Standard BioTools
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Life science instruments |
| Predecessor | Fluidigm Corporation, Mycometrix |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Stephen Quake, Gajus Worthington |
| Headquarters | South San Francisco, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Gajus Worthington (former CEO), Richard DeLateur (CFO) |
| Products | Analytical mass cytometry platforms, microfluidic integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs), assays, reagents, automated genomic analysis systems |
Number of employees | 500 (2023) |
| Website | www |
Standard BioTools Inc., previously known as Fluidigm Corporation and originally Mycometrix, is a U.S.-based company specializing in life science instruments. It develops advanced analytical mass cytometry platforms for flow cytometry and tissue imaging, along with complementary assays, reagents, and automated systems for genomic analysis. The firm’s offerings include microfluidic arrays or integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs) and related consumables equipped with complete reagent kits. Additionally, it provides tailored assays and support services aligned with its instrument systems.
The company serves a broad spectrum of clients, including academic research organizations; translational medicine and healthcare institutions; cancer research centers; clinical laboratories; biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; agricultural and animal research entities; as well as contract research organizations.
Business model
Standard BioTools is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol LAB, having previously traded as FLDM.
Its genomic analysis product line centers on microfluidic IFC devices operated via the Biomark™ X9 System, designed for high-throughput genomic workflows such as gene expression profiling, PCR-based genotyping, next-generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation, pathogen identification, agrigenomics applications, sample authentication, and pharmacogenomics studies.
Proteomic solutions offered by the company stem from technology acquired through the 2014 purchase of DVS Sciences. This technology facilitates multiparameter single-cell protein profiling using atomic mass spectrometry of antibody-metal conjugates, enabling detailed high-parameter protein analysis at the single-cell level—a critical capability for advanced life sciences research.
Standard BioTools maintains leadership in integrated microfluidics through continuous IFC innovation across multiple fields. It remains unique as the only company developing mass cytometry technologies applicable to both flow cytometry and imaging modalities.
History
Established in 1999 under the name Mycometrix by Stephen Quake and Gajus Worthington, the company was created to commercialize Quake’s microfluidic large-scale integration technology developed at the California Institute of Technology, marketed as IFCs. In 2006, Richard DeLateur, who brought two decades of experience from Intel, joined as Chief Financial Officer. Worthington held the CEO position from 1999 until 2016, while Quake continues to contribute on the scientific advisory board.
The founders engineered integrated circuits that manipulate fluids instead of electrical currents. By 2009, the firm had established itself as a prominent manufacturer of microfluidic devices with initial applications in protein crystallization, genotyping, DNA analysis, and PCR technologies.
Although an initial public offering was delayed in 2008 due to unfavorable market conditions, the company successfully completed its IPO in February 2011, raising approximately $75 million despite not yet being profitable. In April 2022, following a $250 million capital infusion from Casdin Capital and Viking Global Investors, it rebranded to Standard BioTools, reflecting a strategic pivot toward building a diversified and scalable life science tools enterprise focused on pharmaceutical research markets.
In January 2024, Standard BioTools broadened its global footprint by acquiring Nasdaq-listed SomaLogic through an all-stock merger, thereby expanding its product suite and strengthening its position within the life sciences tools industry.
Operations
As of late 2023, Standard BioTools had a workforce of 500 employees. The company’s main office and central laboratory, situated in South San Francisco, California, underwent expansion in 2014. The initial biochip production plant was launched in Singapore in 2005, representing a significant milestone in the company’s international development. In 2022, Standard BioTools broadened its footprint by enlarging its office space along with manufacturing and research and development facilities in Markham, Ontario, strengthening both its market reach and production capacity.