The 73rd annual American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) conference, held June 1–5 in Baltimore, Maryland, brought together the scientific community to explore the latest advances in instrumentation, software, and workflow optimization. This year’s standout innovations spanned proteomics, biopharma development, small molecule analysis, and environmental testing.
From next-gen Orbitraps and ultra-sensitive triple quads to cutting-edge proteoform mapping and multiomics platforms, the event showcased a clear trend: deeper insights, faster throughput, and greater integration across the analytical workflow. In this roundup, we spotlight key announcements from leading vendors as they unveiled the technologies redefining what’s possible in mass spectrometry.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
This year, Thermo Fisher Scientific highlighted high-resolution performance and speed with the launch of the Orbitrap™ Astral™ Zoom and Orbitrap™ Excedion™ Pro platforms. The Astral Zoom builds on the success of the original Astral system, offering faster scan speeds, higher throughput, and expanded multiplexing capabilities for deeper quantitation and biomarker discovery.
According to Pushkin Pant, VP and GM of Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry, the original Astral platform has already contributed to over 320 scientific publications since its debut in 2023. With enhanced speed, sensitivity, and flexibility, the updated Astral Zoom is expected to continue enabling impactful discoveries across research domains.
The Excedion Pro introduces alternative fragmentation techniques, designed to improve the characterization of complex biomolecules, including monoclonal antibodies. Thermo Fisher emphasized how these systems aim to accelerate breakthroughs in biopharma development and omics research.
Waters
A key feature of Waters' ASMS showing was the Xevo™ TQ Absolute™ XR. Rob Carpio, SVP, Waters Division, Waters Corporation, noted that the TQ Absolute system has been prominent in high-volume regulated testing markets and that the release of the XR version marks the strengthening of a champion. Key features include improved robustness, reduced power and gas consumption, a smaller footprint, and increased sensitivity.
Waters is also facilitating advances in biotherapeutic workflows with its BioResolve™ Protein A Affinity Columns, designed to enhance speed and reduce variability in titer measurements. These columns contribute to process agility and improved batch quality in therapeutic protein development.
In other news from Waters, the company has recently acquired Halo Labs™, a specialist in imaging technologies that detect and analyze particles in advanced therapeutics such as cell, protein, and gene therapies. Halo Labs’ Aura™ platform provides full-spectrum particle analysis, complementing Waters’ Wyatt Technology light scattering solutions. This integration will strengthen Waters’ capabilities in large molecule development and QA/QC, particularly in supporting emerging therapies like CAR T-cells.
Bruker
Bruker has launched the timsOmni™ mass spectrometer, a breakthrough platform that enables fast, high-sensitivity sequencing and structural analysis of functional proteoforms with unprecedented depth. “Annotation confidence is the biggest problem in metabolomics,” explains Dr Frank Laukien, CEO of Bruker. “The timsOmni helps overcome this.”
Bruker also launched the timsMetabo™ mass spectrometer, delivering breakthrough sensitivity, separation, and annotation confidence for 4D-metabolomics and 4D-lipidomics. The system combines enhanced ion mobility (TIMS MoRE), high-speed MS/MS, and AI-ready digital metabolome archiving to drive faster, deeper small molecule analysis.
To further enhance the Bruker portfolio, the new timsUltra AIP delivers high-speed acquisition for large-scale proteomic studies, while the recently announced proteoElute™ offers streamlined enrichment for intact proteoform workflows. Together, these launches expand Bruker’s timsTOF ecosystem and support deeper insight into biological complexity.
Agilent
Agilent’s ASMS presence centered on intelligence and sustainability. A key launch was the InfinityLab™ Pro iQ Series LC/MS systems, small-footprint instruments designed for high-sensitivity analysis of small and large molecules. Indeed, these systems generated considerable buzz among attendees, which mirrored the reception the company has had from customers. “It’s a huge challenge to make smaller instruments—usually we have to make a sacrifice,” advises Shane Tichy, Associate Vice President of R&D at Agilent, adding that the InfinityLab™ Pro iQ Series has solved analytical challenges customers never thought they’d be able to address.
Agilent also announced new enhancements to its compact 8850 Gas Chromatograph, now fully compatible with single and triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry systems. This upgrade boosts the system’s ability to identify and quantify complex samples with high sensitivity and specificity—ideal for chemical, energy, food, environmental, and forensic labs.
Another company spotlight at ASMS was an updated version of its MassHunter™ software suite, which streamlines data acquisition, analysis, library management, and reporting for Agilent GC/MS and LC/MS systems. MassHunter Explorer 2.0 enables rapid non-targeted analysis with advanced statistics, while MassHunter Qualitative Analysis software supports robust compound identification and visualization for faster, deeper insights.
SCIEX
SCIEX introduced the ZenoTOF® 8600 system, combining breakthrough sensitivity with structural insight. Powered by innovations including the ZT Scan DIA™ 2.0 and the OptiFlow® Pro source, the system enables confident quantitation across complex omics, delivering up to 10x sensitivity gains and expanded coverage in lipidomics and metabolomics.
“Today, we expand the ZenoTOF portfolio to drive extraordinary discoveries to enhance biological insight,” reveals Chris Lock, VP of Global R&D at Sciex. “We want to provide new ways to acquire data, interpret data, and elevate the quality of data, all to make these discoveries possible.”
Software updates, including SCIEX OS™ 4.0, AI Quantitation, and MS-Dial and PEAKS Studio® integrations, underscore a move toward faster, more consistent data workflows. And a new partnership with Evosep extends standardized, high-throughput proteomics workflows, aimed at increasing access and performance across pharma and biotech labs.
Looking Ahead from ASMS 2025
As ASMS 2025 comes to a close for another year, one message is clear: mass spectrometry is gaining momentum. AI-powered analysis, modular systems, and user-centric design are transforming how laboratories address complex challenges.
This year’s innovations go beyond measurement, they deliver interpretation, speed, and clarity. New launches mark a shift toward precision tools that accelerate insight and discovery. From probing proteomes to identifying trace contaminants and advancing personalized medicine, the technologies unveiled push analytical performance to new heights.