HistoGeneX

HistoGeneX, founded in 2001 by Dr. Mark Kockx and Dr. Dirk Hendriks, established itself as a specialized contract research organization focused on advancing precision medicine in oncology. The founders leveraged their deep scientific backgrounds to build the company. Dr. Kockx, a pathologist-scientist from the University of Antwerp, pioneered methods to understand cancer patient responses to targeted therapies, and these collaborations with pharmaceutical companies led directly to HistoGeneX's creation. Dr. Hendriks brought a PhD in clinical pathology and a long-standing professorship at the University of Antwerp, specializing in predictive biomarkers.

The firm operates as a B2B service provider for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Its business model revolves around providing laboratory services that support the entire drug development lifecycle, from preclinical research to late-stage clinical trials. HistoGeneX generates revenue by offering a suite of biomarker assessment and pathology services. These services help clients determine which patient populations are most likely to respond to a new anticancer drug, a critical component of personalized medicine. By identifying specific genes, proteins, and other molecular markers, the company aids in making R&D efforts more focused and efficient.

The company's core services include assay development, biomarker research, histopathology, and genomics. Specifically, HistoGeneX develops and implements biomarker tests on tissue and blood samples to guide the development, approval, and monitoring of new cancer treatments. A key area of expertise lies in immuno-oncology, where they develop technologies to assess the immune system's interaction within the tumor microenvironment. The company was also a pioneer in utilizing advanced techniques like multiplex immunohistochemistry with spectral imaging.

In July 2019, HistoGeneX merged with Caprion Biosciences, a move facilitated by an investment from Arsenal Capital Partners, to form a global leader in immune monitoring and biomarker services. Following the merger, the combined entity made further strategic acquisitions, including Clinical Logistics Inc. and Mosaic Laboratories, to expand its specimen management and histopathology capabilities. In January 2021, the unified company rebranded as CellCarta, symbolizing its mission to map cell functions to accelerate precision medicine. HistoGeneX now operates as a foundational part of CellCarta, which provides an integrated suite of services across immunology, proteomics, histopathology, and genomics globally.

Keywords: HistoGeneX, CellCarta, biomarker services, precision medicine, oncology, contract research organization, drug development support, histopathology, genomics, immunoassay, clinical trials, personalized medicine, Mark Kockx, Dirk Hendriks, biomarker research, tumor microenvironment, multiplex immunohistochemistry, Arsenal Capital Partners, Caprion Biosciences, molecular diagnostics, cancer treatment, pathology services, immuno-oncology, laboratory services, proteomics