SAN JOSE, Calif.– Takara Bio USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takara Bio Inc., has announced major updates to its spatial biology product line, introducing a new class of spatial technology designed to work with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples—one of the most widely used archival sample types in biomedical research. The company’s instrument-free Trekker Single-Cell Spatial Mapping Kits now enable spatial single-cell analysis across a broader range of research applications and can integrate with leading single-cell library preparation systems from 10x Genomics, BD Biosciences, Parse Biosciences, and Illumina.
Takara Bio USA’s latest enhancements advance its platform-agnostic approach to spatial biology, allowing researchers to gain deeper multiomic insights at true single-cell spatial resolution. The updated Trekker technology is engineered for seamless compatibility with existing workflows, simplifying the addition of spatial data to single-cell studies. The kits are also now available as a full spatial biology solution, combining spatial omics with epigenetics and immune profiling, including joint epigenetic and RNA-seq readouts.
“Takara Bio is providing researchers with a new way to approach spatial biology—faster, easier, more cost-effective, and with richer multiomic insights,” said Andrew Farmer, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Takara Bio USA. “Building on our track record as the first company to commercialize single-cell DNA and RNA sequencing, it is a natural progression for us to expand into spatial biology. As the only company with the capabilities to provide scientists with tools for spatial, single-cell, and bulk sequencing, Takara Bio is uniquely positioned to deliver a powerful combination at a scale no other life science company can offer.”
The Trekker technology represents a new class of spatial innovation that allows researchers to create high-resolution maps of gene and protein expression without specialized equipment. By integrating directly into standard single-cell sequencing workflows, it preserves high molecular sensitivity and lowers the barriers to adopting spatial omics.
To support these advances, Takara Bio USA has also introduced enhanced bioinformatics software and offers dedicated Field Application and Technical Support Scientists to assist researchers with data analysis using open-source tools.
“As a scientist and entrepreneur exploring avenues to apply omics technologies to better our understanding of biology, I am encouraged by how Takara Bio is expanding the applications of its spatial technology and bringing a novel approach to spatial analysis into the mainstream of discovery research,” said Nachiket Kashikar, Ph.D., Co-founder of OMAPiX. “The company’s platform-agnostic, multiomic approach opens new possibilities and enables us to ask deeper scientific questions without the need for specialized instrumentation or added capital investment.”
Takara Bio USA is also investing further in its spatial biology business. The company has expanded its R&D team, integrating its Palo Alto-based spatial group into its San Jose facilities, and moved all manufacturing of Trekker and Seeker spatial biology products in-house to meet growing global demand.
“As we celebrate Takara Bio USA’s 20th anniversary, we mark an important milestone in our history as a trusted partner to researchers worldwide,” said Carol Lou, President and CEO of Takara Bio USA. “Our innovation in spatial technology builds on two decades of delivering leading life science tools—spanning next-generation sequencing, PCR, gene expression, gene editing, and single-cell analysis. With our new class of spatial technology complementing our single-cell platforms, Takara Bio USA is positioned at the forefront of revolutionizing single-cell spatial biology for de novo discovery.”
