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Ultima Genomics Launches UG 100 Solaris

Ultima Genomics, a pioneering company in ultra-high-throughput sequencing technology, has unveiled the UG 100 Solaris at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) Conference on February 24, 2025. This revolutionary product is designed to enhance the sequencing capabilities of the UG 100 platform by over 50%, significantly reducing costs by 20% to $0.24 per million reads. This groundbreaking development is a crucial step toward making genomic sequencing more accessible and affordable.

Enhancements and Features

The launch of UG 100 Solaris introduces new chemistry, software, and simplified workflows aimed at maximizing efficiency. With an impressive output of 10 to 12 billion reads per wafer, this new model also boasts an advanced 5X sensitivity improvement for the SNVQ60 ppmSeq™ mode. This enhancement allows for 30X coverage using as little as 2 nanograms of DNA, which is one-fifth of the circulating free DNA typically found in a standard blood sample.

For those seeking high-throughput solutions, the Early Access program for UG 100 Solaris Boost has also been announced. This new operating mode permits up to 100 billion reads per day, making it suitable for a variety of short-read applications.

Major Impact on the Genomics Field

The UG 100 Solaris is expected to address significant challenges faced in the current genomic sequencing landscape. Gilad Almogy, founder and CEO of Ultima Genomics, highlighted the importance of this new technology in lowering the cost of sequencing while simultaneously increasing throughput. He stresses that it represents the scalability potential of their innovative architecture, marking a step towards a future where genomic data generation is not only efficient but also budget-friendly.

Various institutions have already begun to see the benefits of the UG 100 Solaris through initial deployments. For instance, the University of Minnesota Genomics Center reported a transformative impact from the new system, stating that the cost associated with whole-genome sequencing is now significantly lower than previously experienced with sequence capture. Kenny Beckman, the center's director, expressed that 30X sequencing for model organisms like Drosophila now costs only a few dollars, allowing genome editing features to be leveraged more freely in research.

Similarly, the Broad Institute has reported a notable increase in output thanks to the Solaris chemistry, which will enable them to undertake new large-scale projects with a much lower cost barrier. Stacey Gabriel of the Broad Institute emphasized the importance of affordable reads for their community, which is crucial for enabling large-scale data generation.

The Regeneron Genetics Center also affirmed the significance of high throughput in its sequencing operations, with Vice President John Overton noting plans to utilize the new technology in upcoming projects, including the UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project. This project aims to generate one of the most comprehensive proteomics datasets in existence.

Future Prospects and Aspirations

The UG 100 Solaris marks a substantial advancement in the capabilities of genomic technologies, enabling biotechnological advancements through its ability to produce vast datasets rapidly. Vevo Therapeutics, using Tahoe-100, has already acknowledged the transformative potential of this technology, contributing to the largest single-cell transcriptomic dataset, which facilitates their unique drug discovery engine.

With this launch, Ultima Genomics continues its trajectory in revolutionizing the field of genomics, driving the demand for extensive genomic data and addressing the complexities of biological research. The innovations embedded in the UG 100 Solaris are poised to contribute to a new era of genomic exploration and understanding.

For more information about Ultima Genomics and their state-of-the-art sequencing solutions, visit www.ultimagenomics.com.