Nautilus Unlocks Protein Secrets with Single-Molecule Analysis Platform

SEATTLE, WA – January 08, 2026 – Nautilus Biotechnology today launched an early access program for its novel single-molecule proteomics platform, a major step toward commercialization that promises to provide researchers with an unprecedented view of the complex world of proteins. The program's inaugural offering is a highly anticipated assay targeting tau proteoforms, the intricate variants of a protein centrally implicated in Alzheimer's and other devastating neurodegenerative diseases.

The move signals that Nautilus's technology, which has been in development for years, is ready for external use. By giving a select group of scientists access to its proprietary 'Iterative Mapping' method, the company (NASDAQ: NAUT) is positioning itself to tackle one of biology's most significant challenges: comprehensively measuring the proteome—the full complement of proteins in a cell—at scale and in minute detail.

"Through years of validation, we’ve shown that our platform delivers reproducible, high-quality proteomic data with a level of resolution and scale that differentiates it from other approaches," said Sujal Patel, co-founder and CEO of Nautilus, in the company's announcement. "These capabilities give us the confidence to launch the Early Access Program, knowing our customers will be set up for success from the outset."

A New Lens on the Proteome

At the heart of Nautilus's offering is its Iterative Mapping technology, a fundamentally new approach to protein analysis. For decades, the gold standard in proteomics has been mass spectrometry, a powerful but limited technique that typically requires proteins to be digested into smaller pieces, or peptides, for identification. This process often loses critical information about 'proteoforms'—the specific versions of a protein that arise from genetic variations or post-translational modifications (PTMs). These modifications can dramatically alter a protein's function, and their combinations are thought to be crucial drivers of health and disease.

Nautilus's platform bypasses this limitation by analyzing intact, individual protein molecules. The process begins by immobilizing billions of single proteins onto a massive, nanofabricated array. The platform then performs hundreds of cycles of analysis, using fluorescently labeled probes that bind to short amino acid sequences on each protein. A machine learning algorithm then interprets the resulting pattern of probe bindings for each molecule to confidently identify it.

This multi-touch identification process is designed to provide single-molecule sensitivity, allowing for the detection of even very low-abundance proteins that are often missed by other methods. More importantly, it enables the precise mapping of combinatorial PTM patterns on individual proteins, offering a level of resolution that is difficult or impossible to achieve with conventional tools. This capability could unlock biological insights that have remained hidden within the immense complexity of the proteome.

Targeting Tau in the Fight Against Alzheimer's

The immediate power of this technology is being demonstrated in the field of neurodegeneration. The first assay available through the Early Access Program focuses on the tau protein. While tau's role in forming toxic tangles in the brains of Alzheimer's patients is well-known, the protein exists in hundreds of different proteoforms, and understanding which specific variants drive disease progression is a key goal for researchers.

Nautilus's platform has already shown its potential in a key collaboration with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, which has been operating the first externally deployed instrument for over six months. Researchers there have successfully used the platform to map up to 768 distinct tau proteoforms in different brain regions from disease samples. This work has revealed region-specific proteoform patterns associated with disease progression, opening new avenues for understanding the underlying biology of neurodegeneration.

According to a lead researcher at the institute, the results demonstrate "robust platform performance" and will "vastly expand our knowledge and means to study mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease and related conditions." The success of this first external deployment by users outside of Nautilus reinforces the platform’s accessibility and readiness for the broader research community. The findings, detailed in a company preprint, validate the assay's accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility for interrogating billions of single protein molecules.

Navigating a Crowded Market

The launch of the Early Access Program is a calculated strategic move for Nautilus as it enters a highly competitive proteomics market projected to exceed $73 billion by 2030. The field is populated by established mass spectrometry giants like Thermo Fisher and Bruker, as well as innovative affinity-based platform companies such as Olink and SomaLogic. Nautilus aims to carve out a unique space by delivering a level of proteoform resolution that others cannot.

The Early Access Program serves as a crucial bridge between research and full commercialization. By working closely with an initial cohort of users, Nautilus can generate further validation data across diverse applications, refine its support infrastructure, and build a strong foundation of user advocates before a wider launch. This strategy helps de-risk the commercial rollout and demonstrates tangible value to potential customers and investors.

Financially, the company is in a pre-revenue stage but reported having a cash runway extending into 2027 as of its last quarterly report in late 2025. This makes the successful execution of its commercialization plan, beginning with this program, a pivotal milestone. In addition to the standard tau assay, the program offers partnerships to develop custom assays, signaling a flexible business model aimed at meeting specific research needs in pharmaceuticals and academia.

From Lab to Market: The Path to Accessibility

Nautilus's mission extends beyond technological innovation to democratizing access to the proteome. The Early Access Program is the first step in that direction. Researchers interested in the program can gain access to the platform either through a standard tau assay service or by partnering on custom assay development.

Crucially, the company is providing significant support for early adopters, including guidance on data interpretation, quantification, and analysis to ensure users can quickly generate actionable biological insights. The positive experience at the Buck Institute suggests that the platform, while sophisticated, is designed to be accessible to research labs without requiring a team of dedicated Nautilus specialists to operate.

To further engage the scientific community, Nautilus will host a webinar on January 14, 2026, to highlight the quantitative benefits of its Iterative Mapping technology and present updated data from its collaboration with the Buck Institute. As the program expands, the insights generated could accelerate discovery not only in neurodegeneration but across all areas of biology where the complex functions of proteins hold the key to understanding human health.