Illumina to Acquire SomaLogic in $425M Deal, Expanding Proteomics Capabilities

Illumina, a leader in DNA sequencing technology, has announced plans to acquire SomaLogic from Standard BioTools in a deal worth up to $425 million. The acquisition, expected to close in the first half of 2026, aims to bolster Illumina's presence in the expanding proteomics market and advance its multiomics strategy.

Deal Structure and Strategic Rationale

The agreement includes an upfront cash payment of $350 million, with additional performance-based milestones and royalties potentially adding up to $75 million. This strategic move builds upon a three-year partnership between Illumina and SomaLogic, positioning Illumina to enhance its multiomics offerings and strengthen the value proposition of its NovaSeq X product line.

Jacob Thaysen, CEO of Illumina, emphasized the significance of the acquisition, stating, "This combination increases our ability to serve our customers and accelerate our technology roadmap towards advanced biomarker discovery and disease profiling." Thaysen also assured that Illumina would remain an open NGS platform, maintaining existing proteomics partnerships and supporting various multiomics solutions.

Impact on Standard BioTools and SomaLogic Operations

For Standard BioTools, which acquired SomaLogic just 18 months ago, the sale represents a successful turnaround of the business. Michael Egholm, CEO of Standard BioTools, highlighted the improvements made to SomaLogic's operations and strategic positioning during their ownership. The transaction will allow Standard BioTools to simplify its operating structure and focus on its genomic profiling solutions while aiming to break even financially.

As part of the deal, Standard BioTools will retain commercialization rights to certain Single SOMAmer Reagents, which can be used in various research workflows. SomaLogic's workforce of approximately 250 employees worldwide, along with its Boulder, Colorado facilities—including lab, office, and manufacturing space—will be transferred to Illumina.

Implications for Proteomics Research and Industry Landscape

The acquisition signifies Illumina's commitment to expanding its capabilities beyond DNA sequencing into the realm of proteomics. SomaLogic's protein analysis platforms and certified lab services business are expected to complement Illumina's existing technologies, particularly enhancing the utility of the NovaSeq X sequencing systems.

The integration of SomaLogic's SomaScan technology with Illumina's sequencing platforms has already begun to bear fruit. The Illumina Protein Prep, a result of their previous collaboration, is currently being used by early-access customers and is slated for broader release in the third quarter of this year.

Illumina projects that the SomaLogic business will become profitable by 2027, underlining the long-term strategic value of this acquisition in the rapidly evolving field of multiomics research and personalized medicine.