10x Genomics, Inc. is an American biotechnology company based in Pleasanton, California. It provides laboratories with tools to study biological mechanisms at the single-cell level and understand how cells are organized within tissues. Its offering combines instrumentation, consumables and computational analysis, serving customers that include universities, research institutes and pharmaceutical companies. Its website is 10xgenomics.com.
A Company Born from High-Resolution Analysis
Founded in 2012 by Serge Saxonov, Ben Hindson and Kevin Ness, 10x Genomics grew out of a key observation: measurements taken from mixtures of cells can mask important biological differences. By distinguishing individual cells, researchers can identify rare populations, characterize their functions and track their changes.
Listed on Nasdaq in 2019, the company has gradually expanded its portfolio beyond the analysis of dissociated cells. In particular, it has strengthened its presence in spatial biology, which aims to preserve information about the positions of cells and molecules within a sample. This development brings molecular measurements closer to the actual architecture of tissues, a crucial factor in interpreting how they function.
Three Platforms for Exploring Cells and Tissues
The Chromium platform enables sample preparation for single-cell analyses. It relies in particular on microfluidics and molecular barcodes that allow data to be assigned to the cells being studied. Depending on the protocols, researchers can explore gene expression, chromatin accessibility or immune cell receptors. Sequencing itself is performed on compatible equipment separate from that supplied by 10x Genomics.
Visium approaches samples from a different angle: measuring gene expression while preserving its location within tissue sections. Xenium complements this approach by detecting and locating RNA molecules directly within tissues using target panels. These tools address different needs in terms of molecular coverage, resolution and sample preparation.
Processing and visualization software accompanies these platforms to turn measurements into interpretable results. The business model combines instrument sales with sales of the reagents and consumables needed for experiments. These solutions are intended for research; they do not, on their own, constitute clinical diagnostic tests.
What Comes Next?
For 10x Genomics, the challenge is to make these analyses more accessible, reproducible and easier to integrate into laboratory workflows. Their adoption depends as much on the cost of experiments as on sample quality and the bioinformatics expertise available. In a competitive market, the company must also demonstrate the value of combining cellular and spatial data. Bringing these readouts together could help improve understanding of cell-to-cell interactions and identify new therapeutic avenues, without in itself guaranteeing their translation into treatments.