[Image from Illumina]
Illumina (Nasdaq:ILMN) announced last week that it launched its new NovaSeq X series of production-scale sequencers.
San Diego-based Illumina said its new sequencers “push the limits of what is possible with genomic medicine.” NovaSeq X and NovaSeq X Plus offer faster, more powerful and more sustainable sequencing. The latter can generate more than 20,000 whole genomes per year.
At a clip about 2.5 times the throughput of prior sequences, this accelerates genomic discover and clinical insights, Illumina said. The company redesigned every dimension of its sequencers with what it calls revolutionary new technology to increase speed, scale, accuracy and sustainability.
The company launched a fundamentally new sequencing by synthesis (SBS) chemistry. Formerly known as Chemistry X and now called XLEAP-SBS, it engineered it for twice the speed and up to three times better accuracy.
Illumina also developed its highest-resolution optics and ultra-high-density flow cells. Those deliver 2.5-times greater throughput while driving down sequencing costs. The company integrated its on-board DRAGEN Bio-IT with ORA compression for highly accurate and fully automated secondary analysis with five times lossless data compression.
Finally, the new sequencers feature the creation of 15 new thermostable reagents. These support ambient-temperature shipping, eliminating the need for dry ice and reducing waste.
Improved health for patients and the planet
The waste and environmental impact reduction reflects Illumina’s commitment to support the health of people and the planet, the company said. It features a 90% reduction in packaging waste and weight and 50% reduction in plastic usage compared to NovaSeq 6000. The enablement of ambient-temperature shipping of reagents will result in nearly 500 tons of dry ice savings per year, while significantly reducing waste streams, Illumina added.
“Illumina has been a pioneer in genomics for more than two decades, and with this new sequencer, we are reinventing the genomics industry once again. Today, we are forging a new path forward to advance more breakthroughs in cancer and genetic disease treatments, precision therapies, and pandemic preparedness,” said Francis deSouza, Illumina’s CEO. “Innovations like NovaSeq X are at the heart of how we will transform patient lives, and this groundbreaking technology will empower researchers, scientists, and clinicians in the fight to diagnose, treat – and eventually cure – disease while making genomics more sustainable and accessible to millions more people around the world.”