Advanced Cell Diagnostics

Advanced Cell Diagnostics (ACD), a brand within Bio-Techne, operates in the molecular pathology sector, providing cell and tissue-based diagnostic tests geared toward personalized medicine. The company was established in 2006 by Dr. Yuling Luo and Dr. Steve Chen, both experienced scientists and entrepreneurs in the life sciences field. Dr. Luo, who served as President and CEO, previously co-founded Panomics (acquired by Affymetrix) and was an early scientist at Exelixis, bringing a depth of experience in developing and commercializing life science technologies. His background in biochemistry and inventions in molecular detection have been central to ACD's direction.

The core of ACD's business is its proprietary and patented RNAscope™ technology, a platform for in-situ hybridization (ISH). This technology represents a significant advancement in the field by enabling the detection and quantification of single RNA molecules directly within intact cells and tissues. Its unique probe design and signal amplification system provide high sensitivity and specificity, allowing researchers to visualize gene expression with single-cell resolution while preserving the morphological context of the tissue. The platform can detect various RNA types, including mRNA, non-coding RNAs, splice variants, and even subtle genetic mutations. This capability overcomes key limitations of traditional methods like immunohistochemistry and qPCR, which either lack spatial information or sufficient sensitivity.

ACD's business model focuses on the sale of consumables, including a catalog of over 9,000 probe reagents and kits for both manual and automated use. The company serves a global client base of academic, industrial, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology researchers. Beyond product sales, ACD also forms strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to validate biomarkers for the development of targeted therapeutics and companion diagnostics. In August 2016, Bio-Techne Corporation acquired ACD for an initial $250 million, plus potential milestone payments, integrating ACD's genomics technology into its broader portfolio of life science tools. At the time of the acquisition, ACD had achieved annual revenues of approximately $25 million with a significant growth rate.

Keywords: RNAscope, in-situ hybridization, molecular pathology, spatial biology, biomarker analysis, gene expression, companion diagnostics, cell-based diagnostics, tissue analysis, genomics