Roche Unveils Revolutionary DNA Sequencing Technology

Roche, a leading pharmaceutical company, has announced a groundbreaking advancement in DNA sequencing technology. The new approach, dubbed "sequencing-by-expansion" (SBX), promises to overcome limitations of existing sequencing methods and potentially revolutionize genetic analysis in research and healthcare settings.

A Novel Approach to DNA Sequencing

Roche's SBX technology combines aspects of DNA synthesis and nanopore-based molecule reading to provide a clearer signal in molecular noise. The process begins by creating a complementary strand of DNA, with each base attached to a larger, loop-shaped molecule. The DNA backbone is then broken, allowing the loops to expand and unwind the helix to up to 50 times its original length.

This expansion process, which produces what Roche calls an "Xpandomer," enables each gene to be read with greater clarity. The amplified strand is then fed through nanopores, where changes in electrical voltage correspond to each letter of the genetic sequence.

Matt Sause, CEO of Roche Diagnostics, emphasized the significance of this breakthrough: "The science behind SBX technology represents a significant breakthrough that addresses the limitations of existing sequencing solutions. The speed and accuracy of SBX has the potential to revolutionise the use of sequencing in research and healthcare."

Advantages and Potential Applications

The SBX technology offers several advantages over current sequencing methods. It avoids the time requirements of cycle-based sequencing and addresses the difficulties in distinguishing true signals among noise. Mark Kokoris, head of SBX technology at Roche Diagnostics, highlighted the efficiency gains: "Solving the signal-to-noise challenge is a key efficiency driver for the technology. With this capability we can flexibly operate across a range of throughput scales using the same sequencing system, which provides a significant advantage to users."

While still in development, Roche envisions SBX being suitable for whole genome and exome sequencing, as well as RNA analysis. The company touts the technology as scalable and capable of handling both large and small projects, making it potentially valuable for research laboratories and clinical testing environments.

Looking Ahead

Roche's SBX technology is the result of two strategic acquisitions: Stratos Genomics in 2020, which invented the sequencing-by-expansion technology, and Genia Technologies in 2014, known for its massively parallel, single-molecule nanopore platform.

Although not yet commercially available, Roche has set an ambitious target for the technology's launch in 2026. As the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries continue to advance, Roche's SBX technology represents a significant step forward in the ongoing quest to make genetic sequencing faster, more accurate, and more accessible for a wide range of applications.