Medical issues and perspectives

Takara Bio USA Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takara Bio Inc., today announced the acquisition of Curio Bioscience, a pioneering company in spatial genomics. Takara Bio, a global leader in biotechnology and life sciences headquartered in Shiga, Japan, is recognized for its innovative single-cell genomics tools. This strategic acquisition will enhance Takara Bio’s portfolio and strengthen its position in the spatial biology market.

Curio Bioscience’s advanced Trekker and Seeker technologies integrate spatial information with molecular data, enabling high-resolution insights into tissue spatial organization and molecular composition. This transformative capability allows researchers to create spatially resolved maps of cells within their native environments. “Curio Bioscience is committed to developing innovative technologies that map the entire transcriptome with unmatched sensitivity and resolution,” said Stephen Fodor, co-founder and CEO.

“The acquisition of Curio Bioscience builds on our legacy of innovation in the single-cell genomics market,” said Carol Lou, President and CEO of Takara Bio USA. “With the addition of Trekker, the first truly single-cell spatial technology, we are empowering customers with deeper insights into complex tissue systems.”

This acquisition positions Takara Bio as a leader in spatial genomics, advancing research in cancer biology, neuroscience, developmental biology, and immunology. By integrating Curio’s cutting-edge technologies with Takara Bio’s next-generation sequencing (NGS) and single-cell tools, the company continues to support groundbreaking discoveries and translational research worldwide.

Tempus AI, a leader in AI-driven precision medicine, has announced the nationwide launch of its FDA-approved NGS-based in vitro diagnostic test, xT CDx. This 648-gene next-generation sequencing (NGS) test provides comprehensive solid tumor profiling, including microsatellite instability (MSI) status and companion diagnostic claims for colorectal cancer.

xT CDx utilizes a normal-matched approach, sequencing both tumor and normal samples in parallel to enhance the accuracy of identifying cancer-driving somatic variants. All tumor + normal match test orders previously run on the xT assay will now be processed as xT CDx without any workflow changes.

"We are excited to introduce xT CDx, which combines our trusted performance with FDA approval," said Ezra Cohen, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Oncology at Tempus. "Our commitment to delivering high-quality, comprehensive assays ensures clinicians have actionable insights to improve patient outcomes."

Clinicians can supplement molecular insights by adding xR RNA sequencing, xF/xF+ liquid biopsy, immunohistochemistry tests (HER2, PD-L1), and algorithmic analyses (HRD, IPS), offering a streamlined approach to patient care.

xT CDx is intended for detecting substitutions, insertions, deletions, and MSI status in FFPE tumor tissue and matched normal samples from cancer patients. It serves as a companion diagnostic (CDx) to identify patients eligible for targeted therapies and supports tumor mutation profiling in clinical oncology. The test is performed at Tempus AI, Inc., Chicago, IL.