RareCyte showcases clinical-scale spatial proteomics portfolio at AACR 2026
21 Apr 2026
RareCyte® has announced a significant expansion of its spatial proteomics portfolio with the commercial launch of the Orion™ HT and Orion™ LE systems, alongside the appointment of Neil Kennedy as President. These advancements position the company to accelerate adoption of spatial proteomics in clinical and translational research.
The Orion platform is purpose-built to deliver high-plex spatial proteomics with the throughput, sensitivity, and reproducibility required for biomarker development in clinical research. By enabling applications such as patient stratification, therapy response assessment, and translational biomarker validation, Orion helps translate spatial biology into clinical decision making.
The addition of Orion HT and Orion LE extends the platform across the full continuum of translational research, from early assay development and validation through clinical trial execution.
The newest instrument, the Orion HT, is designed for clinical-scale biomarker programs, delivering high-plex, high-throughput, and high-capacity spatial proteomics with 24/7 hands-off operation enabled by 30-slide automation. Powered by paradigm-shifting 20-channel whole slide scanning, it is the only spatial proteomics system that combines these capabilities with the accuracy and reproducibility required to translate spatial insights into clinical impact.
Complementing the high-throughput system, Orion LE provides an affordable and streamlined solution for biomarker panel development, assay optimization, and translational studies.
The RareCyte team will be showcasing the Orion platform in its exhibit hall booth (#1823) at the American Association of Cancer Research Annual Meeting taking place in San Diego, USA.
RareCyte has also unveiled a major expansion of its spatial biology reagent portfolio, which now includes more than 200 validated antibodies developed through partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies. The company expects to expand this portfolio to more than 300 antibodies by the end of 2026, enabling researchers to design and scale multiplex biomarker panels with greater confidence and flexibility.
Additionally, RareCyte offers services via its Seattle-based CLIA lab. These services enable biotech and pharmaceutical partners to develop robust and reproducible assays prior to transfer to contract research organizations (CROs) for high volume clinical trials. This end-to-end approach helps streamline adoption and ensures consistency from early development through clinical studies.
Finally, the company has announced the appointment of Neil Kennedy as President. In this role, Kennedy will lead the company’s commercial strategy, with an initial focus on scaling sales and marketing to support continued growth in clinical research markets. He brings extensive experience in life sciences and spatial biology, most recently serving as Chief Commercial Officer of Curio Bioscience until its acquisition by Takara Bio USA.
“The expansion of the Orion platform and our growing reagent portfolio reflect RareCyte’s commitment to building technologies that advance biomarker-driven clinical research and drug development,” said Joe Victor, Chief Executive Officer of RareCyte. “With Neil’s leadership, we are well positioned to accelerate adoption of our innovative technologies across pharmaceutical and translational research organizations globally.”