Fluidigm and Bethyl Laboratories collaborate to expand antibody offerings for Hyperion Imaging System

Fluidigm Corporation, an innovative biotechnology tools provider with a vision to improve life through comprehensive health insight, has announced a collaboration with Bethyl Laboratories to provide broader verified antibody access for researchers using Fluidigm’s Imaging Mass Cytometry™ (IMC™) technology.

“Tools for understanding the immune system are more important than ever as researchers work to improve human health, particularly in responding to challenges posed by COVID‑19,” said Andrew Quong, PhD, Chief Science Officer of Fluidigm. “With Bethyl’s leadership in specialized antibodies and our expertise in high-multiplex imaging technology, this collaboration will provide our customers with critically needed new research capabilities.”

Bethyl Laboratories has a portfolio of more than 9,500 primary and secondary antibodies, including the recombinant monoclonal antibodies that are well-suited for imaging studies. Through the new collaboration, antibody products manufactured by Bethyl will be verified on the Hyperion™ Imaging System and offered to Fluidigm customers.

“At Bethyl, we are committed to supporting scientific discovery and facilitating a deeper understanding of the human immune system and are pleased to collaborate with a partner that is dedicated to the same goals,” said John Carwile, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Bethyl Laboratories. “The agreement with Fluidigm will expand the accessibility of our antibody products, increase the power of Fluidigm’s IMC technology, and in turn, drive meaningful insights into health and disease research.”

Fluidigm currently offers more than 100 pathologist-verified metal‑conjugated Maxpar^® antibodies for use with IMC, including antibodies verified for use with both formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and frozen tissues. These preconjugated antibodies enable researchers to obtain highly multiplexed images of a large number of sample types.

With the additional offerings through Bethyl, Fluidigm will provide access to a collection of antibodies that will increase in number over time and branch into new research areas for IMC.

“Imaging Mass Cytometry has revolutionized translational and clinical research in cancer, immuno-oncology, and immune-mediated diseases, and is now deployed on the front lines in state‑of‑the‑art research into the human immune response to COVID-19,” said Chris Linthwaite, Fluidigm President and CEO. “Deep and meaningful insights from diverse biomarkers with potential diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic value are at the heart of what our IMC technology brings to the table, and this significant addition to the library of available antibodies provides an unparalleled research capability in high-parameter tissue imaging.

“We are excited to collaborate with Bethyl to strengthen our IMC value proposition at this critical moment in global health and disease research.”

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