Akoya Biosciences
Combining CODEX with Highly Multiplexed Assays

Understanding and characterizing the complexities of the tumor microenvironment is a critical element in studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive diseases and their therapeutic responses. When it comes to defining tumor heterogeneity, the role of spatial relationships between infiltrating immune cells and the remodeling of the cellular matrix is vital. Through its revolutionary CODEX Technology, a company called Akoya Biosciences is providing a comprehensive solution for spatially resolved, highly multiplexed biomarker analysis. Along with its wide array of image analysis software to chose from, the CODEX technology changing the game of processing highly multiplexed assays for bio-technicians. Akoya Biosciences, together with their strategic partners, is leading the emerging field of tissue biomarker analysis.

The CODEX (Co-detection by Indexing) technology uses an antibody comprising a unique oligonucleotide sequence, which is a part of Akoya Barcodes. The CODEX assay targets specific reporters enabling an unlimited level of flexibility in the generation of highly multiplexed panels while maintaining the tissue integrity and ensuring high-quality data. Akoya’s CODEX system is a fluidics control instrument that integrates with existing fluorescent microscopes for the synchronization of the CODEX assay and image collection. CODEX system converts a traditional fluorescent microscope into an automated, high-dimensional imaging system capable of providing in-depth analysis at a cellular and sub-cellular level. To assist with the aforementioned procedure, Akoya has developed a suite of analysis tools that enable researchers in shifting from multiplexed fluorescent images to spatially resolved cellular structure and cell phenotypes.

Akoya combines the latest technologies, algorithms, and its intuitive, easy-to-use interfaces, allowing technicians to visualize, analyze, and quantify phenotype cells labeled with multiple biomarkers.

Akoya is excited to bring unprecedented power, scale, and automation to histology through the power of multiplex immunofluorescence

Akoya’s inForm Tissue Finder is a patented image analysis software package facilitating comparative studies of multiple markers and specimens, for quick diagnoses of diseases. Its powerful separation engine eliminates weak and overlapping markers in multiplex assays. The inForm Tissue Finder is fully automated, and its algorithms are trainable. Phenoptr is another product which uses data tables and imagery exported from inForm to analyze and report on the spatial relationship between cells such as the nearest phenotype, phenotypic density across a boundary, cells count within a radius, and also to identify touching cells. The HALO Image analysis software is a collaborative project of PerkinElmer and Indica Labs that helps in extending the image analysis over the entire tissue. HALO enables fast quantification in brightfield, fluorescent whole-side imagery and multi-spectral fields of view, ideal for use in immune-oncology, neuroscience, and many other research areas.

Some of the other products to throw light upon are the CODEX Assay, wherein the antibody panel is run through iterative cycles. This is unlike the traditional immunofluorescence assay procedure. CODEX Assay uses the unique CODEX-based molecular barcodes and 50 customizable panels for a single-tissue straining. It provides customizable panel designs consisting of CODEX antibodies with barcodes. In order to enable the wide range of research areas and tissue-specific biomarkers, Akoya has developed the CODEX Conjugation Kit and individual CODEX Barcodes to prepare clones from third-party antibody suppliers.

“Akoya is excited to bring unprecedented power, scale, and automation to histology through the power of multiplex immunofluorescence,” says Brian McKelligon, the CEO of Akoya Biosciences. Founded in 2015 to commercialize the CODEX system, the company has reserved a spot for itself in the market for its ability to enable high-multiplexing for biomarker discovery. At this moment, Akoya’s portfolio spans the entire spectrum from powerful tools for the discovery of biomarkers that are essential to clinical research applications.