Every month, Katie Davis, our life sciences headhunter, publishes a round-up newsletter on LinkedIn for her 24,000+ subscribers. Each edition brings monthly updates on M&A, funding, partnerships and launches, plus exclusive Spotlights on the innovators to watch. (You can view the spotlights on our Insights page.)
This is the July edition. It was a busy month: Tempus AI agreed to acquire Personalis to build out its minimal residual disease (MRD) testing, AI-powered imaging and pathology kept its momentum, and there was a steady run of collaborations across single-cell, spatial biology, genomics and AI. Product launches covered sequencing, proteomics, diagnostics and lab automation.
Mergers and acquisitions
• Tempus AI: Entered a definitive agreement to acquire Personalis, Inc., building on their existing partnership to expand Tempus' minimal residual disease (MRD) capabilities and support patients from diagnosis through recurrence monitoring.
• Standard BioTools: Agreed to sell its Mass Cytometry business (CyTOF® and Hyperion®) to Multiplex Bio, a new company founded by imaging industry veterans, alongside a $30M buyout of earnout and royalty payments tied to Illumina's earlier acquisition of its SomaLogic business.
• Bruker: Acquired the DISQVER® clinical metagenomics platform from Noscendo, adding metagenomic next-generation sequencing analysis of microbes directly from blood samples to its NGS-based infection detection portfolio.
• Halma plc: Acquired Dreampath Diagnostics, adding Dreampath's automated sample-tracking and workflow solutions for anatomical pathology labs to Halma's Healthcare Sector.
• ABL Diagnostics S.A.: Selected by the Évry Commercial Court to acquire the assets and business operations of Texcell, an Institut Pasteur spinout specialising in viral safety and biosafety, preserving the Genopole site and transferring 29 employees.
• Renew Biotechnologies: Consolidated its Wasatch Biolabs and Resonant subsidiaries under the single Renew Biotechnologies brand, unifying long-read sequencing, assay development and diagnostic products under one platform.
• Leica Biosystems: Entered a definitive agreement to acquire StatLab from Linden Capital Partners and Audax Private Equity, adding StatLab's pre-analytical and analytical histology product portfolio to Leica's anatomic pathology business.
• Repligen Corporation: Entered a definitive agreement to acquire BioLife Solutions, Inc. for ~$1.5B, adding BioLife's market-leading CryoStor® biopreservation media platform and cell processing tools to expand Repligen's presence in the cell therapy market.
Partnerships and collaborations
Single cell and spatial biology
• 10x Genomics × CHUV (Lausanne University Hospital): Entered a multi-year collaboration applying Flex Apex and Xenium, later expanding to Atera, to cancer biomarker research across NSCLC, breast, bladder cancer and melanoma.
• Parhelia Biosciences × Sirona Dx: Partnered to standardise and scale spatial biology workflows for translational research and clinical trials using Parhelia's Spatial Station automation.
• Navinci × Lumito AB: Launched a pilot combining Lumito's nanoparticle imaging with Navinci's isPLA technology to visualise proteins and protein interactions in tissue.
• Nucleai × University of Glasgow (SPARC Lab): Partnered to apply Nucleai's multimodal spatial analytics to multiplex IF data, reducing tissue-to-insight timelines from months to weeks.
Omics and automation
• GenomOncology × PacBio: Partnered to combine PacBio HiFi WGS analysis with GenomOncology's Pathology Workbench for clinician-ready somatic WGS reporting.
• Pythia BioSciences × Lexogen: Partnered to combine RNA-seq and library prep with multi-omics data curation and analytics to accelerate cohort building and biobank-driven drug discovery.
• Bifrost Biosystems × Illumina: Entered a commercial supply agreement bringing Illumina sequencing chemistry to Bifrost's optical pooled screening platform ahead of its planned 2027 launch.
• Nabsys × Indiana University School of Medicine: Launched a multi-year study evaluating OhmX™ electronic genome mapping for structural variant detection in AML and MDS alongside FISH and karyotyping.
• BioCytics Inc × University of North Carolina at Charlotte × Carolina BioOncology Institute: Launched a two-year collaboration combining long-read sequencing, immune profiling and computational genomics to identify new cancer immunotherapy targets from the "dark genome."
Bioprocessing and cell therapy
• Applied StemCell × RoosterBio Inc.: Partnered to develop scalable, GMP-compatible iPSC bioprocessing solutions for advanced therapies from research through clinical manufacturing.
• NurExone Biologic × Novasign: Launched a bioprocess optimisation collaboration applying Novasign's bioprocess modelling platform to optimise exosome production and support technology transfer to NurExone's US subsidiary Exo-Top.
• Charles River Laboratories × Arovella Therapeutics (ASX: ALA): Partnered to provide GMP NGS cell-bank characterisation and viral safety testing for Arovella's iNKT cell therapy platform.
Data, AI and digital R&D
• GSK × Relation: Expanded collaboration worth up to $110M to generate human cellular perturbation data and train AI models for therapeutic target discovery.
• Imagene AI × Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center: Partnered to develop and validate clinical AI infrastructure for digital pathology, precision oncology and biopharma R&D in real-world clinical settings.
• Inocras Inc. × AimedBio: Formed a strategic partnership integrating Inocras' WGS and cancer intelligence platform into AimedBio's ADC trials for biomarker discovery and patient selection.
• Helix × AstraZeneca: Entered a multi-year agreement giving AstraZeneca access to GenoSphere™ cohorts combining Exome+® data with longitudinal clinical records.
• Genomate Health × Inflexa: Launched a research collaboration combining computational reasoning and multi-omics analytics to investigate biological signals behind atypical drug responses in cancer.
• Nucs AI × Segmed AI: Formed a strategic partnership combining Segmed's 150M+ imaging studies with Nucs AI's oncology models to develop disease registries and imaging biomarker validation frameworks.
• BostonGene × Kyoto University: Partnered to support a Phase II gastrointestinal cancer trial, applying BostonGene's multimodal AI platform to identify response biomarkers.
• VERAXA Biotech × Ardigen: Partnered to apply AI to identify synergistic dual targets for VERAXA's BiTAC® T-cell engager and ADC pipeline.
• Bristol Myers Squibb × NVIDIA: Expanded AI drug discovery infrastructure with an NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD supporting research across oncology, immunology, neuroscience and other therapeutic areas.
• Insilico Medicine × China Medical System Holdings Ltd: Signed an additional AI drug discovery collaboration targeting a CNS indication identified through PandaOmics, worth up to ~RMB 1.2B plus royalties.
• Evinova × Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany: Entered a multi-year collaboration deploying Evinova's AI-native clinical development platform across study design, document authoring and downstream automation.
Drug discovery
• Biocytogen × Whitehawk Therapeutics: Global collaboration evaluating up to five RenLite® bispecific antibodies with Whitehawk's ADC linker-payload technology.
• Nona Biosciences × Lonza: Partnered to develop single-domain antibody technology for blood-brain-barrier crossing in CNS diseases.
Diagnostics
• Biocartis × Discovery Life Sciences: Formed a strategic collaboration pairing Discovery's global lab network with the Idylla™ platform, starting with harmonised rapid KRAS testing in Germany and the US.
• Viz.ai × Cortechs.ai: Partnered to integrate NeuroQuant and NeuroQuant MS into Viz.ai's platform, expanding into neurodegenerative disease with an initial focus on multiple sclerosis.
• NanoSomiX, Inc. × Beckman Coulter Diagnostics: Announced plans to develop automated immunoassays for neurodegenerative disease using NanoSomiX's brain-derived extracellular vesicle biomarkers.
• bioAffinity Technologies × Pictor: Collaborated to develop next-generation asthma and COPD diagnostics, combining flow cytometry and targeted proteomics.
• Burning Rock Biotech × Myriad Genetics: Expanded their HRD licensing agreement, adding Myriad's prGIS algorithm and supporting a new companion diagnostic outside China.
• Simplify Genomics, Inc. × SimonMed: Partnered to combine whole-genome interpretation with SimonMed's 175+ centre whole-body MRI network for personalised preventive care.
• Plus Therapeutics (now Cerenome) × Genomic Testing Cooperative: Partnered to add GTC's NGS technology into the CNSide® cerebrospinal fluid platform for CNS cancers.
• Quest Diagnostics × Flatiron Health: Began integrating its Haystack MRD® and genomic profiling into OncoEMR®, starting with a pilot across American Oncology Network.
Research consortia and studies
• Geneseeq Canada × University Health Network: Became the first commercial genomic testing partner for UHN's SHERLOCK study, providing tumour profiling, MRD and haematologic malignancy testing for ~1,000 participants.
• National Institutes of Health × White House OSTP × Department of Energy: Launched the $1.2B+ Bio Genesis Mission, applying AI and advanced computing to accelerate biomedical research and translation.
• Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Diagnostics Accelerator × The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research: Announced a $5M partnership to advance minimally invasive biomarkers for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's co-pathologies.
• Alamar Biosciences, Inc. × Washington University in St. Louis × University of Wisconsin-Madison × Indiana University (NCRAD): Launched a national-scale proteomics initiative using the NULISAseq™ Neuro 220 panel to generate open plasma data from ~21,000 Alzheimer's samples.
• SK bioscience × Gates Foundation × PATH × Slalom: Will lead the ROTOR project, an AI platform to support vaccine clinical-development decision-making, initially using rotavirus vaccine data.
• Seegene Inc.: Launched the Global Million Clinical Study evaluating syndromic PCR testing strategies using large-scale real-world evidence.
• La Jolla Labs Inc. × Unravel Biosciences × Ulm University: Formed an international consortium combining AI, RNA biology and patient-driven data to discover ALS therapeutic targets.
• Crown Bioscience: Joined Critical Path Institute (C-Path) NAMs-DC, contributing patient-derived xenograft, tumour organoid and ex vivo tissue expertise to advance regulatory acceptance of human-relevant models.
• Harbour BioMed × Sinopharm: Established an innovation consortium to co-develop biologics in oncology and immune-mediated inflammatory disease.
• Nona Biosciences × Medical University of Vienna: Launched a research collaboration providing access to H2L2 Harbour Mice® to generate fully human antibodies for infectious disease and pandemic preparedness research.
Distribution and market access
• Arima Genomics × Active Motif: Active Motif becomes exclusive distributor of Arima's Hi-C research kits and services for non-FFPE samples.
• DNA Script × Imperial Life Sciences Pvt Ltd.: Distribution agreement expanding access to the SYNTAX enzymatic DNA synthesis platform across India.
• Europa Biosite × arcoris bio AG: Distribution partnership bringing the immunoMUSE® multiplex IF platform to Europe and North America.
• Europa Biosite × Jackson ImmunoResearch: Expanded distribution of secondary antibodies and immunodetection reagents to UK and Irish customers.
• Elephas × Invitrocue: Invitrocue becomes commercial partner for the elive™ live-tissue immunotherapy response platform across Singapore and Malaysia.
• Virax Biolabs × Fosun Diagnostics: Exclusive agreement distributing ImmuneSelect RUO immune profiling products across six Southeast Asian markets.
Services and research infrastructure
• Katana Labs: Joined CRO Marketplace as a service provider offering AI-assisted spatial multi-omics analytics through Katana Edge.
• ions.bio × ProteomEdge: Adding ProteomEdge's qRePS™ panels to targeted proteomics CRO services for absolute protein quantification.
• GeneCentric: Launched ExpressCT Rewind service, applying DNA fragmentomics to existing sequencing data to infer tumour gene expression signals from ctDNA.
• ProteomEdge × LabExperts sp. z o.o.: Integrating qRePS™ panels into LabExperts' mass-spec services for absolute protein quantification.
• Genetic Alliance × Lucid Genomics: Expanding access to AI-powered genomic analysis across Genetic Alliance's 26-site rare disease network.
• Genomics England × Lifebit: Lifebit selected to develop a next-generation secure research environment for rare disease and cancer research.
• Parse Biosciences × Xpress Genomics: Xpress Genomics becomes Parse's first Nordic Certified Service Provider for Evercode single-cell sequencing.
• Ultima Genomics × BaseClear: BaseClear becomes Ultima's first European Certified Service Provider, offering UG200-powered sequencing.
• Parse Biosciences × Garvan Institute of Medical Research: Garvan's Genomics Platform joins Parse's Certified Service Provider network, expanding Evercode access across Australia and APAC.
• Novogene Europe: Launched 10x Genomics single-cell RNA-seq services from its Cambridge Omics Centre, initially supporting 3' gene expression studies.
• Novogene: Launched untargeted metabolomics services at its Cambridge Omics Centre using UHPLC-Orbitrap LC-MS.
Product launches
Spatial biology and single cell
• HAGA.BIO: Launched HAGA Point™ Early Access, an in-situ assay for single-nucleotide-resolution mutation detection. The probes-and-reagents kit detects clinically relevant oncogenic mutations directly in FFPE tissue with up to 4+-plex detection, high specificity and a 48-hour tissue-to-data turnaround.
Genomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics
• Devyser: Launched One Lambda Devyser Chimerism Plus, an RUO NGS assay for chimerism monitoring following allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
• Cyclomics: Launched CySeq, a cfDNA method that concatenates molecules into long reads for single-molecule cancer mutation detection.
• New England Biolabs: Launched the NEBNext Companion Module for Oxford Nanopore Direct RNA Sequencing, designed to improve RNA004 workflow yield and quality.
• Omega Bio-tek: Launched the Mag-Bind HMW DNA Kit, isolating DNA fragments up to 450kb for long-read sequencing.
• Confluence Genetics: Launched Cas-CLEAR™, a CRISPR-Cas12a2 platform designed to recognise cancer-specific genetic signatures and selectively eliminate carrying cells.
• Roche: Unveiled the RUO AXELIOS 1 NGS platform, using sequencing-by-expansion technology to reduce sequencing time from days to hours.
Proteomics, metabolomics and cell biology
• Alamar Biosciences, Inc.: Launched the NULISA Immune 340 Panel, measuring ~340 immune-related proteins at attomolar sensitivity from a single sample.
• Alamar Biosciences, Inc.: Launched an eMTBR-Tau immunoassay for the plasma biomarker linked to tau-tangle pathology, available standalone and within NULISAseq Neuro 220.
• Spear Bio: Unveiled a commercial eMTBR-Tau assay, new epTau217 assay and automated instrument platform for SPEAR immunoassay workflows.
• Spear Bio: Launched the SPEAR UltraDetect™ Mouse NF-L Assay Kit for ultra-sensitive, low-volume neurofilament light measurement in preclinical research.
• Metabolon, Inc.: Expanded its Microbiome Panel to 800+ metabolites, broadening coverage of microbial activity, nutrition and host-microbiome interactions.
• Bio-Techne: Expanded its AI-Engineered Designer Protein portfolio with new heat-stable growth factors and cytokines for cell culture, organoid and cell therapy workflows.
• uBriGene Biosciences Inc.: Launched the uVivo™ Lentiviral Vector Platform for in vivo CAR-T delivery, designed to enable thousands of doses from a single 10L batch.
• Agilent Technologies: Launched xCELLigence RTCA eSight AI, automating cell segmentation while combining imaging and impedance measurements from the same cells.
Lab automation, sample prep and workflow tools
• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Launched four VeriCheck ddPCR Biopharma QC kits for cell and gene therapy quality control on the QX700 platform.
• Sino Biological, Inc.: Launched SuperNuclease® Pro for host nucleic acid removal in bioprocessing and mNGS, including high-salt workflows.
• Agilent Technologies: Expanded its Altura HPLC portfolio with SEC and PLRP-S columns for biopharma analysis of proteins, peptides, oligonucleotides and conjugated therapeutics.
Software and informatics
• Matterworks: Launched PyxisLabs, an AI-native platform using large spectrum models trained on 10B+ spectra to interpret small-molecule, lipid, peptide and protein data.
• Indica Labs: Released HALO AP 2.5, adding Lab Logic for automated workflows, multi-step processes and AI-driven routing.
• Indica Labs: Released HALO, HALO AI and HALO Link 4.3 with improved image copying, AI model testing and performance/study management.
• pixlbio: Launched Tox Suite, a clinical toxicity prediction platform initially focused on DILI risk from chemical structure.
• Circular Genomics: Launched CircPATH™, a circular RNA biomarker discovery and validation engine following research linking circRNA signatures to Alzheimer's progression.
• Anthropic: Launched Claude Science beta, an AI workbench with 60+ scientific skills and connectors spanning genomics, single-cell, proteomics, structural biology and cheminformatics.
• MGI (Genoria AI) × Shanghai AI Laboratory: Launched ProtoPilot for autonomous experimental workflows and BioLab Bench for evaluating AI agents on real lab automation equipment.
• Nucleus Biologics: Launched CRAIC™ Formulation Finder, an LLM-powered assistant generating tailored cell culture media and buffer recommendations from natural-language prompts.
Diagnostics and clinical testing: oncology, MRD and precision medicine
• Caris Life Sciences: Launched Caris Detect, a multicancer early detection assay combining AI with ultra-deep whole-genome and whole-transcriptome sequencing.
• Tempus AI: Launched RightMed Comprehensive in the US, a 27-gene pharmacogenomics assay with under five-day turnaround.
• Caris Life Sciences: Added in-house PTEN IHC testing to identify prostate cancer patients eligible for capivasertib-based treatment.
• NeoGenomics Laboratories: Launched PTEN IHC CDx, the first FDA-approved IHC companion diagnostic identifying PTEN-deficient prostate cancer patients eligible for TRUQAP®.
• Ethos Laboratories × Incite Genomics: Launched CNSDose™ nationally, a 19-gene pharmacogenomic test supporting neuropsychiatric medication selection.
• Cancer Cell Diagnostics: Launched CellSight DNA, sequencing intact circulating tumour cells from blood for genomic profiling including SNVs, indels, CNVs, MSI and TMB.
Diagnostics and clinical testing: reproductive, infectious disease and public health
• Myriad Genetics: Launched FirstGene Multiple Prenatal Screen, combining chromosome, single-gene, carrier and fetal RhD screening from one blood draw.
• Zepto Life Technology: Launched two plasma cfDNA fungal assays detecting P. jirovecii and 14 invasive mould species with under-24-hour turnaround.
• bioMérieux: Made its Watchfire wastewater monitoring panels for 40+ respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens available on the BioFire FilmArray Torch.
• Roche: Introduced the CE-marked cobas® HDV test, the first fully automated high-throughput assay for Hepatitis D Virus RNA detection and quantification.
• QIAGEN: Launched the CE-IVDR QIAstat-Dx BCID GN Plus AMR Panel, detecting 13 gram-negative pathogens and 18 resistance markers in about an hour.
• Eurofins Viracor: Launched the BKV inSIGHT™ T-Cell Immunity Panel to assess BK virus-specific immunity in kidney transplant patients.
• CirrusDx, Inc.: Launched LacP™, a vaginal microbiome panel identifying and quantifying protective Lactobacillus species.
Clinical lab and workflow infrastructure
• Waters Corporation: Launched the Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD mass spectrometer, offering up to 5x greater sensitivity for routine clinical LC-MS/MS.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Launched LabScreen Single Antigen HLA Class II ExPlex – Group 2, extending transplant antibody assessment to a 51-bead HLA panel.
• Labcorp: Launched the Marker Genetic Health Panel, analysing 163 genes across hereditary cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic conditions.
• Cepheid: Unveiled the third-generation GeneXpert system with a touchscreen interface, redesigned software and future support for high-plex and NGS-based Xpert tests.
• Beckman Coulter Diagnostics: Launched the DxU 1800 System in the US, combining automated urine chemistry and microscopy for high-throughput urinalysis.
• Roche: Debuted the cobas® Mass Spec solution for automated routine clinical mass spectrometry and released cobas® 6800/8800 System Version 2.0.
Regulatory approvals and certifications
• Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS): NATA ISO 15189 accreditation for Oxford Nanopore clinical WGS.
• Freenome × Abbott: FDA approval for SimpleScreen™ CRC blood-based colorectal cancer screening.
• Roche: FDA 510(k) clearance for the cobas® BV/CV molecular assay.
• altona Diagnostics: CE-IVDR marking for the FlexStar® STI Panel.
• Hartwig Medical Foundation: CE-IVDR certification for OncoAct whole-genome sequencing diagnostics.
• Beckman Coulter Diagnostics: CE-IVDR marking for the Access p-Tau217 blood test.
• Visby Medical: FDA clearance for its at-home COVID-19/flu A/B PCR test.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: FBI NDIS approval for the RapidINTEL™ Plus Cartridge.
• Natera: EU IVDR Class C certification for Signatera MRD testing.
• Personalis, Inc.: UKCA marking for NeXT Personal Dx MRD testing.
• Castle Biosciences, Inc.: New York State approval for the AdvanceAD-Tx test.
• Seegene USA: FDA EUA for the Allplex™ HSV-1&2/VZV/MPXV multiplex PCR assay.
• ProtaGene: CAP CLIA accreditation for Integration Site Analysis at its Heidelberg lab.
• 4TEEN4 Pharmaceuticals: FDA Fast Track Designation for invobenitug in cardiogenic shock.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: FDA 510(k) clearances for EXENT® and EliA™ CTD 13 Screen.
• Roche: CE mark for the Elecsys® pTau217 Alzheimer's blood test.
• Roche: CE mark for the Elecsys® IGRA TB blood test.
• Absentia Labs: Digital Liver Model accepted into the FDA ISTAND pathway.
• Allarity Therapeutics: CLIA registration for its in-house DRP® companion diagnostics laboratory.
• GENFIT × Labcorp: Secured US Medicare coverage for NASHnext®.
