Nicoya Unveils FastHDX: First MS Platform to Map Protein Dynamics at Millisecond Resolution
Published: 17 Mar 2026
Author: Precedence Research
Nicoya Lifesciences is launching FastHDX, an innovative hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) platform for assessing protein structural dynamics. This platform is claimed to be the first to detect conformational changes with millisecond precision, marking a four- to five-fold improvement in labeling resolution that allows for the study of transient states typically inaccessible with traditional methods. Early users, including pharmaceutical and academic institutions, have successfully validated FastHDX in relation to diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and Parkinson's disease.
FastHDX Empowers Real-Time Observation of Protein Transient States
In a press release, Nicoya noted that while structural biology often focuses on stable proteins, understanding intrinsic disorder, weak interactions, and dynamic allosteric coupling is crucial for identifying disease-relevant targets. These factors contribute to transient conformational states that facilitate low-affinity fragment binding and early regulatory events, which are challenging to investigate with standard techniques.
According to Precedence Research, the Mobile Mass Spectrometers Market size accounted for USD 7.34 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 7.94 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 16.17 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 8.22% from 2026 to 2035 as the market drives from technological advancements in miniaturization, improved sensitivity, and rapid, direct, or ambient ionization techniques.
Intrinsically disordered proteins and regions constitute one-third of eukaryotic proteins and are significant in cancer and neurological disorders. Nicoya asserts that FastHDX's millisecond-resolved HDX-MS provides a direct view into these transient states.
FastHDX: Nicoya Lifesciences’ New Tool for Deepening Drug Discovery Insights
CEO Ryan Denomme stated that this technology was made possible by the acquisition of Applied Photophysics in June 2025 and emphasized that FastHDX is the culmination of nearly a decade of development by the Applied Photophysics team, leveraging external expertise and feedback from early users. Denomme acknowledged that HDX-MS has been utilized in specialized academic contexts before.
He emphasized that "FastHDX is the first commercially available platform designed to be robust, automated, and suitable for real-world discovery workflows." Additionally, Nicoya points out another advantage of FastHDX: its "seamless integration" with liquid chromatography–MS systems. The company states that this allows for the adoption of the new platform without interfering with the existing MS setup or needing retraining.
A recent report by Precedence Research highlights that the Mobile Mass Spectrometers Market is benefiting from advancements in miniaturization, rising demand for point-of-care diagnostics, and stringent environmental regulations.