workflow bridges microscopy and RNA sequencing to generate complete transcriptome data from a single intact tissue sample, and uses standard instrumentation for sequencing already present in most labs, allowing for barrier-free adoption.

“The field of genomics has made rapid advances moving from sequencing the human genome to tissue sequencing and then to single cell sequencing in a short period of time,” said Spatial Transcriptomics co-founder Joakim Lundeberg in the same statement. “Spatial genomic sequencing is the next frontier. With today’s news, 10x has once again proven its commitment to leading our field into the future and we are excited to be partnering to bring this technology to a wider base.”

10x Genomics will continue to operate Spatial Transcriptomics out of their existing offices in Stockholm, with plans to grow their presence in the heart of Sweden’s scientific community. The current team will remain a part of the company. Spatial Transcriptomics co-founders, pioneers in the spatial genomics space will continue to collaborate with the 10x Genomics team, according to the company.