Sphere Fluidics Explained

Sphere Fluidics
Type:	Private
Services:	Research and Development
Foundation:	^[1]
Location:	Cambridge, UK

Sphere Fluidics is a Cambridge(UK)-based Life Sciences R&D company that specializes in biopharmaceutical discovery and development, cell therapy engineering, bioproduction and synthetic biology, analysis and isolation. The company is reported to own 25 patented products that include instruments, biochips, and specialist chemicals.^{[2] [3]}

Overview

Sphere Fluidics was originally established in 2010, by two chemistry professors of Cambridge University, namely, Professor Chris Abell and Professor Wilhelm Huck, Dr. Frank F. Craig, an entrepreneur, and Dr. Maher Khaled, a Cambridge University Enterprise executive, as founders.^[4]

Funding

November 2021: Sphere Fluidics raised $40M led by Paris-based Sofinnova Partners and San Francisco-based Redmile Group.^[5]

The total funds raised by Sphere Fluidics as of 2021, is reported to be, £46.7 million through various funding rounds, loans and grants.

Cyto-Mine Technology

Cyto-Mine is a patented single cell analysis and characterisation system by Sphere Fluidics. This technology is said to aid the development of biotherapeutics for treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases and vaccine generation. Cyto-Mine is said to be an integrated device which can automatically perform single cell analysis, sorting, imaging and dispensing into individual wells of microtiter plates in a single compact system.^{[6] [7]}

Developments and Partnerships

In 2019, Sphere Fluidics in partnership with Peak Analysis and Automation (PAA) introduced Integrated Microplate Handling and Single Cell Analysis Capabilities. The addition of S-LAB to the Cyto-Mine provides researchers with a further streamlined solution for single cell analysis in biopharmaceutical workflows.^[8]

On 10 November 2021, Sphere Fluidics in partnership with ClexBio gave away 10 CYTRIX microfluidic hydrogel kits containing the novel CYTRIX hydrogel, Pico-Surf™ surfactant and Sphere Fluidics’ Pico-Gen™ double aqueous biochip, giving a plug-and-play system for microfluidic single-cell hydrogel encapsulation, marking the celebration of World Science Day for Peace and Development.^[9]

Awards

2013 : ACES Life Science Award^{[10] [11]}

2015: UK's top 50 disruptive SMEs by Real Business^{[12] [13]}

2017: European Product Innovation Award^[14]

2020: Queen's Award for Enterprise for Innovation^[15]

References

1. Web site: Sphere Fluidics Limited Limited . Companies House . 21 March 2021.
2. Web site: Triple success for Cambridge life science pioneers Business Weekly Technology News Business news Cambridge and the East of England. www.businessweekly.co.uk. en. 2017-12-11.
3. News: Sphere Fluidics wins $7 million for development of single cell analysis system - Cambridge Enterprise. Cambridge Enterprise. 2017-12-11. en-GB.
4. Web site: Sphere Fluidics: biotherapeutics device attracts $7m investment - GOV.UK. www.gov.uk. en. 2017-12-11.
5. Web site: biopharma-reporter.com. Sphere Fluidics closes $40m funding round. 2021-11-29. biopharma-reporter.com. en-GB.
6. News: Sphere Fluidics, Geneva Biotech Receive €1.6M Grant to Develop DNA Cargo Delivery System. GenomeWeb. 2017-12-11. en.
7. Web site: TTP Plc and Sphere Fluidics introduce Cyto-Mine Single Cell Analysis System. The Scientist. 2017-12-11.
8. Web site: Sphere Fluidics and PAA Introduce Integrated Microplate Handling and Single Cell Analysis Capabilities. 2021-11-29. Lab Manager. en.
9. Web site: 2021-11-12. Sphere Fluidics and ClexBio giving away CYTRIX hydrogel kits. 2021-11-29. News-Medical.net. en.
10. Web site: Sphere Fluidics Wins Award for Academic Spin-Outs Labmate Online. www.labmate-online.com. en. 2017-12-11.
11. Web site: Re-inventing the test tube: Sphere Fluidics pioneers new approach to analysing cell samples ScienceBusiness. sciencebusiness.net. en. 2017-12-11.
12. News: Sphere Fluidics named one of Britain's most disruptive businesses - Cambridge Enterprise. Cambridge Enterprise. 2017-12-11. en-GB.
13. News: Future 50 retrospective: Innovating big for the future. 2017-02-28. Real Business. 2017-12-11. en-US.
14. News: Frost & Sullivan Commends Sphere Fluidics for Its Innovative Single-cell Analysis Platform Solution.
15. Web site: 2020-04-21. Sphere Fluidics receives Queen’s Award for Enterprise. 2021-11-29. News-Medical.net. en.