Distribution Partners

The Next Instrument Category in Precision Oncology

Functional proteomics is emerging as the critical measurement layer between genomics and clinical decisions. HAWK Biosystems is looking for distribution partners who see what we see — and want to bring it to the world.

If you have imaging expertise, oncology and pathology relationships, and the conviction that science should drive better patient outcomes — we should talk.

$58B
Global Immunotherapy Market
Projected 2028
12%
Solid Tumor Response Rate
Current biomarker-guided selection
88%
Patients Who Don't Respond
Still receiving treatment
0
Competitors at 1–10 nm
Functional interaction resolution

Immunotherapy Changed Oncology. Biomarkers Didn't Keep Up.

Checkpoint inhibitors are the most important advance in cancer therapy in a generation. But the biomarkers used to select patients haven't evolved beyond measuring protein expression — a 40-year-old approach that fails to predict who will actually respond.

The Current Standard Fails

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) measures how much protein is present. It cannot tell you whether those proteins are actually doing anything.

  • × PD-L1 expression did NOT predict survival (P=0.162) in 188 NSCLC patients
  • × 24% of responders would be excluded by expression-only criteria
  • × Non-responders still receive $150K+ treatment courses
  • × No quantitative threshold — pathologist-scored, subjective

What QF-Pro Measures Instead

Functional proteomics measures whether proteins are actually interacting at the molecular level — the ground truth of biological function.

  • PD-1/PD-L1 interaction predicted survival at P<0.0001
  • Identified responders missed by IHC — rescued 24% of patients
  • Quantitative 2.13% FRET efficiency cutoff — objective, reproducible
  • Works on standard FFPE tissue — no special sample prep

The Only Platform at Interaction Resolution

Different technologies resolve molecular proximity at fundamentally different scales. Only FRET-FLIM operates in the range where protein-protein interaction actually occurs.

🏢

Colocalization

70–100 nm
"Same building"

Optical co-occurrence of fluorescent signals. Cannot distinguish interaction from proximity.

Established
🚬

Proximity Ligation

14–40 nm
"Same corridor"

DNA-based proximity detection. Closer, but still cannot confirm molecular contact.

Improving
🤝

QF-Pro (FRET-FLIM)

1–10 nm
"Same room, having a meeting"

Energy transfer between fluorophores confirms direct molecular interaction. The physics guarantee it.

Only QF-Pro

"Expression tells you who is in the building. QF-Pro tells you who is in the room, having the meeting that determines the patient's fate."

James Miles, Chief Scientific Officer, HAWK Biosystems

Not a Promise. Published Proof.

QF-Pro's clinical value is backed by peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals — including the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

3.1×
Longer Median Overall Survival
31 months (high interaction) vs 10 months (low interaction) in NSCLC patients on immunotherapy.
280%
Potential Efficacy Increase
Rescuing misclassified patients could triple response rates and double overall survival.
P<.0001
Statistical Significance
Functional interaction measurement predicted immunotherapy response where expression (P=0.162) did not.

Source: Sanchez-Magraner et al. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2023. n=188 NSCLC patients.

Three Products. One Platform. Recurring Revenue.

A complete ecosystem designed for clinical labs and research institutions, with built-in consumable revenue streams.

🔬

Violet 3.0

Capital Equipment

Benchtop FLIM microscope replacing room-sized systems. Modulated diode lasers, FLIM camera, 4-channel LED, 2×/20×/40× objectives.

  • No alignment or specialist technician required
  • 4 FFPE slides or 1 multi-well plate
  • 16 seconds per image acquisition
  • ~8 minutes per tissue sample
🧪

QF-Pro Reagent Kits

Consumables

Open kit design for any mouse/rabbit antibody pair. ATTO488 donor, Alexa594 acceptor, amplification reagents.

  • Up to 50 experiments per kit
  • Standard immunofluorescence workflow
  • FFPE and fixed cell compatible
  • Recurring revenue stream per instrument
💻

Analysis Software

Software

Integrated acquisition, analysis, and reporting. From ROI mapping to QF-Pro score output.

  • Automated experiment setup
  • ROI navigation and mapping
  • FRET efficiency calculation
  • Clinical-grade quantitative output
Built-in recurring revenue: Every Violet 3.0 placement drives ongoing reagent kit consumption — the proven instrument-plus-consumables model that powers sustainable distribution businesses.

Why This Moment Matters

Functional proteomics is at an inflection point. The science is proven, the clinical need is urgent, and the competitive landscape is wide open.

First-Mover Advantage

No competing commercial platform operates at 1–10 nm interaction resolution in fixed tissue. Partners entering now define the category in their territories before competition emerges.

Companion Diagnostic Trajectory

The JCO study establishes clinical validity. QF-Pro is on a path toward companion diagnostic (CDx) regulatory submissions — a transformation event for distribution partners already established in clinical oncology.

Multi-Checkpoint Expansion

PD-1/PD-L1 is the first validated axis. TIGIT/CD155, CTLA-4/CD80, and LAG-3/MHC-II are in development — each new axis multiplies the clinical utility and reagent demand per instrument.

Beyond Oncology

The platform measures any protein-protein interaction in fixed tissue. Neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmunity, cardiovascular — the same instruments and kits serve expanding applications.

Built for Partners Who Understand Imaging

We're seeking distribution partners who combine technical credibility with commercial reach. The ideal partner doesn't just sell instruments — they understand the science behind them and can articulate why measuring function changes everything.

  • Imaging & Microscopy Experience Existing relationships with imaging core facilities, pathology labs, or research microscopy customers.
  • Oncology or Pathology Network Access to clinical oncology, immuno-oncology, or anatomical pathology decision-makers.
  • Application Support Capability Technical team capable of supporting immunofluorescence workflows and providing pre-sales demonstrations.
  • Conviction in the Science Partners who believe functional measurement will transform diagnostics — and want to be part of making that happen.

What HAWK Provides

Territory Protection

Exclusive or semi-exclusive territories based on market coverage and commitment.

Technical Training

Comprehensive product training for sales and application scientists, with ongoing support from HAWK's team.

Marketing & Scientific Content

Publication reprints, webinar access, glossary resources, and co-branded marketing materials.

Demo & Evaluation Support

Instrument loans and sample processing support for customer evaluations and key opinion leader engagements.

Clinical Development Updates

Early access to new checkpoint assay validations, CDx regulatory progress, and publication data.

Bring Functional Proteomics
to Your Market

If you see the opportunity in measuring what proteins are doing rather than simply counting them — let's talk about building something significant together.

Russell Ulbrich
ScientiaLux · HAWK Biosystems Distribution
russell@scientialux.com