Scipio Bioscience Company Profile

Background

Scipio Bioscience, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Paris, France, was a biotechnology company specializing in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) solutions. The company's mission was to democratize access to single-cell technologies by providing cost-effective, user-friendly solutions that could be implemented directly at the laboratory bench without the need for specialized equipment. This approach aimed to empower researchers across various disciplines to perform high-resolution transcriptomic analyses, thereby advancing both basic and clinical research.

Key Strategic Focus

Scipio Bioscience's strategic focus centered on developing innovative, instrument-free scRNA-seq solutions that simplified the workflow for researchers. Their flagship product, the Asteria™ single-cell RNA-seq kit, enabled the profiling of 10,000 individual cells per sample without the need for complex instrumentation. Complementing this was Cytonaut™, a cloud-based data analysis software designed to be intuitive for both biologists and bioinformaticians, facilitating seamless data interpretation. By integrating these technologies, Scipio aimed to address the technical, logistical, and financial barriers traditionally associated with single-cell sequencing.

Financials and Funding

In February 2020, Scipio Bioscience secured €6.0 million in Series A financing. The funding round was led by M Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Merck KGaA, with participation from Seventure Partners' Quadrivium I, High-Tech Gründerfonds, Financière Arbevel, and Investiere. This capital was intended to finalize the development of the Asteria™ kit and to prepare for its commercial launch in 2022.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Scipio Bioscience's innovation was anchored in its proprietary hydrogel-based technology, which facilitated the physical isolation of individual cells. This method allowed for the capture of cell-specific mRNA without reliance on microfluidics or nano-wells, thereby simplifying the sample preparation process. The Asteria™ kit utilized this technology to enable efficient and accurate single-cell RNA sequencing directly at the bench. The accompanying Cytonaut™ software provided an end-to-end, cloud-based solution for data analysis, offering interactive visualization and generation of publication-ready figures, all within a secure cloud infrastructure.

Leadership Team

Prof. Stuart Edelstein: President and Chief Scientific Officer. A world-renowned biophysicist with academic tenures at institutions such as Cornell University, University of Geneva, and the Collège de France.

Pierre Chaumat: Chief Executive Officer and Vice-President Chief Manufacturing. A seasoned professional with experience in both startups and large life sciences companies, including leadership roles at Bio-Rad.

Marie-Claude Marchand: Chief Business Officer. An executive with extensive experience in bringing innovations to market, including leadership roles at QIAGEN.

Jun Komatsu: Chief R&D Reagents Officer. An expert in structural and functional analysis of DNA molecules, with a PhD from Toyohashi University of Technology in Japan.

Vivien Moretto: Chief Software Officer. A Telecom Engineer with over 12 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in cloud technology and DevOps practices.

Danielle Urfer: Chief Financial Officer. A finance professional experienced in scaling innovative MedTech companies from seed to Series B stages.

Leadership Changes

In March 2023, Scipio Bioscience appointed Pierre Chaumat as the new CEO to lead the company through its next development phases.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The single-cell RNA sequencing market has been experiencing significant growth, driven by advancements in genomics and increasing applications in biomedical research. The demand for cost-effective and user-friendly solutions has been a key factor influencing market dynamics.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors in the single-cell RNA sequencing space include:

10x Genomics: Offers comprehensive single-cell solutions with a focus on high-throughput capabilities.

Illumina: Provides sequencing platforms and associated technologies for single-cell applications.

Bio-Rad Laboratories: Develops droplet-based technologies for single-cell analysis.

These companies have established market presence and offer a range of products catering to various aspects of single-cell sequencing workflows.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

To expand its market reach, Scipio Bioscience established distribution partnerships with:

Thistle Scientific: Covering the UK and Ireland.

Ozyme: Serving France.

BioCat: Operating in Austria and Germany.

Witec AG: Serving Switzerland.

These collaborations aimed to facilitate the distribution of the Asteria™ kit and Cytonaut™ software across key European markets.

Operational Insights

Scipio Bioscience's competitive advantage lay in its instrument-free, hydrogel-based technology, which simplified the single-cell RNA sequencing process. This approach reduced the barriers to entry for laboratories lacking specialized equipment, positioning the company as a provider of accessible and cost-effective solutions in the single-cell analysis market.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Despite initial successes, Scipio Bioscience announced the cessation of its operations on September 18, 2024. The company cited insurmountable challenges that prevented the continuation of its mission. In their farewell message, the team expressed gratitude to their customers, investors, and collaborators, acknowledging the collective efforts made towards advancing single-cell research.