STOCKHOLM — Moleculent AB, a company developing technology to study how cells communicate, announced the launch of its Techstart early access program. The program gives selected translational research groups the ability to use Moleculent’s platform to perform high-plex functional analysis of cell-cell interactions directly in patient-derived FFPE tissue samples.
“With Techstart, we’re inviting scientists to explore a new functional layer of spatial biology for the first time,” said Olle Ericsson, CEO of Moleculent. “By mapping direct cell-cell interaction networks in tissue, we will unlock insights in health and disease. Our initial focus will be on immuno-oncology to map how cancer and immune cells engage in tumors.”
The platform allows researchers to detect and analyze cell-cell communication within tissues in their native context. By profiling interactions across multiple receptor-ligand pairs at once, the system provides a broader view of biological signaling networks. This allows comparison between coordinated interactions in healthy tissue and the altered communication patterns associated with disease.
Moleculent’s approach uses its proprietary proximity ligation assay to detect cell-cell interactions at high multiplex. In addition, the system supports cell typing by detecting individual proteins, helping place interaction data in the proper tissue context. To support large-scale use, the company is developing an automated instrument designed to deliver reproducibility with minimal hands-on time.
“Moleculent’s multiplexed proximity ligation assay technology allows us to directly visualize cell-cell interactions within intact FFPE tissues,” said Kevin Matthew Byrd of Virginia Commonwealth University. “By studying functional receptor-ligand signaling in situ, we’re uncovering new layers of how cells communicate and linking computational predictions from spatial multiomics to the biological environment in tissue.”
The company’s initial area of focus is immuno-oncology, with a T-cell centered panel designed to measure interactions related to antigen presentation, immune checkpoints, and cell identity markers in clinical samples. The platform is intended to complement existing spatial methods that rely on inferred interactions, enabling a more direct view of communication among cancer and immune cells.
Moleculent plans to expand the platform to additional research areas over time, supporting studies across varied disease and biological systems. The company is led by a team experienced in developing and commercializing life science research tools, with prior roles at organizations including 10x Genomics, Agilent Technologies, and PerkinElmer. Investors include ARCH Venture Partners and Eir Ventures.
