What Lanterne Dx does

Lanterne Dx (formerly HTL Clinical, renamed September 2021) is a Boulder, Colorado-based full-service histopathology contract research organization founded in 2019. The company operates a 4,500 square-foot CAP-accredited (May 2022) and CLIA-certified laboratory serving pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic clients focused on precision oncology and translational research. Its service portfolio spans nine integrated lines: pre-clinical and clinical histology (including 50+ special stains), biomarker discovery, board-certified MD and ACVP pathology services, immunohistochemistry on multiple automated staining platforms, multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF), in-situ hybridization (FISH/CISH/ISH), digital pathology with cloud-based image management (Concentriq) and quantitative analysis (Visiopharm, QuPath), and clinical trial support including fit-for-purpose assay validation.

The technical core is a technology-agnostic tissue pathology platform combined with a strategic collaboration with Akoya Biosciences that anchors spatial biology work on the PhenoCycler Fusion and PhenoImager Fusion platforms, including a pre-validated immuno-oncology panel capable of identifying up to 17 distinct cell phenotypes at single-cell resolution. Operations are run by a leadership team including CEO Jon Bishop and Director of Operations Navi Mehra, with a broader team of certified histotechnicians, MD and DVM pathologists, and experienced project managers offering 20+ years of collective histopathology experience.

Lanterne Dx generates revenue through a fee-for-service contract research model with quote-based pricing and multi-year contracts, delivered through experienced business development managers in a sales-led enterprise field motion. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding rounds. Distribution is direct-to-client with conference-driven scientific positioning at AACR, SITC, and ASCO, supplemented by publications, LinkedIn/Twitter presence, and gated content downloads for lead capture.

Name

Lanterne Dx

Legal name

Lanterne Dx, LLC

Website

https://lanternedx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lanterne Dx is a Boulder-based CAP/CLIA-accredited histopathology CRO offering IHC, multiplex immunofluorescence, spatial biology, digital pathology, and clinical trial support services to pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic clients in precision oncology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Research Organization (Histopathology / Biomarker Services)

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Companion Diagnostics (CDx) Development & Trial Testing Support (HLAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Biomarker Laboratory Services (Immunoassays/Flow/Cytometry) (HLAGAEAB), Companion Diagnostic (CDx) Co-Development Services (biopharma partnerships, clinical strategy) (HLAAAMAB)

Keywords

• Histopathology services
• Biomarker discovery
• Contract research organization
• Spatial biology analysis
• Immunohistochemistry assays

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fee-for-Service Contract Research: Standard fee-for-service contract model that maximizes client budgets and meets project timelines. Services are priced based on scope and requirements, with options for additional add-on services as needed. The company meets with clients to understand project background, objectives, and scope before recommending services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lanterne Dx is a full-service histopathology contract research organization that provides biomarker discovery, development, and validation services for pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic clients. The company operates a CAP- and CLIA-accredited laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, offering immunohistochemistry (IHC), multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF), in-situ hybridization (ISH/FISH/CISH), digital pathology, spatial biology, and clinical trial support across preclinical and clinical applications with a primary focus on precision oncology.

Product overview

Lanterne Dx is a full-service histopathology contract research organization (CRO) offering a comprehensive suite of integrated biomarker discovery and clinical pathology services. The portfolio centers on a tiered biomarker development strategy for precision oncology, combining core histology services (routine and specialized tissue processing with 50+ special stains) with advanced analytical platforms including Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Multiplexing Immunofluorescence (mIF), In-Situ Hybridization (ISH/FISH/CISH), and Spatial Biology powered by Akoya's high-plex PhenoCycler Fusion technology. These laboratory services are complemented by Digital Pathology (whole-slide imaging, cloud hosting via Concentriq, and quantitative analysis via Visiopharm/QuPath) and expert Pathology Services (board-certified MD and DVM pathologists). Clinical Trial Support rounds out the offering with fit-for-purpose assay validation and operational execution. The integrated workflow enables customers to advance from preclinical discovery through clinical applications with CAP-CLIA accredited quality standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-clinical & Clinical Histology Routine and specialized histology support including paraffin (FFPE) processing, standard and customized sectioning, OCT embedding, cryosectioning, cell pellet preparation, bone decalcification, micro/macro-dissection, and 50+ special stains for preclinical and clinical research.
• Biomarker Discovery End-to-end biomarker discovery support through IHC, multiplex immunofluorescence, and in-situ hybridization services with single-plex and custom multiplex assay development using chromogenic and fluorescent detection for pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic clients.
• Pathology Services Board-certified MD pathologists and ACVP veterinary pathologists providing routine semi-quantitative and fully quantitative evaluations, biomarker discovery oversight, central pathology review, independent adjudication, pathologist annotations, and diagnostic histopathology.
• Digital Pathology Complete digital pathology pipeline including whole-slide scanning at 20X/40X/100X, brightfield and fluorescence imaging, cloud-based image hosting via Concentriq, and automated quantification using Visiopharm and QuPath software for biomarker analysis, co-localization, H-score, and custom algorithm development.
• Immunohistochemistry Services Comprehensive IHC and multiplex IHC services using automated staining platforms (Leica Bond Rx/III, Ventana Discovery/Benchmark Ultra, Dako Autostainer Link 48) with expert assay development, optimization, validation, and custom panel design for oncology, immunology, and neuroscience biomarkers.
• Multiplexing Immunofluorescence (mIF) Multiplex immunofluorescence enabling simultaneous visualization of multiple protein or RNA biomarkers within single tissue sections using Opal technology and Akoya PhenoImager Fusion, revealing spatial relationships between cell populations in the tumor microenvironment with off-the-shelf and customized 6+ color panels.
• In-Situ Hybridization (ISH, FISH & CISH) Fluorescent (FISH) and chromogenic (CISH) in situ hybridization services for DNA/RNA sequence detection including copy number variation analysis, chromosomal translocation detection, gene expression profiling, and custom probe design with preserved spatial context.
• Spatial Biology High-plex spatial biomarker characterization using Akoya PhenoCycler Fusion system enabling whole-slide imaging at single-cell resolution with pre-validated IO panel detecting up to 17 distinct cell phenotypes including B cells, T cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts for immune landscape analysis.
• Clinical Trial Support Early phase and translational research support including specimen collection and management guidance, assay validation (accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision), data management, lab manual development, and access to FFPE control block collection for clinical trial execution.

Quantifiable outcome

• Identifies up to 17 distinct cell phenotypes within a single tissue section

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Akoya BiosciencescoreTechnology or Integration · 9 November 2021Strategic collaboration with Akoya Biosciences for spatial biology and multiplex immunofluorescence services. Data generated in partnership with Akoya was presented at SITC 2021, 2022, and AACR 2023. Lanterne Dx demonstrates use of Akoya's MOTiF PD-1/PD-L1 Panel kit in multiple tissue types and uses the PhenoCycler Fusion and PhenoImager Fusion platforms for high-plex spatial phenotyping and single-cell resolution imaging.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ICON plc: Global CRO with central lab, biomarker, and histopathology services supporting clinical trials. Provides similar specialty lab services as part of a much broader drug development offering.
• NeoGenomics Laboratories: Public oncology-focused clinical laboratory and CRO providing IHC, FISH, NGS, and spatial biology services at significantly larger scale. Competes on oncology biomarker work but with a much broader menu and enterprise sales force.
• Labcorp Drug Development: Global CRO with extensive histology, biomarker, anatomic pathology, and central lab capabilities. Largest incumbent offering most of Lanterne Dx's services as part of a full clinical development portfolio.

Direct peers

• Flagship Biosciences: Tissue-based CRO specializing in IHC, IF, image analysis, and digital pathology services for pharma/biotech. Directly comparable to Lanterne Dx across biomarker assay development, pathologist services, and quantitative image analysis offerings.
• HistoWiz: Histopathology and digital pathology CRO offering histology, IHC, ISH, and AI-driven image analysis to academic and biopharma clients. Closely comparable service mix and customer base, particularly in translational and preclinical research workflows.
• CellCarta: Global CRO providing flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, multiplex immunofluorescence, ISH, and spatial biology services for biomarker and immune monitoring in clinical trials. Operates at larger scale but covers substantially overlapping services.
• Propath UK: Specialist histopathology CRO offering IHC, ISH, FISH, and digital pathology services to pharma and academic clients. Comparable niche focus on tissue-based biomarker development for clinical and preclinical programs.
• BioAgilytix Labs: Bioanalytical and biomarker CRO with large-scale immunoassay, flow cytometry, and IHC capabilities for clinical trial support. Overlaps with Lanterne Dx on biomarker assay development and clinical sample testing.

Others

• Indica Labs: Digital pathology image analysis software provider whose HALO platform competes with Lanterne Dx's Visiopharm/QuPath workflows. Comparable technology stack but sells software rather than fee-for-service assays.
• Akoya Biosciences: Spatial biology instrument and reagent vendor whose PhenoCycler Fusion and PhenoImager Fusion platforms underpin Lanterne Dx's highest-differentiated service line. Ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor, but strategically coupled.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lanternedx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/htl-clinical

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lanterne Dx