Aneesh Acharya, Vice President of CommercialTypically, scientists have turned to ACD’s RNAscope as the gold standard for gauging RNA quality, which can be a useful proxy for overall tissue integrity. However, it is not uncommon for RNAscope studies to result in discarding over 60 percent of tissue samples. RNAscope’s monopoly on RNA-ISH has shielded it from being scrutinized in detail, since there have been no viable alternatives in over a decade.
Molecular Instruments (MI), a biotech startup that spun out of the California Institute of Technology in 2018 on the promise of its patented, proprietary HCR™ Platform, is launching a revolutionary product that pledges to significantly enhance every workflow that today depends on RNAscope.
The company’s new HCR™ RNA-CISH kits promise a trifecta of improvements over RNAscope – (1) significantly better performance due to the next-generation HCR™ Platform, (2) at least twice as fast a turnaround time, and (3) at least twice as affordable a price. The company already has beta sites at over 15 large sites around the US and is expanding daily. Critically, the team at MI has ensured that their products are fully compatible with all standard automation hardware in the industry.
“We believe that RNA imaging will be a key part of health and medicine in the future and that researchers and clinicians require better, more capable tools to be able to take full advantage of that future. We’re excited to be entering at the forefront of the research tools space,” says Aneesh Acharya, Ph.D., Vice President of Commercial at MI.
In addition to the newest HCR™ RNA-CISH product, MI is planning to further expand the spatial imaging capabilities it offers through a next-generation HCR™ RNA-FISH product that will undergo beta testing in the coming months, as well as HCR™ IHC/IF products later in the year. The company strongly believes in the unique differentiation the HCR™ Platform enables and has planned a broad range of products that incorporate it.
We believe that RNA imaging will be a key part of health and medicine in the future and that researchers and clinicians require better, more capable tools to be able to take full advantage of that future. We’re excited to be entering at the forefront of the research tools space.
MI is a rare biotech startup that markets and distributes kits today, rather than seeking investments for future reward. They are certainly a company to keep an eye on to see if they are able to execute on their raw potential.
Biocare Medical and Molecular Instruments Partner to Revolutionize Automated Bioimaging Through ONCORE Pro X and HCR™ RNA-ISH Assays
Tuesday, January 09, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO -- Biocare Medical, A pioneer in fully open automated instrumentation has announced a partnership with Molecular Instruments® (MI), the creators of HCR™ Imaging technology. This collaboration merges Biocare Medical's expertise in automated bioimaging systems with MI's suite of advanced HCR™ Products, establishing a new benchmark in automated in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC).
MI, renowned for its disruptive market presence in bioimaging and ISH reagents, introduces its patented HCR™ Imaging technology, lauded for its robust features such as gentle sample preparation without protease digestion, room temperature isothermal amplification, and compatibility with both fluorescent and brightfield imaging. The flagship application, HCR™ RNA-ISH assay, excels in preserving tissue morphology and seamlessly integrates into existing IHC/IF workflows. Researchers benefit from the exceptional performance, speed, and adaptability of HCR™ RNA-ISH, allowing precise targeting of any RNA sequence in any sample.
Biocare Medical's ONCORE Pro X, acclaimed for innovation and adaptability in automated instrumentation, is designed to accommodate a diverse array of assays. Now, it's poised to leverage the capabilities of MI's HCR™ Platform, promising unmatched flexibility and accuracy in bioimaging and ISH applications for boundless research possibilities.
The integration of MI's HCR™ Platform into Biocare Medical's ONCORE Pro X signifies a fusion of strengths. Biocare Medical's dedication to open and adaptable automation perfectly complements MI's groundbreaking approach to bioimaging. Together, they aim to redefine automated bioimaging, expanding capabilities in academic research, drug development, and clinical diagnostics.
This collaboration heralds a new era in bioimaging. By uniting Biocare Medical's advanced automated instrumentation with MI's revolutionary HCR™ Platform, researchers gain access to the enhanced power of the ONCORE Pro. This advancement facilitates faster turnaround times and strengthens high throughput efficiency, all achievable through the comprehensive automation of the ONCORE Pro. With this potent synergy, targeting any RNA sequence in any sample becomes more efficient than ever, delivering unparalleled performance, speed, and adaptability. This partnership is positioned to unlock new potentials and establish benchmarks in precision, efficiency, and versatility.
