Scale Biosciences

Scale Biosciences provides technologies for single-cell research, enabling scientists to analyze large volumes of cells and multiplex numerous samples. The company's core technology, featuring combinatorial indexing and Quantum Barcoding, aims to make single-cell analysis more accessible, scalable, and affordable without requiring specialized instruments. Its product lineup includes kits for Single Cell RNA sequencing, methylation analysis, and CRISPR guide enrichment, catering to a wide range of applications in genomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics. These kits are designed for flexibility, supporting experiments ranging from tens of thousands to millions of cells.

The company was founded by a team of scientists and technologists with expertise in genomics, bioinformatics, and next-generation sequencing. The scientific co-founders include Professor Garry Nolan of Stanford University, Professors Jay Shendure and Cole Trapnell of the University of Washington, and Frank Steemers. Their work on split-pool barcoding and combinatorial indexing methods forms the basis of the company's technology. In August 2025, it was announced that 10x Genomics signed a definitive agreement to acquire Scale Biosciences for $30 million in upfront cash and stock, with potential for additional milestone-based payments. Following the acquisition, Scale's scientific founders are set to join 10x as advisors, and key products will remain on the market to support ongoing customer experiments and research initiatives like the Billion Cells Project.

Scale Biosciences operates on a business model centered on selling consumable kits and providing comprehensive services, from sample preparation to bioinformatics. The company serves academic researchers, biopharmaceutical companies, and scientists in fields like oncology and neuroscience, enabling large-scale studies such as drug screening and cohort analyses. Its products are designed to be cost-effective, with RNA analysis kits aiming for costs below one cent per cell, thereby lowering the barrier for entry into large-scale single-cell genomics.

Keywords: single-cell analysis, combinatorial indexing, Quantum Barcoding, single-cell sequencing, genomics, transcriptomics, epigenetics, multiplexing, next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, scalable genomics, RNA sequencing kits, single-cell methylation, CRISPR screening, library preparation, multi-omics, cell biology, biomedical research, biotechnology tools, biological discovery