Lunaphore announces data on the novel exploratory multi-omics application utilizing COMET™ technology

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – July 20, 2022 – 5:30 pm (CEST) – Lunaphore, a Swiss life sciences company developing technology to enable spatial biology in every laboratory, today announced the release of initial exploratory data performing multi-omics analysis on the COMET™ platform. Lunaphore’s technology is the first to demonstrate the feasibility of full workflow automation for single-cell, multi-omics analysis on the same tissue slide. Lunaphore is pioneering the way towards new technological breakthroughs that will open the investigation possibilities of a multitude of new research questions. The proof-of-concept results show the unique and flexible capabilities of COMET™ for various settings and applications, enabling the combination of transcriptomics and proteomics assays within the spatial context on the same tissue slide. Multi-omics applications are strictly exploratory at present time, and its potential commercial availability on the COMET™ platform is still under investigation.

Multi-omics applications are becoming increasingly relevant in translational research settings, where biomarker discovery, testing, and validation are important steps required to more accurately stratify and identify target patient populations. “The analysis of protein biomarkers remains our application of focus. However, combining protein and RNA analysis on the same tissue slide using COMET™ could help researchers with the confirmation and validation of their biomarker targets by obtaining a comprehensive picture of the spatial context,” said Ata Tuna Ciftlik, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Lunaphore. “Aligned with our vision, we are pioneers in automated multi-omics by demonstrating an approach that uses standard reagents and no black-boxed formulas, with true, end-to-end automation, covering every step of an assay.”

Tissues are composed of various cell types, which are organized spatially and structurally to perform different roles. Deep exploration of the cell-by-cell map in multiple dimensions can provide new biological insights into the mechanisms that underlie disease development and progression. One of the most used approaches to extract information is single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). However, applying scRNA-seq technologies at scale is currently hindered by the lack of automated workflow solutions. In addition, the complex Tumor Microenvironment (TME) could still hide substantial differences comparing the RNA to the protein levels that single-layer detection methods cannot capture. Lunaphore fulfills this gap by bringing its exploratory multi-omics application in immuno-oncology and beyond. Complementary information obtained through protein and RNA analysis uncovers crucial aspects of the TME biology that will allow the development of more targeted therapeutic approaches.

COMET™’s microfluidic technology greatly decreases turnaround times down to 30 minutes per RNA detection and 40 minutes per protein detection, preventing issues associated with RNA sample degradation. In addition, the new data released demonstrates the capability of simultaneous detection of 10 RNA targets and 18 protein targets on the same sample and across multiple tissue types without any manual intervention. Future potential use cases for multi-omics analysis are the visualization of cell margins and RNA targets associated with each cell, the determination of active transcription factors and their target genes, as well as the identification of additional targets.

“Our engineers and scientists put substantial effort into developing robust and versatile systems that will allow our scientists to develop and automate a variety of assays with a high degree of reproducibility. Our technology enables advanced control of fluidic processes for high-precision reagent delivery and incubation, and integrates it with image acquisition capabilities”, said Diego G. Dupouy, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer at Lunaphore. “COMET™ was conceived as a future-proof, flexible platform to easily optimize assays and guide the users in their endeavors. I look forward to seeing this broad spectrum of assay capabilities in the hands of our customers.”

To learn more about the Spatial Multi-Omics with COMET™, please download the whitepaper:  https://lunaphore.com/exploratory-applications/

To learn more about the commercially available COMET™ platform for proteomic analysis, please visit: https://lunaphore.com/products/comet/

To learn more about Lunaphore, please visit: https://lunaphore.com

About COMET™

COMET™ is a fully automated, sequential immunofluorescence (seqIF™) instrument, able to perform hyperplex staining and imaging, producing high-quality data in a robust and reproducible manner. With superior tissue profiling capabilities, the system allows multiplex analysis of up to 40 different spatial markers per tissue slide without human intervention. COMET™ has a wide range of research applications, allowing for a dramatic improvement in the understanding of disease pathology in areas such as immuno-oncology, neuroscience, and infectious diseases. To learn more about the COMET™ platform, please visit: https://lunaphore.com/products/comet/    

About Lunaphore

Lunaphore Technologies S.A. is a Swiss company born in 2014 with the vision of enabling spatial biology in every laboratory. Lunaphore has developed a game-changing chip technology which can extract spatial proteomic and genomic data from tumors and transform any simple assay into multiplex spatial biology without complexity. Lunaphore empowers researchers to push the boundaries of research to ultimately develop the next generation personalized therapies. Lunaphore recently completed registration as C corporation in the United States as part of its continuing global expansion to serve customers and partners in the translational and clinical research markets. For further information on Lunaphore and its products, please visit www.lunaphore.com.

For further information contact:

Irene Tamayo

Lunaphore Corporate Communications

Email: [email protected]