Vizgen Launches MERSCOPE™ Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Solution Kit

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vizgen, the life science company dedicated to improving human health by visualizing single-cell spatial genomics information, today announced the launch of its highly anticipated MERSCOPE™ Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Solution, enabling high multiplexing, high resolution single-cell and spatial genomics analysis of FFPE samples.

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Image of human pulmonary fibrosis tissue generated using the MERSCOPE Platform at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) (Photo: Business Wire)

“At TGen, we are excited to further our research with Vizgen’s Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Solution Kit,” said Nicholas Banovich, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). “The ability to leverage Vizgen’s imaging technology to identify the cellular composition of human lung specimens in individuals with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and then generate a single-cell resolved spatial map will dramatically improve our understanding of lung injury and repair and aim in the development of future therapies for patients battling PF.”

FFPE tissue preservation is a commonly used storage practice and represents a large portion of cancer and other human tissue samples due to its ability to stabilize proteins, nucleic acids and overall tissue structure. FFPE samples remain viable for extended periods of time, meaning that the technique has been used to catalog large tissue libraries. Earlier this year, Vizgen released its FFPE Human Immuno-oncology dataset, the largest public data set for single-cell spatial genomics released to date, which was generated by an early version of the MERSCOPE FFPE solution.

The MERSCOPE FFPE Solution includes new sample preparation kits, user-friendly workflow, and updated innovative segmentation software to enable researchers to effectively process, image, and analyze FFPE samples. Successful data generation has been generated across a wide range of samples including human lung, human skin cancer, and mouse small intestines many of which were showcased in Vizgen’s FFPE data release. The MERSCOPE FFPE Solution is immediately compatible with existing systems and with Vizgen’s newly released protein co-detection solution.

In contrast to other spatial genomics platforms, MERSCOPE FFPE data is generated using peer-reviewed and validated MERFISH technology, providing high accuracy with bulk RNA-sequencing data across the entire expression profile for accurate detection of high, middle, and low abundance genes. Together with its impressive reproducibility between matched fresh frozen and FFPE tissue samples, the MERSCOPE FFPE solution delivers biologically impactful data.

“The development of this FFPE Solution is evidence of the increased momentum of the spatial genomics field and has the potential to transform oncology research and other disease areas,” said Terry Lo, President and CEO of Vizgen. “Equipped with the ability to analyze FFPE samples, researchers will now be capable of tapping into a vast historical library of patient samples increasing efficiency as we continue our mission to improve human health.”

About Vizgen

Vizgen is dedicated to pioneering the next generation of genomics, providing tools that demonstrate the possibilities of in situ single-cell spatial genomics, setting the standard for the spatial genomics field. These tools are enabling researchers to gain new insight into the biological systems that govern human health and disease with spatial context. The company’s MERSCOPE™ Platform enables massively multiplexed, genome-scale nucleic acid imaging with high accuracy and unrivaled detection efficiency at subcellular resolution. MERSCOPE™ provides transformative insight into a wide range of tissue-scale basic research and translational medicine in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, infectious disease, developmental biology, cell and gene therapy, and is an essential tool for accelerating drug discovery and development. For more information, go to www.vizgen.com. For more information, go to www.vizgen.com. Connect on social media Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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