Lunaphore

Lunaphore is a Swiss spatial biology company that builds automated, microfluidics‑based multiplex immunofluorescence and IHC instruments and workflows to enable high‑plex proteomic and transcriptomic analysis of tissues for translational research and immuno‑oncology (now a Bio‑Techne brand after acquisition). [5][4]

High‑Level Overview

• Concise summary: Lunaphore develops next‑generation tissue autostainers and end‑to‑end spatial biology solutions that use precision microfluidics to deliver high‑plex, same‑section proteomic and transcriptomic assays for cancer research, immunology and translational diagnostics; the company was acquired by Bio‑Techne in 2023 and is now positioned as part of a larger spatial biology portfolio.[5][4]

For a portfolio company (Lunaphore as a product company)

• Product it builds: Automated microfluidic tissue autostainers and integrated spatial multiomics workflows (multiplex immunofluorescence and IHC, with support for proteomic and transcriptomic detection). [6][2]
  - Who it serves: Translational research laboratories, immuno‑oncology and neuroscience researchers, and companies developing biomarkers and targeted therapeutics. [5][4]
  - What problem it solves: Reduces complexity, increases throughput and reproducibility of high‑plex tissue analysis (enabling single‑cell and subcellular resolution spatial biomarker discovery without the need for bespoke antibody conjugation). [4][6]
  - Growth momentum: Lunaphore grew from a Swiss startup (founded 2014) into a leading spatial biology vendor and was acquired by Bio‑Techne in 2023 to scale globally; since acquisition the brand has shipped integrated workflows and partnered on automated hyperplex multiomics offerings and AI workflows, indicating product and commercial acceleration.[1][4][2]

Origin Story

• Founding year and background: Lunaphore was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Tolochenaz, Switzerland.[1][4]
  - Founders and idea: The company was created to bring “‑omics‑like” spatial analytics into tissue diagnostics and research by leveraging microfluidic technology to make multiplex staining faster, more precise and more scalable than conventional methods.[3][6]
  - Early traction/pivotal moments: Lunaphore gained recognition for its microfluidics‑based autostainers and award‑winning technology in tissue diagnostics, raised multiple funding rounds to scale product development, and reached a pivotal milestone when Bio‑Techne announced the acquisition in June 2023 to combine Lunaphore’s instruments with Bio‑Techne’s reagent and spatial biology assets.[3][1][4]

Core Differentiators

• Precision microfluidic staining: Uses controlled microfluidic reagent delivery to reduce reagent volumes, speed reactions and preserve tissue morphology for high‑quality multiplex staining.[6][3]
  - Flexible, antibody‑friendly workflow: Supports users’ existing antibody libraries without mandatory conjugation, simplifying panel design and adoption.[4][6]
  - Same‑section hyperplex multiomics capability: Enables multiplexed detection of proteins and RNA on the same tissue section, supporting integrated spatial proteomic and transcriptomic analysis.[2][4]
  - End‑to‑end automation and scalability: Offers integrated staining, imaging and preprocessing in an automated, high‑throughput instrument to improve reproducibility and lab throughput.[4][2]
  - Backing by a major life‑science platform: Acquisition by Bio‑Techne provides broader commercial reach, reagent integration and resources for global scale‑up.[4]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

• Trend they are riding: Rapid expansion of spatial biology and spatial multiomics as essential approaches for biomarker discovery, immuno‑oncology research and precision medicine solutions. [4][2]
  - Why timing matters: Demand for spatial context in single‑cell biology and clinical translational research has grown alongside advances in imaging, multiplex chemistry and computational analysis, creating a need for automated, scalable tissue‑level workflows. [4][2]
  - Market forces working in their favor: Increased investment in immuno‑oncology, biomarker‑driven trials, and AI‑driven pathology/biomarker discovery amplifies demand for high‑plex, reproducible spatial assays that integrate into discovery pipelines. [2][6]
  - How they influence the ecosystem: By lowering technical barriers to multiplex spatial assays and promoting compatibility with existing antibody libraries, Lunaphore accelerates adoption of spatial biology across academic and industry labs and complements reagent and software players through integrated workflows. [6][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

• Near term: As a Bio‑Techne brand, Lunaphore is likely to deepen integration with reagent portfolios and image/analysis workflows, expand high‑throughput commercial deployments, and push same‑section multiomics products into translational and clinical research labs.[4][2]
  - Mid/long term trends that will shape their journey: Growth in spatial multiomics, regulatory progress for clinical spatial assays, and tighter coupling with AI pathology and predictive biomarker platforms will determine commercial expansion and potential clinical translation. [2][4]
  - How their influence may evolve: If Lunaphore’s automation + Bio‑Techne’s reagent/support network remain competitive, the company could become a standard instrument vendor for spatial proteomics/transcriptomics in pharma and translational labs, accelerating biomarker pipelines and enabling larger, multi‑site studies with consistent protocols. [4][6]

Quick reminder: Lunaphore’s publicly stated capabilities and strategic position as of its Bio‑Techne acquisition form the basis for this profile; recent product launches and partnerships (including automated hyperplex workflows and AI collaborations) show continued momentum under Bio‑Techne’s ownership.[4][2][6]