Sphere Bio
Sphere Bio (a brand of Fluidic Sciences Ltd) sells picodroplet microfluidic instruments, consumables, and assay kits for high-throughput single-cell screening and isolation, serving biopharma companies, CDMOs, and academic researchers in antibody discovery and cell line development.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersCambridge, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sphere Bio does
Sphere Bio, a brand of Fluidic Sciences Ltd, is a UK-based life sciences tools company specializing in picodroplet microfluidic technology for high-throughput single-cell analysis and isolation. Its core Cyto-Mine® and Cyto-Mine® Chroma platforms encapsulate individual mammalian cells in picolitre-sized aqueous droplets within a biocompatible carrier oil, where each droplet functions as an ultra-miniaturized bioreactor. This enables fluorescence-based screening of up to 40 million cells per run, FRET-based secretion assays (e.g., antibody identification), automated sorting, and documented monoclonality assurance at >99% confidence, with 21 CFR Part 11 and GLP compliance for regulated biopharmaceutical workflows. The platform is complemented by an integrated ecosystem of disposable Cyto-Cartridge® consumables, Cyto-Surf® and Pico-Surf® reagents, and Cyto-Cellect® assay kits for human/mouse IgG, Fc fusion, and viability detection.
The company sells capital equipment (Cyto-Mine instruments), recurring consumables and assay kits, and service plans to biopharma companies, CDMOs (e.g., FUJIFILM Biotechnologies, Abzena, FairJourney Biologics), large biopharma (Janssen/J&J), academic translational groups (KU Leuven's PharmAbs), and antibody discovery firms (Biointron). Distribution is direct via field sales and field application scientists, supported by content marketing (Knowledge Hub), conference presence (SLAS, PEGS, Biologics US/EU, Cell UK), and webinars. In 2025, Sphere Bio was acquired by Fluidic Sciences Ltd, integrating its single-cell screening capabilities with Fluidity One-M in-solution biophysics technology to create an end-to-end portfolio spanning multiplex single-cell screening to molecular characterization.
Funding to date totals approximately $61 million across nine rounds, with the largest being a $41.4 million round in October 2021 led by Redmile Group and Sofinnova Partners. The company holds no publicly disclosed revenue figures and is not listed on any public exchange.
Sphere Bio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sphere Bio
- Legal name
- Fluidic Sciences Ltd
- Website
- https://spherebio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Sphere Bio (a brand of Fluidic Sciences Ltd) sells picodroplet microfluidic instruments, consumables, and assay kits for high-throughput single-cell screening and isolation, serving biopharma companies, CDMOs, and academic researchers in antibody discovery and cell line development.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sphere Bio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Life Sciences Microfluidic Instruments
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialty & Biomarker Laboratory Services (Immunoassays/Flow/Cytometry) (HLAGAEAB), Single-Cell & Spatial Omics Discovery Platforms (target ID/validation, functional profiling) (HLAAAIAF), Cell-Based & Potency Assays (Bioassays) (HLAGADAH)
Keywords
Where Sphere Bio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sphere Bio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Capital Equipment (Instrument Platforms): Cyto-Mine® and Cyto-Mine® Chroma instruments are sold as capital equipment to biopharma companies, CDMOs, and research institutions. The platform is a benchtop system compatible with Class II biosafety cabinets.
- Consumables & Reagents: Recurring revenue from single-use Cyto-Cartridges®, Cyto-Surf® reagents, Pico-Surf® and Pico-Break™ droplet chemicals. These are consumed with each experimental run, creating recurring demand.
- Assay Kits: Specialized FRET-based assay kits (Cyto-Cellect® family) sold for use with Cyto-Mine® platforms. These include Human IgG Kappa/Viability, Plus (κ and λ), Fc Fusion, and Mouse IgG detection kits. Subject to minimum order quantities.
- Service Plans & Technical Support: Sphere Bio offers service plans and technical support contracts for instrument maintenance and customer success. Remote diagnostics and field service labour are included under warranty.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Capital instruments - Cyto-Mine® and Cyto-Mine® Chroma platforms |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Assay Kits - Cyto-Cellect® product family |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumables - Cyto-Cartridges®, Cyto-Surf®, Pico-Surf®, Pico-Break™ |
| Subscription | Annual | Service Plans - maintenance and technical support |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Sphere Bio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sphere Bio develops picodroplet microfluidic instruments (Cyto-Mine® and Cyto-Mine® Chroma) for high-throughput single-cell analysis and isolation, enabling screening of up to 40 million cells per day. The offering is supported by a proprietary ecosystem of single-use Cyto-Cartridge® consumables, Cyto-Surf® and Pico-Surf® reagents, Pico-Break™ emulsion-breaking solutions, and the Cyto-Cellect® family of FRET-based assay kits for antibody discovery and cell line development applications.
Product overview
Sphere Bio offers a unified platform-plus-consumables architecture centered on picodroplet microfluidic technology. The core Cyto-Mine® and Cyto-Mine® Chroma platforms automate single-cell analysis and isolation, while a suite of Cyto-Cellect® assay kits (for Human IgGκ, Human IgG κ/λ, Fc Fusion, Mouse IgG, and combined viability detection) provide application-specific fluorescence detection capabilities. The ecosystem is supported by Cyto-Cartridge® consumables, Cyto-Surf® reagents, and Pico-Surf®/Pico-Break™ droplet microfluidics chemicals. All products are designed for antibody discovery, cell line development, cell therapy, cell engineering, and synthetic biology applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cyto-Mine®: Automated single-cell analysis and isolation platform using picodroplet microfluidic technology for antibody discovery and cell line development.
- Cyto-Mine® Chroma
- Cyto-Cellect®
- Cyto-Cartridge®
Products and services
- Cyto-Mine® Automated high-throughput single-cell analysis and isolation platform using picodroplet microfluidic technology that processes up to 40 million heterogeneous mammalian cells per run and screens individual cells within a single day for antibody discovery and cell line development applications. Designed for biopharma companies, CDMOs, and research institutions.
- Cyto-Mine® Chroma Next-generation automated single-cell analysis and isolation platform featuring four lasers across independent colour channels for enhanced fluorescence detection and multiplexed assays, enabling co-encapsulation of antibody-secreting cells and target cells for functional assays and serial gating during sorting. Designed for biopharma antibody discovery and cell line development workflows.
- Cyto-Cellect® (Human IgGκ) Assay Kit Sensitive, easy-to-use, animal-origin-free FRET-based assay kit to detect cell clone productivity by identifying human IgG kappa secretion in picodroplets, used with Cyto-Mine® platforms for cell line development and antibody discovery workflows.
- Cyto-Cellect® Plus (Human IgG κ and λ) Assay Kit Dual light chain detection assay kit enabling quantification of secreted IgG with either kappa or lambda light chains in a single assay for use with Cyto-Mine® platforms. Screens up to 40 million cells per day; animal-origin-free and suitable for therapeutic workflows.
- Cyto-Cellect® Fc Fusion Assay Kit FRET-based competition assay kit for detection of human Fc fusion proteins containing human IgG Fc region in picodroplets, enabling high-efficiency cell line development for Fc fusion protein manufacturing. Detects all four human IgG subclasses and Fc-silent mutated Fc domains; animal-origin-free certified.
- Cyto-Cellect® Mouse (Mouse IgG Detection Kit) Sensitive and robust assay kit to detect mouse IgG antibodies in picodroplets, designed for use with Cyto-Mine® platforms to support antibody discovery workflows using murine systems.
- Cyto-Cellect® Human IgG Kappa and Viability Assay Kit Multiplexed assay kit for Cyto-Mine® Chroma enabling simultaneous real-time detection of human IgG-secreting cells and identification of apoptotic/necrotic cells, using Cyto-Cellect® human IgGk FRET probes and a customized viability dye targeting apoptotic/necrotic cell membranes.
- Cyto-Cartridge® Disposable microfluidic cartridge providing all necessary microfluidics for implementing picodroplet workflows on Cyto-Mine® platforms. Designed for ease of use, zero cross-contamination between runs, and maintenance of cell integrity.
- Cyto-Surf® A Specialist chemical and bioreagent optimized for use with Cyto-Mine® platforms to maintain cell viability in picodroplets, part of the consumables ecosystem for picodroplet workflows.
- Cyto-Surf® B Specialist chemical and bioreagent optimized for use with Cyto-Mine® platforms to maintain cell viability in picodroplets, part of the consumables ecosystem for picodroplet workflows.
- Pico-Surf® (2% w/w in fluorinated oil) Fluorinated surfactant (2% w/w) in fluorinated oil available as a Novec 7500 alternative, used for generating stable picodroplets in droplet microfluidics workflows.
- Pico-Surf® (5% w/w in fluorinated oil) Fluorinated surfactant (5% w/w) in fluorinated oil for generating stable picodroplets in droplet microfluidics workflows.
- Pico-Surf® (2% w/w in Novec™ 7500) Fluorinated surfactant (2% w/w) in Novec 7500 carrier fluid for generating biocompatible picodroplets in droplet microfluidics workflows.
- Pico-Surf® (5% w/w in Novec™ 7500) High-concentration fluorinated surfactant (5% w/w) in Novec 7500 carrier fluid for picodroplet generation in droplet microfluidics workflows.
- Pico-Break™ Emulsion breaking solution for recovering cells or materials from picodroplet emulsions after analysis, part of the consumables ecosystem for picodroplet workflows.
- Service Plans & Technical Support Service plans and technical support contracts for instrument maintenance and customer success, including remote diagnostics and field service labour during the warranty period, with annual maintenance recommended post-warranty.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40 million cells screened per day
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Sphere Bio
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sphere Bio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
Sphere Bio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Fluidic Sciences LtdcoreFluidic Sciences Ltd acquired the business and assets of Sphere Bio, integrating Sphere Bio's single-cell analysis platforms (Cyto-Mine®) with Fluidic Sciences' protein interaction analysis technologies (Fluidity One-M, Fluidity Insight). The acquisition expands applications across antibody discovery, cell line development, cell therapy, and complex protein interaction analysis, creating an end-to-end portfolio from single-cell screening to in-solution biophysics.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sphere Bio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Diversified life sciences tools giant offering flow cytometry (Attune, Bigfoot), cell line development services, and bioproduction reagents that overlap with Sphere Bio's customer workflows.
- Beckman Coulter Life Sciences (Danaher): Major flow cytometry and laboratory automation player (CytoFLEX, MoFlo Astrios). Broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities in cell sorting and biopharma workflow integration.
- Bio-Rad Laboratories: Major flow cytometry (ZE5, S3e) and life science research tools provider; broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities in cell sorting, antibody discovery reagents, and biopharma QC.
- BD Biosciences (Becton Dickinson): Global leader in flow cytometry instruments, cell sorters (FACSDiscover, FACSAria), and reagents. Competes in the same end applications (antibody discovery, cell line development) via a much broader installed base.
- Sony Biotechnology: Provides high-speed cell sorters (SH800, MA900) and microfluidic cell sorters (Cell Sorter SH800S) used in antibody discovery and cell line development workflows.
Emerging players
- Mission Bio: Single-cell genomics and multi-omics platform (Tapestri) used in cell therapy QC and clonality analysis; intersects with Sphere Bio's monoclonality assurance and cell therapy positioning.
- 10x Genomics: Chromium single-cell platform for genomics and immune profiling; overlaps with Sphere Bio in antibody discovery and B-cell receptor workflows, but with a sequencing-based rather than picodroplet-screening approach.
Direct peers
- Berkeley Lights (now PhenomeX): Direct competitor in automated single-cell analysis and isolation platforms (Beacon/OptoSelect lightning technology) for antibody discovery and cell line development. Both target biopharma and CDMO customers with high-throughput single-cell screening and monoclonality assurance.
- Curiox Biosystems: Droplet-based miniaturized immunoassay platform (Curiox Laminar Wash, DropArray) for single-cell and multiplexed bioassays; serves similar biopharma and CDMO use cases in cell-based screening.
- Cytena (part of BICO/CELLINK): Single-cell printing and cloning platform using droplet microfluidics (cy-Clone, C.BIRD) for cell line development and antibody discovery. Directly comparable picodroplet-based approach and customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sphere Bio social profiles
Digital presenceSphere Bio compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Sphere Bio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sphere Bio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Sphere Bio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors16 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sphere Bio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sphere Bio
What does Sphere Bio do?
Sphere Bio develops picodroplet microfluidic instruments (Cyto-Mine® and Cyto-Mine® Chroma) for high-throughput single-cell analysis and isolation, enabling screening of up to 40 million cells per day. The offering is supported by a proprietary ecosystem of single-use Cyto-Cartridge® consumables, Cyto-Surf® and Pico-Surf® reagents, Pico-Break™ emulsion-breaking solutions, and the Cyto-Cellect® family of FRET-based assay kits for antibody discovery and cell line development applications.
Is Sphere Bio a public or private company?
Sphere Bio is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Sphere Bio founded?
Sphere Bio was founded in 2010. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Sphere Bio based?
Sphere Bio is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Sphere Bio make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Capital Equipment (Instrument Platforms) is the primary driver. The others are consumables & Reagents, assay Kits and service Plans & Technical Support.
Who are Sphere Bio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences (Danaher), Bio-Rad Laboratories, BD Biosciences (Becton Dickinson) and Sony Biotechnology. Emerging players are Mission Bio and 10x Genomics. Direct peers are Berkeley Lights (now PhenomeX), Curiox Biosystems and Cytena (part of BICO/CELLINK).
Does Sphere Bio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sphere Bio.
What industry is Sphere Bio in?
Sphere Bio's product category is Life Sciences Microfluidic Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAE, Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments, with a secondary code of HLAGAEAB, Specialty & Biomarker Laboratory Services (Immunoassays/Flow/Cytometry). Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.