In 2024, NanoString Technologies enhanced its global presence and innovation in spatial biology through the legal reinstatement of its CosMx™ Spatial Molecular Imager in Germany, its acquisition by Bruker Corporation, and significant advancements in viral infection research.
NanoString Technologies, a trailblazer in spatial biology and gene expression profiling, has marked significant milestones in 2024, underscoring the impact of its flagship product, the CosMx™ Spatial Molecular Imager (SMI). This innovative platform is revolutionizing multiomics research by enabling high-plex in situ analysis at cellular and subcellular resolution, providing unparalleled insights into gene expression and protein interactions within their spatial context.
In 2024, NanoString Technologies solidified its position as a leader in spatial biology with groundbreaking advancements in its CosMx™ Spatial Molecular Imager (SMI) platform. This year has been particularly eventful for the company, marked by the lifting of legal restrictions in Germany, a transformative acquisition by Bruker Corporation, and significant scientific contributions, including a pivotal study on viral infection responses. With the removal of legal barriers, NanoString has expanded its global reach, ensuring that its innovative products are available to researchers worldwide.
Meanwhile, the acquisition by Bruker has opened new avenues for innovation and synergy in spatial biology, enhancing the capabilities of the CosMx platform. A recent study further demonstrated the power of CosMx SMI in providing high-resolution, spatially contextualized insights into gene expression, underscoring its vital role in advancing complex biological research. This article delves into these developments, exploring how NanoString’s products and strategic moves are shaping the future of scientific discovery.
IN THE KNOW: NanoString overturned its infringement loss in court against 10x Genomics by an appeal in 2024, resulting in a win.
Breaking Legal Barriers in Germany
One of the most significant developments for NanoString this year has been the lifting of an injunction that previously affected the CosMx SMI products in Germany. On July 17, 2024, this legal obstacle was removed, allowing the full suite of CosMx SMI instruments and panels to be marketed, sold, and used in Germany without restrictions. This move not only restores NanoString’s full operational capabilities in Germany but also signals a global affirmation of the availability and reliability of its products. Earlier in the year, a similar injunction affecting 17 European countries was lifted by the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in February, ensuring that NanoString’s products, including the CosMx SMI, are free from legal prohibitions worldwide.
Strategic Acquisition by Bruker: A New Era of Innovation
In a transformative move, NanoString Technologies was acquired by Bruker Corporation, a global leader in scientific instruments and solutions. This acquisition, finalized in 2024, integrates NanoString’s cutting-edge spatial biology technologies with Bruker’s robust portfolio, enhancing the scope and impact of their combined offerings.
Bruker’s expertise in fluorescence imaging and spatial proteomics, exemplified by its CellScape™ platform, complements NanoString’s strengths in gene expression and spatial multiomics. This synergy is expected to accelerate scientific discovery, offering researchers comprehensive tools to explore complex biological questions from multiple angles. The collaboration ensures that NanoString’s product pipeline, including the highly anticipated CosMx WTX panel set for commercialization in 2025, remains on track, reflecting the company’s commitment to continuous innovation.
CosMx SMI: Expanding Horizons in Spatial Biology
The CosMx SMI platform remains at the forefront of NanoString’s product lineup, providing researchers with a versatile tool for spatial single-cell imaging. Capable of analyzing up to 6,000 RNA and 64 validated protein analytes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and fresh frozen (FF) tissue samples, CosMx SMI facilitates detailed exploration of cellular and molecular landscapes within tissues.
Researchers utilizing CosMx SMI can perform in-depth cell atlasing, characterize tissue microenvironments, and investigate cell-cell interactions, which are crucial for understanding complex biological processes and discovering novel biomarkers. This platform’s ability to integrate spatial context with high-resolution molecular data is particularly valuable for advancing our understanding of diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases.
Case Study: Advancing Viral Infection Research
In a study conducted on June 18, 2024, NanoString technologies were evaluated alongside RNA-Seq to explore immune responses to viral infections in upper airway lung organoids. The research involved exposing the organoids to influenza A virus (IAV), human metapneumovirus (MPV), and parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV3) under various conditions, comparing gene expression data from both platforms to highlight the strengths of RNA-Seq’s broad coverage of 19,671 genes and the focused analysis of 773 immune-related genes offered by NanoString’s technologies.
The analysis showed a strong correlation between the platforms in identifying key antiviral defense genes such as ISG15 and MX1, with NanoString’s technology providing more detailed insights in cases where RNA-Seq data were less clear. The ability of NanoString’s platform to offer spatial context allowed researchers to map gene expression across different cell types within the organoids, enhancing understanding of tissue-specific immune responses and underscoring the complementary value of RNA-Seq and NanoString’s technologies in complex biological research.
As NanoString embarks on this new chapter under Bruker’s ownership, the future looks promising for the CosMx SMI and the broader spatial biology field. The combination of NanoString’s innovative platforms with Bruker’s extensive resources and expertise is set to drive new discoveries and empower scientists to tackle some of the most challenging questions in biology. With no legal barriers in sight and a clear commitment to innovation, NanoString’s products are poised to continue making a profound impact on the scientific community worldwide.
