Almac expands Next Generation Sequencing capabilities through investment in new Illumina NovaSeq™ X Plus instrument

Almac Diagnostic Services, a member of the Almac Group, has announced investment to expand its Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) capabilities for BioPharma partners, following the purchase and installation of the first Illumina NovaSeq™ X Plus instrument in Northern Ireland and the whole island of Ireland.

This investment in the newest and most powerful instrument from Illumina enhances Almac’s NGS portfolio of DNA Sequencing Service offerings, including Whole Genome Sequencing, Whole Exome Sequencing and a range of RNA Sequencing Service offerings for Biomarker Discovery projects.

Adding the Illumina NovaSeq X Plus’s powerful processing capabilities to Almac’s existing range of NGS platform offerings will enable even larger sample runs, greater read depth, including both short and long-read sequencing and faster speeds. As a result, it will increase throughput, variant detection quality and accuracy, while reducing turnaround time and cost per sample for client biomarker research projects.

Michael Sloan, Global VP of Commercial Operations, Almac Diagnostic Services said: “Almac is at the cutting edge of NGS diagnostics. Investing in this new instrument further enhances our DNA and RNA panel offerings, opens the potential for further expansion of our NGS solutions for clients and significantly increases overall sequencing capacity, ensuring that Almac continues to play a leading role within precision medicine.”

Almac Group has committed to achieving net zero by 2045 and to reducing Scope one and Scope two emissions by 50 percent by 2030.  Illumina’s focus on sequencing sustainability to reduce impact on the environment aligns with this commitment.  The NovaSeq™ X Plus has 90 per cent less packaging weight and waste, new compact cartridges and packaging design and more recyclable plastics which helps to save on disposal costs and environmental impact.

“Almac has a record for excellence in precision medicine and we are delighted that as an important strategic partner, it’s taken delivery of the first NovaSeq™ X Plus instrument in Northern Ireland and Ireland and invested in this state-of-the-art technology to significantly expand its high-throughput sequencing capabilities,” said Mark Robinson, General Manager, UK and Ireland, Illumina. “With its new chemistry, the NovaSeq X series will enable, Almac, to maximise productivity and minimise turnaround time, with faster, more powerful, and more sustainable sequencing.”

Find out more about Almac’s range of Genomic Services.