June 19, 2025
Alithea Genomics, a pioneering biotech company based in Switzerland and the USA specializing in scalable RNA sequencing solutions, today announced the launch of MERCURIUS™ Total DRUG-seq, a new extraction-free, full-length transcriptome profiling library preparation kit designed to push the boundaries of high-throughput drug screens, toxicology screens and target validation by enabling the creation of large-scale data generation for machine learning and AI.
Building on the success of its MERCURIUS™ 3’ DRUG-seq, MERCURIUS™ Total DRUG-seq captures the complete transcriptome—including lncRNAs and other non-coding RNAs—with greater sensitivity, full-length coverage, and unprecedented multiplexing capacity, enabling researchers to screen over 50,000 samples with confidence.
The kit is available in 96-well (1,000–25,000 cells) and 384-well (500–10,000 cells) formats and features a streamlined, extraction-free protocol that delivers faster turnaround, lower input requirements, and expanded insights, without sacrificing scalability or reproducibility.
“MERCURIUS™ Total DRUG-seq represents a new frontier in transcriptome-scale compound screening,” said Riccardo Dainese, CEO and Co-founder of Alithea Genomics. “We are empowering scientists to capture the full complexity of transcriptional responses—at a massive scale and with minimal cost. This product opens the door to discovering new biology, new targets, and new drugs faster than ever before.”
MERCURIUS™ Total DRUG-seq is now available for ordering as a standalone kit or as part of Alithea’s in-house services.
Attendees of Discovery and Development Europe (June 2025) are invited to visit Alithea Genomics at booth 64 to explore the new MERCURIUS™ Total DRUG-seq solution alongside other products in the MERCURIUS™ DRUG-seq product line.
About RNA Sequencing
RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) examines the quantity and sequences of RNA molecules in a biological sample using next-generation sequencing (NGS). By revealing which genes are expressed and to what extent, RNA-seq provides a high-resolution view of cellular function. These insights are essential across the drug discovery pipeline, from biomarker discovery to therapeutic development.
About Alithea Genomics
Alithea Genomics develops innovative, massively multiplexed RNA-seq solutions designed to accelerate high-throughput transcriptomics. Its proprietary MERCURIUS™ DRUG-seq and MERCURIUS™ BRB-seq technologies dramatically reduce the cost and complexity of generating large-scale RNA data, enabling breakthroughs in drug development, crop engineering, cosmetics, and beyond. Founded in 2020 at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, Alithea Genomics operates in Europe and the United States.
