PacBio to launch new gene-sequencing systems

Pacific Biosciences of California

26/10/2022 03:45

By Deena Beasley
       Oct 25 (Reuters) - Gene-sequencing company Pacific
BioSciences of California Inc  PACB.O  on Tuesday announced the
launch of a new, more affordable, higher-throughput "long-read"
sequencer as well as customer testing of its first "short-read"
sequencer aimed at emerging markets such as multi-cancer early
detection.
    The Menlo, California-based company said its new Revio
long-read sequencing system, with a list price of $779,000,
offers a 15-fold increase in throughput, enabling customers to
sequence up to 1,300 human whole genomes per year for less than
$1,000 per genome. 
    PacBio said its trademark HiFi technology – used for large
studies in human genetics, cancer research, agricultural
genomics, and more – looks at 20,000 base pairs of DNA at a
time.
    "By being able to see more of the genome, you can uncover
more answers," PacBio Chief Executive Officer Christian Henry
told Reuters.
    The company is also entering the market for "short-read"
sequencing with external beta testing of its Onso system.
    Onso is expected to be available for ordering and shipping
in the first half of 2023, when it would compete with short-read
systems sold by sequencing giant Illumina Inc  ILMN.O .
    Illumina has been under fire from antitrust regulators in
the United States and Europe after moving ahead last year with
the $7.1 billion purchase of its former subsidiary Grail. Grail
and several other companies are developing tests, using
Illumina's sequencing systems, to detect cancer by looking for
fragments of cancer DNA in a patient's blood.
    "What you're looking for in those diagnostic tests are
needles in a haystack. You're trying to find that one mutated
piece of DNA that could be an indication of having early
cancer," Henry said. 
 (Reporting by Deena Beasley in Los Angeles
Editing by Matthew Lewis)
 ((deena.beasley@thomsonreuters.com; 213 955 6746; Reuters
Messaging: deena.beasley.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))