Obsidian selects Teiko for high-dimensional immunophenotyping for OBX-115

Teiko and Obsidian Therapeutics are excited to announce our partnership for high-dimensional immunophenotyping of patients enrolled in the ongoing OBX-115 phase 1 / 2 clinical trial. Teiko’s CLIA-validated 25-marker spectral flow cytometry panel will allow Obsidian to profile 298 immune cell subsets and states in each patient’s peripheral blood sample. The panel covers T cell, NK cell, B cell, and myeloid subsets along with 5 functional markers to evaluate maturation, exhaustion, and activation across these subsets. Obsidian will use Teiko’s service to analyze and describe peripheral blood immune compartments in patients participating in their phase 1 / 2 clinical trial.

“We selected Teiko for spectral flow immunophenotyping because of the strong data they have already generated for us in preclinical activities, and we are excited to continue to expand our partnership to explore the immune impacts of OBX-115 across the entire immune system,” Giri Ramsingh, Vice President, Clinical Sciences, Obsidian Therapeutics. “We especially appreciate the rigorous validation that Teiko’s panels have gone through and the easy-to-use data analysis tools that have allowed us to visualize our findings.”

Teiko to present two posters at the 2024 SITC annual meeting

Teiko is excited to announce that two posters have been accepted for presentation at the 2024 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) annual meeting in Houston from November 8 – 10th. 

Teiko will present its work on optimizing fixed whole blood samples for mass cytometry, highlighting the development and validation of the TokuKit, a two-step collection kit that stabilizes whole blood for long-term storage at -80°C for up to 24 months. The poster will show inter- and intra-run validation for a 41+ marker pan-immunophenotyping panel and performance comparisons to fresh blood, supporting the use of the TokuKit in clinical trials for biomarker research and immune monitoring.

In addition, Teiko will also highlight its research on addressing the challenge of processing fresh blood for flow cytometry in clinical trials by optimizing the TokuKit fixation method for high-dimensional immune profiling using a 20+-marker spectral flow cytometry panel, which shows comparable (r=0.975) results to freshly processed samples.

Poster Presentation Details:

Abstract Title: It’s about time: Rapid on-site fixation of whole blood samples prior to high-dimensional flow cytometric analysis

Abstract Number: 57

Presenter: Kristina Magee, MD-PhD, Associate Director Lab Operations

Poster Presentation Date: Friday, Nov. 8

Abstract Title: It’s on-site: eliminating site-to-site variability with whole blood collection kits using 40+ marker TokuProfile mass cytometry assay

Abstract Number: 58

Presenter: Justin Jarrell, PhD, VP Business Development

Poster Presentation Date: Saturday, Nov. 9

Teiko abstracts accepted at ICCS24 in Seattle

Heading to the International Clinical Cytometry Conference (ICCS) in Seattle this October? Meet us there!

Join us on Monday, October 7, at 4:00 PM for the presentation of two posters assessing normalization methods for CyTOF data and analyzing fixed whole blood samples by high-dimensional spectral cytometry.

  1. “Assessment of Batch Normalization Methods on Mass Cytometry Data”
  2. “Rapid on-site fixation of whole blood samples for high-dimensional spectral flow cytometric analysis”

Abstract #205: Assessment of Batch Normalization Methods on Mass Cytometry Data

Presenter: Dr. Gage Black, PhD, Teiko Bio

Batch effects can impact the quality of large biological datasets, including high-dimensional mass cytometry data. In this study, we tested two batch normalization tools, CytoNorm and cyCombine, on a dataset of 68 PBMC samples from 38 melanoma patients.

Abstract #226: Rapid on-site fixation of whole blood samples for high-dimensional spectral flow cytometric analysis

Presenter: Dr. Justin Jarrell, PhD, Teiko Bio

Around 75% of flow cytometry specimens rely on freshly collected blood, requiring processing within 48 hours. This causes complex logistics and can result in >10% sample loss. Fixing whole blood at clinical sites may solve this by preserving samples for years. We used a 25-marker spectral flow cytometry panel on blood from three healthy donors, comparing fixed to live samples. Fixed samples showed a 97% correlation in immune cell populations and a 90% correlation for activation markers (HLA-DR, CD28, CD38, PD-1). Fixation simplifies shipping while preserving sample integrity for clinical trials.

Dynamic Baseline live

Introducing the Dynamic Baseline feature, now available for high-dimensional datasets on app.teiko.bio, including spectral flow and mass cytometry. 

This feature allows users to set any time point, such as the start of lymphodepletion (e.g., C1D15), as the new baseline for normalization, providing more flexibility when analyzing longitudinal data across key clinical milestones.

Key Features:

Custom Baseline for Better Comparisons: Select any time point, like C1D15, as the baseline, allowing for more meaningful comparisons across phases of the study (e.g., between C1D15, C2D1, and C2D15).

Tailored Normalization: By choosing specific baseline points, users can better reflect biological changes during therapy, providing clearer insights into immune responses over time.

Updated Statistics for Normalization: FDR values automatically update when the selected baseline changes, ensuring accurate comparisons.

Indications when a timepoint has sufficient specimens to do comparisons: Endpoints with at least 3 samples will be marked in black, while those with an insufficient number of samples will be red.

How to Use:

Set baseline using the “Normalization Baseline” Dropdown: Select a specific time point, such as C1D15 (start of lymphodepletion), to serve as the baseline.


Normalization Output: Data will be normalized based on the selected baseline by subtracting each subject’s baseline value from their subsequent values. This adjustment allows for tracking of immune responses across all other time points by aligning population or marker values accordingly. Statistics will not be shown if the selected baseline value is included in the multi-group comparison.

This feature improves the ability to track immune responses at critical points during treatment, allowing for more precise comparisons between key dates, particularly when pivotal events like lymphodepletion are in the therapeutic process.

StandardPlus Release

A new cytometry service for customers interested in adding an antibody to track a specific cell type, pathway, or target on CLIA-validated 41-marker CyTOF panels

The StandardPlus service lets customers add an additional antibody to Teiko’s Standard 41-marker peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) or whole blood (WB) mass cytometry (CyTOF) panel to detect a specific marker of interest. Customers will receive a marker verification report, sample and gating quality control (QC) reports for each cohort of processed samples, and Base, Core, or Premier analysis and deliverables accessible through Teiko’s web application.

Customers appreciate our Standard CyTOF panels for their comprehensive coverage (800+ immune cell types and subsets), reproducibility (CLIA-validation), and flexible pricing (tiered options). However, drug developers often need to track a specific cell type, target, pathway, or a general marker of interest in their clinical trials that isn’t included in the Standard Panel. And while adding just one additional marker to a panel may sound trivial, it actually can take months of work and considerable ($30,000+) fees.

Now, with Teiko, it’s simple. You pick an antibody, and we verify that antibody on a CLIA-validated backbone. And we deliver in the order of weeks (not months) to verify and create a 42-marker CyTOF panel. Get in touch with us about your specific antibody, and we’ll give you a precise estimate.

Our new StandardPlus service ranges from only $100-$300 more per sample compared to our Standard mass cytometry panel. Reach out to us today for more details about how to customize your panel.

Learn more about our Standard+ offerings

Online Ordering for TokuKits Live Today

A simple shopping platform to order sample collection TokuKits for clinical trials

Our TokuKits enable the on-site collection and fixation of whole blood samples from clinical trials, preparing them for analysis by high-dimensional mass cytometry or spectral flow cytometry. However, ordering and tracking specimen collection kits have been challenging due to the reliance on manual emails and spreadsheets. To address this, we are excited to announce the launch of our new online ordering system for TokuKits: teiko.bio/tokukit/.

When an order is placed online, it is immediately registered in Teiko’s Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). This allows us to promptly contact the trial site that placed the order. We additionally keep the clinical trial manager and study sponsor informed. Now everyone is informed about the kits ordered and shipped to all clinical trial sites.

It might seem obvious, but ordering and tracking kits through emails and spreadsheets is cumbersome, error-prone, and a major headache. Surprisingly, this is a common practice for ordering kits for clinical trials. Without a standardized process, the back-and-forth to collect information delays order fulfillment, preventing critical sample collections from taking place for the clinical trial.

Problem solved with teiko.bio/tokukit

We’ve built a web-based ordering platform, directly coupled to our LIMS to deliver a customer ordering experience that’s centralized, easy to use, informative, and connected to each site using TokuKits in a clinical trial. 

  • Standard ordering template requiring no back and forth emails.
  • Clinical trial ID entry to automatically sync all orders to the project.
  • Site ID entry to enable mult-site kit tracking in an upcoming release.
  • Outbound notification infrastructure to inform study sponsor, clinical trial manager and site contact.
  • Inbound notification infrastructure to inform study sponsor and clinical site manager on kit receipt.

Ordering TokuKits on teiko.bio/tokukit

In the gif below, we show how to order kits from teiko.bio/tokukit/. We’ll charge them directly to your sponsor account, no credit card needed. This allows you to place kit orders, and allows us to obtain information about the site, and clinical trials. We then collect shipping information. With this information we send tracking information and share the data with both the person who placed the order, the study sponsor and clinical trial manager.

Teiko.bio