BioTech IP Review

Patent Number: 12,460,251
Filed: February 6, 2025 (application)
Date of Patent (Issued): November 11, 2025
Assignee: 10x Genomics, Inc.
Inventors: Katherine Pfeiffer, Andrew Scott Kohlway, Andrew John Hill & Paul Eugene Lund

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What This Patent Covers

This patent focuses on methods and compositions that improve the stability and structural integrity of nucleic acid molecules — a foundational aspect of high‑resolution genomic assays. Specifically, it covers:

• Techniques to stabilize or compact nucleic acid molecules in biological samples, which can help improve the accuracy and reliability of detection and quantification in complex assays.
• Methods designed to reduce degradation or structural variability of analytes (e.g., DNA or RNA products such as rolling circle amplification products) during sample processing.
• Assay workflows targeted at enhanced detection sensitivity, particularly in high‑throughput single‑cell and spatial transcriptomic platforms where intact and predictable molecule behavior is critical.

This kind of innovation is important because stable nucleic acid constructs lead to clearer signal, lower assay noise, and higher reproducibility — all of which are essential for accurate cell‑by‑cell profiling in research and clinical contexts.

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Why It’s Important

Core to 10x’s Product Strategy: Enhancing molecule stability directly benefits flagship technologies like Chromium and Xenium, which are widely used in single‑cell and spatial genomics workflows. Improvements here can translate into better performance and premium pricing for consumables and instruments.

Broader Market Impact: Methods that improve stability and compaction are relevant across genomics, diagnostics, and even emerging multiomics assays — expanding the addressable market for licensed technology.

Intellectual Property Defense: Strong patents like this strengthen 10x Genomics’ portfolio against competitors (e.g., Bruker and Illumina) and support licensing and litigation strategies, as evidenced by major settlements and injunctions around spatial biology technology.