Illumina Announces New Genomics Alliance, Software for Analyzing Genomic Data, Understanding Disease Molecules, More

Illumina, in collaboration with Nashville Biosciences, announced the five founding members of the Alliance for Genomic Discovery (AGD): AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Merck. The multiyear agreement aims to accelerate development of therapeutics through large-scale genomics and the establishment of a preeminent clinical genomic resource. The member organizations will co-fund the whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of 250,000 samples and have access to the resulting data for use in drug discovery and therapeutic development. Press release.   

Illumina announced the launch of the latest version of DRAGEN software for analysis of next-generation sequencing data. DRAGEN 4.2 expands accuracy combined with its flexibility and scalability to enable efficient workflows and extract meaningful insights from genomic data. Press release. 

The Allen Institute for Immunology will collaborate with Eli Lilly and Company to investigate and profile disease state diversity and biomarkers for drug response involving atopic dermatitis (eczema) and rheumatoid arthritis using Allen Institute-developed unique molecular tools and comprehensive bioinformatic analysis techniques. This collaboration will lead to more detailed, molecular understanding of disease, in service of developing new treatments and therapies to improve human health. Press release. 

Lifebit has launched partnerships with two population genomic initiatives in Mexico and Brazil to help diversify genomic research and reduce health inequality in Latin America. The use of Lifebit’s federated technology will allow researchers around the world to connect with and securely access genomic data held by gen-t (headquartered in Sao Paolo) and Omica.bio (based in Mexico City) in a secure and compliant manner. Press release. 

The Republic of Moldova has launched a Bioinformatics and Biotechnology Association. The Bioinformatics and Biotechnology Association is committed to introducing national and international initiatives and programs related to bioinformatics, genomics, and biomedical data. Additionally, it aims to facilitate access to cutting-edge technologies in biotechnology and bioinformatics while elevating the Republic of Moldova's role in research within this field. Press release. 

Arrayjet has partnered with Chemspace to augment and streamline the company’s small molecule microarray (SMM) service offering. Chemspace’s curated and deeply annotated compound libraries are now accessible through Arrayjet’s SMM CRO/CMO services for assay development, contract screening, and contract array manufacturing. Press release. 

BioIVT has acquired PrecisionMed, a leading supplier of high-quality human biological material for genetics, drug discovery, and biomarker research and in vitro diagnostics. PrecisionMed also has the largest private, global repository of longitudinally collected human CSF for scientific research, providing valuable information for further research. Press release. 

Scribe Therapeutics has expanded its collaboration with Sanofi. Under the agreement, Sanofi receives an exclusive license to use Scribe’s CRISPR X-Editing (XE) genome editing technologies for the development of in vivo therapies, including sickle cell disease. The agreement follows the launch of the companies’ existing collaboration focused on ex vivo editing of natural killer (NK) cell therapies for the treatment of cancer. Press release. 

Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics, a division of the Allen Institute, launched the world's first completely open- and crowd-sourced neuroscience experiment—inviting researchers from around the world to publicly design a shared experiment that will run on the Allen Brain Observatory, as part of the Institute's OpenScope program. Experiments will probe the dynamic functions of the brain and how cells interact and communicate to produce thoughts and actions and shed light on how we make complex decisions. The goal is to maximize impact by turning to the combined talent and insight of the broader international neuroscience community. The experiment that is chosen by the community will use two-photon imaging in behavioral tasks, as part of the OpenScope program's Allen Brain Observatory, to shed light into how the brain operates. Press release. 

Sinequa plans to develop AI capabilities using NVIDIA accelerated computing to transform the modern workplace. The collaboration enables organizations to use generative AI within an enterprise setting by pairing it with Sinequa’s Neural Search, which will fundamentally transform workflow and processes. The AI-based search capabilities combined with automated summaries will help engineering teams and service teams find answers and enhance their work. Press release. 

Boston Scientific has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the Vercise Neural Navigator 5 Software, which can provide clinicians with simple and actionable data for efficient programming in the treatment of people living with Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor. Press release. 

Clinisys announced the launch of Clinisys Laboratory Solutions, with four enhanced solutions spanning the Clinisys Environmental Laboratory, Clinisys Water Quality Laboratory, Clinical Toxicology Laboratory, and Clinisys Public Health Laboratory. Clinisys Laboratory Solutions are discipline-specific laboratory information management systems built upon the Clinisys Platform, a shared services architecture and data model for SaaS laboratory informatics. Press release.   

QIAGEN announced the launch of the QIAseq Normalizer Kits that give researchers a fast, convenient, and cost-effective method to pool different DNA libraries for best-quality results from next-generation sequencing (NGS) runs. Press release. 

Pioneer Group has announced a new partnership with King’s College London to launch new start-up incubators in biotech and medtech on the South Bank of London. The partnership will revitalize two sites on the South Bank of London to provide wet and dry laboratories, office, and co-working space, as well as access to critical equipment. Press release. 

Donaldson Company announced the acquisition of Univercells Technologies, a global producer of biomanufacturing solutions for cell and gene therapy research, development, and commercial manufacturing. Univercells Technologies’ product offering includes the scale-X single-use structured fixed-bed bioreactor for the intensified production of viruses used in cell and gene therapy, viral vaccines and other therapeutics. Press release. 

Synthetica Bio launched their company and new capital as part of its seed funding. Synthetica Bio is focused on meeting the accelerating demand to provide actionable knowledge to biopharma companies to drive drug development, clinical trials, and commercial activity in a safe and efficient manner. Synthetica Bio's venture funding was led by Virtue, with participation from AIX Ventures, Page One Ventures, and additional strategic investors. Proceeds from the financing will support development and expansion of the Synthetica Bio platform. Press release.   

Intus Biosciences has acquired Pattern Genomics, a developer of advanced genomic analysis software tools. This transaction was made possible with the support of Connecticut Innovations, an investor in both companies. The development enhances Intus Bio’s portfolio of end-to-end data-driven solutions for microbiome discovery and understanding. The company has a long history of collaboration with Pattern Genomics. Press release.