Alithea Genomics unveils extraction-free platform for massive-scale drug screening
Swiss-American biotech firm Alithea Genomics has launched MERCURIUS™ Total DRUG-seq, an innovative extraction-free transcriptome profiling platform designed to accelerate high-throughput compound screening and target validation through unprecedented multiplexing capabilities. The new library preparation kit represents a significant advancement over the company’s existing MERCURIUS™ 3’ DRUG-seq technology, capturing complete transcriptomes including long non-coding RNAs with full-length coverage and enhanced sensitivity. The platform enables researchers to screen over 50,000 samples with confidence whilst maintaining reproducibility standards essential for clinical applications.
Streamlined workflow addresses laboratory efficiency demands
Available in 96-well (1,000–25,000 cells) and 384-well (500–10,000 cells) formats, the extraction-free protocol delivers faster turnaround times with reduced input requirements compared to conventional RNA sequencing approaches. This streamlined methodology eliminates traditional extraction steps, reducing both processing time and potential contamination risks in clinical laboratory settings.
“MERCURIUS Total DRUG-seq represents a new frontier in transcriptome-scale compound screening,” said Riccardo Dainese, CEO and Co-founder of Alithea Genomics. “We are empowering scientists to capture the full complexity of transcriptional responses – at a massive scale and with minimal cost. This product opens the door to discovering new biology, new targets, and new drugs faster than ever before.”
Enhanced multiplexing capacity enables AI-driven discovery
The platform’s unprecedented multiplexing capacity positions it as a critical tool for generating large-scale data-sets required for machine learning and artificial intelligence applications in drug discovery. By capturing complete transcriptional responses, including previously difficult-to-detect non-coding RNAs, the technology provides researchers with comprehensive molecular profiles essential for identifying novel therapeutic targets.
RNA sequencing technology examines
RNA molecule quantities and sequences using next-generation sequencing, revealing gene expression patterns that provide high-resolution insights into cellular function. These capabilities prove essential across the entire drug discovery pipeline, from initial biomarker identification through therapeutic development phases.
Commercial availability and regulatory status
MERCURIUS Total DRUG-seq is now available for ordering as a standalone kit or through Alithea’s in-house services. Founded in 2020 at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, Alithea Genomics operates across Europe and the United States, developing massively multiplexed RNA-seq solutions designed to reduce costs and complexity in large-scale transcriptomic analyses.
For more information, visit: https://alitheagenomics.com
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