Fluidigm Announces Co-Marketing Agreement with Visiopharm to Expand and Simplify Imaging Mass Cytometry Data Analysis
Visiopharm Multiplex software presented at the Fluidigm Imaging Mass Cytometry User Group Meeting, expanding the suite of Hyperion Imaging System data analysis tools for translational and clinical research
Fluidigm Corporation (NASDAQ:FLDM) and Visiopharm A/S today announced a co-marketing relationship to automate image analysis for Imaging Mass Cytometry™ (IMC™). Under the terms of this agreement, Fluidigm and Visiopharm will cooperatively promote Visiopharm® image analysis software in conjunction with the Fluidigm® Hyperion™ Imaging System, MCD™ Viewer software and related Maxpar® antibodies and kits.
Developed using proven Fluidigm CyTOF® technology, the Hyperion Imaging System surpasses the inherent limitations of fluorescence detection by using highly pure metal tags that are separated by mass instead of by wavelength. Setting a new standard in highly multiplexed protein detection, the system enables researchers to simultaneously detect up to 37 markers from a single tissue section by IMC. Providing comprehensive analysis of cellular phenotypes and their interrelationships within the spatial context of the tissue microenvironment, IMC is aiding researchers around the world to uncover meaningful new insights in health and disease.
“We are committed to maximizing the full potential of mass cytometry to deeply interrogate tissue and tumor samples,” said Chris Linthwaite, President and CEO of Fluidigm. “Today we are excited to announce our agreement with Visiopharm, a leader in quantitative digital pathology software solutions. Together with Visiopharm, we are proud to bring new software capabilities to our growing IMC community.”
On September 11, Visiopharm will present its Multiplex software at the Fluidigm Imaging Mass Cytometry User Group Meeting in Seattle. Developed as an expansion of the Oncotopix® Discovery platform, Multiplex enables researchers to perform automated analysis of images generated by the Hyperion Imaging System. Offered as a licensed software solution from Visiopharm, Multiplex provides automated cell segmentation and phenotyping of cell classes in addition to powerful visualization of cell populations with phenotypic charting and t-SNE clustering.
“The collaboration between Fluidigm and Visiopharm will provide scientists novel tools to understand the biology of cancer, including the phenotyping of cells within the tumor microenvironment,” said Michael Grunkin, CEO of Visiopharm. “Our complementary technologies provide an entirely new research approach to drive drug-diagnostic co-development on a tissue-based platform, with the potential to also provide a new framework for precision medicine in cancer.”
“Collaborating to provide high-value automated data analysis solutions for the Hyperion Imaging System is essential to our strategy to empower routine use of this powerful technology,” continued Linthwaite. “By introducing automation to the MCD™ Viewer analysis pipeline, Multiplex further expands the capabilities of the Hyperion Imaging System to advance our understanding of human disease and improve the future of care.”