MENLO PARK, Calif., April 27, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc., (Nasdaq:PACB) provider of the PacBio® RS II Sequencing System, today announced the introduction of several new solutions for targeted sequencing applications.The company has introduced a new workflow that combines Roche NimbleGen’s SeqCap EZ enrichment technology with large DNA fragments (up to 6 kb) and PacBio’s Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT®) Sequencing to provide a more comprehensive view of variants, transgene integration sites, and haplotype information over multi-kilobase contiguous regions. The long fragments capture haplotype information that provide a more inclusive view of the targeted region of interest, allowing a comprehensive look at variants in exons, introns and intergenic regions, as well as generation of accurate haplotypes.In a recent study by Richard Gibbs and colleagues from Baylor College of Medicine, this new enrichment method was used for de novo sequencing and detection of structural variation involved in human genetic disease. The study, titled “PacBio-LITS: a large-insert targeted sequencing method for characterization of human disease-associated chromosomal structural variations,” was published in BMC Genomics.1“The use of NimbleGen Sequence Capture technology to enrich large DNA molecules for targeted sequencing on the PacBio platform leverages the advanced capabilities of both systems to achieve unprecedented efficiency for targeted genetic phasing and structural variant elucidation,” said Rebecca Selzer, Ph.D., President, Roche NimbleGen (Madison, Wisconsin). “The ability to focus SMRT Sequencing onto discrete regions of interest within a genome demonstrates that the technical advantages inherent in long, single molecule sequencing can be part of a higher-throughput analysis strategy.”PacBio also announced the launch of two multiplexing workflows and associated products for barcoding samples prior to running on SMRT Cells. The new barcoding kits allow customers to pool many samples and thus reduce the cost per sample and the total time for sample preparation. By employing the barcoding strategies, researchers can efficiently focus on even more defined genomic regions. And by barcoding samples, researchers have the flexibility to multiplex samples or targets within a sample or a combination of both.Kevin Corcoran, Senior Vice President of Market Development for Pacific Biosciences commented: “With the combined PacBio/Roche NimbleGen solution we have demonstrated very efficient capture and sequencing that provides uniform coverage over multi-kilobase regions of the genome. The new barcoding methods allow a greater numbers of samples to be studied simultaneously and also improve the efficiency of SMRT Sequencing, by increasing SMRT Cell sample capacity and streamlining the workflow.”For more information, visit http://pacificbiosciences.com/applications/target/ for target enrichment and http://pacificbiosciences.com/products/consumables/reagents/ for barcoding methods.For Research Use Only. Not for diagnostic purposes.1Wang et al. (2015) PacBio-LITS: a large-insert targeted sequencing method for characterization of human disease-associated chromosomal structural variations. BMC Genomics.About Pacific Biosciences Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. (Nasdaq:PACB) offers the PacBio® RS II Sequencing System to help scientists resolve genetically complex problems. Based on its novel Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT®) technology, the company’s products enable: de novo genome assembly to finish genomes in order to more fully identify, annotate and decipher genomic structures; full-length transcript analysis to improve annotations in reference genomes, characterize alternatively spliced isoforms in important gene families, and find novel genes; targeted sequencing to more comprehensively characterize genetic variations; and DNA base modification identification to help characterize epigenetic regulation and DNA damage. Our technology provides the industry’s highest consensus accuracy over the longest read lengths in combination with the ability to detect real-time kinetic information. The PacBio RS II System, including consumables and software, provides a simple, fast, end-to-end workflow for SMRT Sequencing. More information is available at www.pacb.com.Forward Looking StatementsAll statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements, including, among other things, statements relating to future uses and performance of the Company’s products and other future events. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and could materially affect actual results. Factors that could materially affect actual results can be found in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent reports on Forms 8-K, 10-K, and 10-Q, and include those listed under the caption “Risk Factors.” The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.For Pacific Biosciences:
Media:
Nicole Litchfield
415.793.6468
nicole@bioscribe.com
Investors:
Trevin Rard
650.521.8450
ir@pacificbiosciences.com