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8 n e w h a v e n B I Z | F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 2 | n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m Protein Power Quantum-Si works to uncover secrets of human immunity O N T H E R E C O R D : Q & A By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo S tudying genes has unlocked key knowledge about how our bodies work, and life sciences company Quantum-Si now aims to bring a new level of understanding about proteins' impact on our health. Serial entrepreneur Jonathan Rothberg launched Quantum-Si in 2013 at his 4Catalyzer medical device incubator in Guilford. In recent months, the company has been rapidly expanding. In January, it announced it would be moving its headquarters to New Haven. It signed a 10-year lease for 65,000 square feet of office and R&D space at Winchester Works, 115 Munson St. Quantum-Si expects to be at its new headquarters the first half of this year. Last fall, the company also opened a new 25,586-square-foot product development and operations facility in San Diego. Quantum-Si went public in June 2021, when it merged with New York- based HighCape Capital Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. e $1.46 billion deal pumped more than $500 million into the combined company. Quantum-Si is focused on the field of proteomics, or the study of proteins. It is developing a suite of technologies, including soware and medical instruments that use a semiconductor chip to enable single- molecule protein sequencing. e technology, Quantum-Si says, can be used to advance drug discovery and for diagnostics, potentially leading to new ways to diagnose and treat disease. In November, Quantum-Si acquired Majelac Technologies LLC, a Pennsylvania company that provides semiconductor packaging and integrated circuit assembly services. e acquisition brings chip assembly and packaging, key for Quantum-Si's operations, in-house, helping the company as it scales up its operations. New Haven Biz recently sat down with Quantum-Si's Chief Executive Officer John Stark, who joined in 2020, to talk about the company's recent and continued expansion, and what the future holds. What prompted you to join Quantum-Si? Protein is really the fundamental building block of life. As we advance through genomics, there has been this tremendous scale of understanding. For proteins, it has really lagged. About six or seven years ago, we started really focusing on proteomics, the understanding of protein diversity. It has become so critical in so many areas, such as understanding our immune system behavior. Over the course of the last five to six years, my focus has been renewed not only on proteomics, but understanding single molecule, single cell. By sequencing the proteome … we have a huge opportunity in front of us. Not only from the business side, but more importantly our impact on medicine. What does the company's technology do? What we are doing is isolating proteins directly from humans, whether it is tissue, blood or a clinical specimen. We are able for the first time to characterize those proteins, not at the fully-assembled level, but the individual building blocks, the backbone that makes up those proteins, which is at the amino acid level. To put it in a nutshell, what we are enabling now is the exploration of 95% of the biology that occurs in the cell that is really uncharted, and the opportunity for the development of future therapeutics based on the information we discover. How is it different from what is available now? We are looking at individual molecules of protein. Typically, groups have looked at whole sample types. Technologies like this allow you to look at a single cell. is allows you to look at specific components of that protein structure, which now gives you insight. is team has designed a benchtop system (that is cheaper, more efficient and takes up less room than what is currently available in the market). Instrumentation that has quantified proteins previously has typically filled rooms, cost millions of dollars and was very complicated. is team has not only revolutionized the way to look at greater depths of protein levels and greater sensitivity, but has actually put this on a benchtop instrument that will enable the masses. How can the technology be used to advance drug discovery and for diagnostics? I would say over 90% of drugs target a protein. Essentially right now about 85% of what we call the proteome isn't related to a therapeutic and is undrugged. So there is a huge opportunity to explore new potential therapeutics and targets to treat various conditions. We will be the engine that discovers those proteins as well as the protein levels that drug companies will essentially use to create new therapeutics. Would your customers be drug companies, research facilities, universities, hospitals? All of the above, starting first with mainly the research and pharmaceutical areas. Yale would be a key customer, Jackson Labs, there are a number of them across the Connecticut landscape. is will progress to drug companies looking to develop new markers and John Stark CEO Quantum-Si Education: Master's degree in bioengineering, Arizona State University Age: 48 Quantum-Si CEO John Stark. An interior view of the Winchester Works site, where Quantum-Si will be making its new home. PHOTO | SYLVESTER ZAWADZKI

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