Mission Bio’s Proprietary Single-Cell Genomics Platform Named One of The Scientist’s Top 10 Innovations of 2018

Today Mission Bio, the pioneer in single-cell DNA analysis and precision genomics, announces that its flagship TapestriⓇ platform, has been named one of The Scientist’s Top 10 Innovations of 2018. This exclusive editorial list honors the latest and greatest tools, technologies, and techniques to hit the life-science landscape. The Mission Bio Tapestri Platform is the only single-cell DNA analysis platform on the list, edging out single-cell platforms focused on transcriptome analysis.

Identifying precision cancer treatments often involves broad-based next-generation sequencing (NGS). This method provides an average molecular profile of all the cells in the patient’s sample, but often masks genetic diversity and overlooks the rare cells that can drive disease progression.

The Tapestri technology addresses these shortcomings to provide a more accurate lens on the complexity of disease. Its breakthrough technology enables researchers and clinicians to analyze tens of thousands of individual cells in parallel and is 50 times more sensitive than traditional NGS techniques; its single-base pair resolution is orders of magnitude better than the megabase resolution of other single-cell DNA approaches. Ultimately, the level of precision from Tapestri provides unprecedented insights into disease-relevant cells and clonal evolution, empowering researchers and clinicians to predict and prevent disease progression and relapse.

“An estimated one-third of people will have a brush with cancer at some point in their lives -- that touches every nuclear family,” explained Charlie Silver, co-founder and CEO of Mission Bio. “Despite that, current technologies aren’t equipped to tackle this massive problem. In starting Mission Bio, we sought to make a major impact on human lives. We’re proud to say that, with Tapestri, we’re doing just that.”

Beyond cancer research and care, Tapestri’s single-cell analysis holds enormous promise in the advancement of CRISPR genomic research and editing, where the potential for global impact has been hindered by safety concerns around unintended genome alterations. The level of insight afforded by Tapestri equips researchers and drug developers with the most accurate quality control method for detecting both known on-target and off-target effects of gene editing. As gene therapeutics become more prevalent, this technology could accurately quantify edited cells to inform the development and increase the efficacy of treatments.

The honor comes on the heels of a landmark year for the company, which just announced $30 million in Series B to scale its Tapestri Platform into even more markets. Earlier this year, MD Anderson Cancer Center published a peer-reviewed study in Genome Research validating the Tapestri Platform on clinical samples, and later presented results showcasing the largest single-cell study completed to date, utilizing Tapestri to sequence more than 500,000 cells across 70 patients. Additional studies in therapy resistance and minimal residual disease (MRD) using the Tapestri have been reported by other leading cancer centers, including the University of California, San Francisco, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
 

The Scientist’s Top 10 Innovations list is one of the most highly anticipated editorial lists each year. To see the complete list, visit: www.the-scientist.com/2018-top-10-innovations

To learn more about Mission Bio and how it’s moving precision medicine forward, visit www.missionbio.com.

About Mission Bio
Mission Bio delivers targeted single-cell genomics solutions for high-impact applications with Tapestri, the Precision Genomics Platform. Tapestri is the industry’s first targeted single-cell DNA sequencing platform, enabling precise detection of heterogeneity in disease progression and treatment response. Application areas include blood cancers, solid tumors, and genome editing validation. The platform includes an instrument, consumables, and analysis software, which integrate seamlessly with existing NGS workflows. With Tapestri, researchers have a highly sensitive, targeted, and customizable solution to move precision medicine forward.

Spun out of research at the University of California, San Francisco, Mission Bio is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.

About The Scientist
The Scientist is a publication for life-science professionals that is dedicated to covering a wide range of topics central to the study of cell and molecular biology, genetics, neuroscience, and other biological fields. The Scientist provides print and online coverage of the latest developments in the life sciences, including trends in research, new technology, news, business, and careers. It is read by leading researchers in industry and academia who value penetrating analyses and broad perspectives on life-science topics both within and beyond their areas of expertise. Written by prominent scientists and professional journalists, articles in The Scientist are concise, accurate, accessible, and entertaining.
 
 
##

Contact Information

Kathryn Ryan

Senior Account Executive

VSC for Mission Bio

missionbio@vscconsulting.com