Bio-Techne Partners with Spear Bio to Enhance Neurological Biomarker Detection Efforts

Bio-Techne and Spear Bio Join Forces in Strategic Alliance

Bio-Techne Corporation, a leader in life sciences innovation, has announced a strategic collaboration with Spear Bio, a groundbreaking company at the forefront of biomarker research. This partnership is set to revolutionize the way low-abundance biomarkers are detected, particularly in the challenging field of neurology. As the world grapples with increasing incidents of neurodegenerative diseases, the implications of their joint efforts could be significant.

Background of the Partnership

The alliance was officially launched on July 15, 2025, and it comes on the heels of Bio-Techne’s participation in Spear Bio’s significant $45 million Series A funding round in 2024. This financial backing provided Spear Bio with the necessary resources to enhance its innovative product lines further and expand its reach within the research community. Under the terms of the partnership, Bio-Techne will distribute Spear Bio's next-generation ultrasensitive immunoassays. These products express a profound capability for identifying key biomarkers associated with debilitating conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, among others.

Innovative Technology at Play

Spear Bio's proprietary Successive Proximity Extension Amplification Reaction (SPEAR) platform leverages advanced technology licensed from Harvard University. The SPEAR platform dramatically enhances biomarker detection sensitivity, providing two to three orders of magnitude more precision than current immunoassay technologies. This capability enables researchers to detect low-abundance biomarkers that were previously very challenging to identify.

Critical Alzheimer's biomarkers set to be focused on initially include phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau 217), GFAP, neurofilament light (Nf-L), and phosphorylated tau 231 (pTau 231). Detecting these biomarkers early can be essential for advancing clinical trials and improving patient outcomes, providing a more granular understanding of disease mechanisms and aiding in the development of effective therapeutic interventions.

Benefits of the Collaboration

Through this strategic partnership, Bio-Techne aims to leverage its established global presence and expertise in immunoassay technology to amplify the reach and application of Spear Bio’s innovative assays for neurodegenerative diseases. President of Bio-Techne's Protein Sciences Segment, Will Geist, emphasized that this collaboration is a substantial leap forward in biomarker detection for neurodegenerative research. He articulated that the partnership equips researchers with unique tools to investigate critical biomarkers with unmatched accuracy and sensitivity.

On the other hand, Spear Bio's founder and CEO, Feng Xuan, PhD, highlighted the transformative potential this partnership represents for neurodegenerative disease research. By aligning Bio-Techne's extensive distribution network with Spear Bio's cutting-edge technology, they aim to empower researchers globally to analyze earlier disease mechanisms and improve patient stratification in clinical trials. This, in turn, should expedite the development of new therapies for neurological disorders, a much-needed advancement in the face of rising instances of such diseases.

Future Aspirations

Beyond neurodegenerative diseases, the SPEAR technology holds promise in diverse fields including oncology and inflammation. This flexibility positions Spear Bio to capitalize on high-growth markets while ensuring that critical diagnostic insights become accessible to a wider audience. The partnership is a testament to Bio-Techne's commitment to advancing biomarker detection technologies and embodies the potential for significant medical breakthroughs.

As both companies continue to innovate and expand their influence in the scientific community, their collaborative efforts offer a glimpse into the future of biomarker research and the potential it holds for personalized medicine. With rigorous research and development on the horizon, the synergy between Bio-Techne and Spear Bio may prove to be pivotal in the quest for efficient diagnostics and effective treatments in medicine.

For more information about Bio-Techne and Spear Bio, their ongoing projects, and the future of biomarker detection technology, visit their respective websites and follow their developments closely.