BioPharma

Illumina embarks on its own next-gen journey

With a new tumor profiling panel, Illumina continues its transformation from a research tools provider to a genetic healthcare company.

blood sample in test tube with DNA code

Illumina makes next-generation sequencers. That is its thing.

But in a few years, the biotech darling of San Diego, California, hopes to have advanced beyond that label, rounding out its product and service offerings with sophisticated diagnostics and clinically-validated tools.

On Monday the company reinforced that mission with the launch of a new tumor profiling panel, TruSight Tumor 170, which it calls a robust and scalable platform geared towards the future of cancer research and care.

According to Illumina Vice President of Oncology John Leite, the aim now is to rapidly advance and standardize the technology hand-in-hand with cancer researchers.

“The idea was to design a panel that incorporated the content needed for that next-generation of companion diagnostics,” Leite said in a phone interview. “To develop a tool for translational researchers now and then with an eye to develop clinical solutions for the future, based on this platform.”

According to Leite, TruSight is a ‘homegrown’ initiative that has been in the works for several years. The panel draws on the detection strengths of both RNA and DNA enrichment workflows, capturing a wide array of  genetic aberrations relevant to tumor analyses.

It’s also very scalable. As the name suggests, TruSight 170 can analyze 170 genes in parallel, far beyond what is possible with traditional amplification or multiplex methods. 

Illumina’s new panel walks the fine line that new CEO Francis deSouza needs to master, expanding into new markets without cannibalizing its bread and butter business of next-generation sequencers.

The approach may be best exemplified through its reluctance to market next-generation sequencing services, which would compete with many of its largest customers.

Illumina offers some NGS services, but it also created a network of certified service providers that it endorses for outsourced genomics work. This maintains a market for companies such as China’s BGI, which purchased 128 Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencers in 2010, for around $500,000 apiece.

With the new tumor profiling platform, the company was equally careful not to step on toes.

According to Leite, a handful biotechs are developing “hybrid capture platforms” that combine both RNA and DNA, but none have invested to the same degree in a single solution.

“We’re really developing these solutions with a sustainability plan that takes the most extreme and rigorous market conditions and regulatory conditions into mind,” Leite said. “There weren’t too many other companies that were willing to take on that level of investment. If there had been, we’d be happy to license or partner.”

At $625 a piece, TruSight is largely aimed at industry scientists. Customers can use existing software packages, third-party platforms, or an Illumina application that will be made available on the company’s cloud computing hub, BaseSpace.

Leite said TruSight’s availability as a research tool is an early invitation to become accustomed to this platform. 

“What we’re hoping is that it will drive standardization of panel analysis in the market,” Leite said, adding that there are clear efficiency and productivity benefits to the market being on a single standard. 

Through this, Illumina will begin to grow its diagnostic options.

“It’s just asserting what’s been our goal and strategy now for the last few years, which is to fully transform ourselves from a research tools provider into a full genetic healthcare company,” Leite said.

At least one thing will stay the same: it appears the ‘next-generation’ tagline will make it through the transformation.

Photo: jxfzsy, Getty Images

Correction: An earlier version of this story quoted the cost of BGI’s 2010 sequencer purchase as $1.58 billion, which was its total credit line, not the cost of the instruments. 

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