Company Announcements

WuXi NextCODE announced in October a long-term partnership with Sidra Medical and Research Center, the genomics and informatics hub for the Qatar Genome Project, to provide and codevelop research and bioinformatics programs.

DNAnexus integrated its DNAnexus cloud genomics software with QIAGEN’s Ingenuity Variant Analysis platform.

South Korea–based Celemics, a provider of target enrichment methods and NGS sample preparation, launched commercial operations in the US to serve North America.

Product Introductions

NuGEN Technologies launched in October the Ovation Target Enrichment System Data Processing Application on Illumina’s BaseSpace Cloud.

Maverix Biomics released the RNA-Seq 3.0 gene expression analysis kit for differential expression in eukaryotes, featuring support for more organisms.

SeraCare Life Sciences launched the Seraseq Solid Tumor Mutation Mix-I (AF1-10), its second in a line of reference materials for NGS, offering five additional allele frequencies.

ArcherDx introduced the Archer Comprehensive Thyroid and Lung Assay for detection of gene fusions, point mutations, RNA abundance and CNVs.

New England Biolabs launched the NEBNext Ultra II DNA Library Prep Kit for Illumina systems. It accommodates as little as 500 pg of input DNA.

BGI launched in China the BGISEQ-500 desktop sequencing system. Based on Complete Genomics technology, it integrates automated sample preparation and data analysis. It can achieve 16 sequencing modes with output of 8–200 Gb.

China-based Direct Genomics introduced the GenoCare Analyzer, a single molecule sequencer, designed exclusively for the clinic and requiring only DNA fragmentation. It is based on total internal reflectance microscopy. It is now available to early access users.

Sales/Orders of Note

In October, Genome England selected the LabKey Service open source platform to provide integrated data management solutions for its 100,000 Genomes Project.

Sequence Bioinformatics and the government of Newfoundland and Labrador selected Genospace’s Population Analytics platform to support a precision medicine initiative involving 100,000 participants.

Genomics plc entered into a collaboration agreement with Oxford University and the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for the analysis and interpretation of up to 500 genomes focusing on rare diseases and cancer.