10x Genomics has agreed to acquire Scale Biosciences, a specialist in scalable single cell analysis, in a deal aimed at expanding the capabilities of 10x’s Chromium platform.

The acquisition will bring Scale’s inventions in combinatorial indexing and quantum barcoding into 10x’s portfolio, which the company says will make single cell analysis more powerful, affordable, and accessible for researchers worldwide.

Founded by a multidisciplinary team with backgrounds in next generation sequencing, genomics, and bioinformatics, Scale’s scientific founders include Garry Nolan at Stanford University, Jay Shendure and Cole Trapnell at the University of Washington, and Frank Steemers. Several of the founders will join 10x as scientific advisors.

Scale’s technologies are designed to significantly increase the number of cells and samples that can be processed in a single experiment, without compromising the depth or quality of multiomic data. These approaches are seen as a key step towards enabling larger-scale studies, from basic biology through to translational research.

“We’re relentlessly innovating to build a world where single cell analysis is routine, accessible, and scalable at levels previously unimaginable,” said Serge Saxonov, chief executive of 10x Genomics.

“By integrating Scale’s inventions with 10x’s global platform and innovation engine, we will broaden the capabilities and reach of existing and future products.”

Garry Nolan, co-founder of Scale Biosciences and professor at Stanford University, said: “These inventions were designed to make single cell analysis dramatically more scalable and accessible. They have already advanced biological discovery, and with 10x’s innovation engine, that impact will only accelerate.”

Giovanna Prout, president and chief executive of Scale, added: “Our integration with 10x will accelerate the adoption of our technology, helping it reach new customers and transformative emerging applications.”

10x says the acquisition will feed into a multi-year roadmap for single cell innovation, with the goal of supporting high-throughput studies while maintaining the data quality needed for AI-driven insights. Existing Scale customers will continue to be supported, and key products will remain on the market. The companies also plan to continue initiatives such as the 100 Million Cell Challenge and the Billion Cells Project.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.