MERCURIUS™

DRUG-seq technology

Extraction-free and high-throughput RNA-seq technology designed to provide unbiased and high-content full transcriptome profiling across thousands of samples in parallel at low cost and short turnaround times.

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Unbiased whole transcriptome screening

MERCURIUS™ DRUG-seq is a powerful solution for compound screening and drug discovery, enabling ultra-high-content, unbiased, and high-throughput profiling with extraction-free transcriptomics. The method leverages rigorously optimized sample barcodes and unique molecular identifiers (UMIs) to label the 3' poly(A) tails of mRNA molecules during the first-strand cDNA synthesis. This efficient tagging approach ensures precise sample identification, robust transcript quantification, and seamless scalability for large screening campaigns.

Extraction-free

Skip tedious RNA extraction steps and go straight to library prep.

Cell lysis buffers are highly optimized for 2D cell cultures and organoid models to generate library preps efficiently without prior RNA isolation.

Massive sample multiplexing

Up-to 384 samples processed in one single tube!  

Our highly optimized sets of barcoded primers uniquely "tag" individual RNA samples during the first step of library preparation so that you can pool and process all samples together in a single tube early in the workflow.

Pre-amplification-free

Improved protocol for higher mapping and gene detection rates 

MERCURIUS™ DRUG-seq leverages a high-yield enzyme for reverse transcription. This streamlines the workflow and eliminates potential biases and duplication introduced with pre-amplification and template-switching oligos (TSO) used in the original DRUG-seq protocol while delivering superior performance.

 

Benefits

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Ideal for screening projects

Massively multiplexed workflow with 96 and 384-well plate formats so that you can screen thousands of samples in parallel at scale.

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No need for prior RNA extraction
An optimized lysis buffer ensures complete lysis and efficient reverse transcription to avoid time-consuming and expensive RNA extractions.
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Unbiased whole transcriptome screening

No need for prior target selection.

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Pre-amplification free protocol

No pre-amplification needed, leading to higher mapping and gene detection rates.

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One-day lab workflow
Convenient and quick protocol, from samples to sequencing-ready libraries in one day.
Money
Ultra scalable and ultra low-cost 

The more samples processed simultaneously, the lower the cost per sample.

Automation
Suited to automation

Enables seamless integration into high-throughput workflows, furter reducing hands-on time and increasing scalability, reproducibility and efficiency.

A transformative tool for next-gen drug discovery

 

 

A scalable and cost-effective transcriptomic profiling solution that accelerates target identification and validation, hit identification, hit-to-lead, and lead optimization.

By providing deep gene expression insights across thousands of compounds, MERCURIUS™ DRUG-seq reveals mechanisms of action, detects on/off-target effects, and uncovers toxicity markers, empowering faster, data-driven decisions throughout the drug development pipeline.

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Decoding drug responses

MERCURIUS™ DRUG-seq empowers scalable transcriptome profiling by enabling precise gene detection, characterization of drug-response signatures, identification of synergistic/antagonistic drug effects, detailed pathway-level insights and much more.
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Gene detection overview

Gene detection overview of a case study on 12'000 samples and almost 4'000 compound combinations, sequenced at 1M reads per sample. 

Enables accurate clustering and co-clustering analysis based on unbiased gene expression measurement

Analysis of top DE genes
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Detect potential synergistic/antagonistic effects of drug combinations

Enables detailed pathway analysis of biological processes

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Diverse readout options

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3' mRNA sequencing

Focused on sequencing only the 3′ end of mRNA molecules.
 
Provides a cost-effective and scalable way to measure gene expression levels across thousands of samples.
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Targeted mRNA sequencing

Focuses on sequencing specific genes rather than the whole transcriptome.
 
Increases sensitivity and depth for studying low-abundance transcripts.
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Full-length mRNA sequencing

Capture complete transcript information by sequencing the entire length of mRNA molecules, from 5′ to 3′.

This protocol enables comprehensive analysis of transcript isoforms, alternative splicing events, and gene expression levels. 

Available as kits and services

Kits for library prep

All our kits contain all the oligos and enzymes needed to go from 2D cell cultures to sequencing-ready libraries.

MERCURIUS™

DRUG-seq kit

  • 3' mRNA sequencing
  • Early multiplexing of up to 384 samples
  • Directly from cell lysates without prior RNA isolation
  • 12'000 genes detected at 1M reads/sample
  • Ideal for comprehensive genome-wide gene expression profiling
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MERCURIUS™

Total DRUG-seq (Early-Access)

  • Full-length total RNA sequencing
  • 96 and 384 samples multiplexing format
  • Directly from cell/organoid lysates without prior RNA isolation
  • 20'000 + genes detected at 10M reads/sample
  • Full-length RNA transcript coverage: for regulatory RNAs, non-coding RNAs, and early-stage transcripts.

MERCURIUS™

Full-Length

DRUG-seq (Early-Access)

  • Full-length mRNA sequencing
  • 96 samples multiplexing format
  • Directly from cell/organoid lysates without prior RNA isolation
  • 22'000 genes detected at 12M reads/sample
  • Full-length mRNA transcript coverage: from differential gene expression to splicing variants and isoform detection
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Flexible Services

Choose from library prep only or complete end-to-end services, including cell culture and treatment, Cell Painting, NGS, and downstream analysis.

What do our customers say

 

 

" We would be glad to work together again"

The DRUG-seq platform enabled us to systematically profile compound-induced transcriptional responses at scale, generating a rich dataset that helped prioritize testable hypotheses. The team at Alithea provided outstanding technical guidance throughout, including support in developing a customized analysis pipeline tailored to our needs. The turnaround time was fast, the process seamless, and the collaboration highly productive. We would be glad to work together again.

Mikołaj Słabicki, Ph.D. Principal Investigator at the MGH Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research. Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Affiliate Faculty Member at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

"It's fast, scalable, and incredibly cost-effective"

 

DRUG-seq has completely transformed how I approach and think about transcriptomic screening. It's fast, scalable, and incredibly cost-effective—perfect for profiling hundreds of compounds in parallel. In my experience, it’s one of the most powerful tools for uncovering mechanisms of action and capturing transcriptional signatures at scale. I've used DRUG-seq to profile different cells treated under time points, dose responses, combination treatments, and a variety of complex cellular models, from cardiomyocytes to organoids—and it consistently delivers high-quality, actionable data. The ability to pool samples early without compromising data quality truly makes it a game-changer.

 

Andrea Hadjikyriacou, Ph.D. Principal Scientist I, Novartis Biomedical Research

FAQ