Breaking the 2-dimensional sequencing barrier with ultra low-cost (<$10), fast 3D image-based sequencing

A huge variety and depth of applications in healthcare, basic research, and data storage could be brought to the market by highly efficient, ultra-high-throughput and ubiquitously available low-cost and accurate DNA sequencing. State-of-the-art next generation sequencing (NGS) is still too low-capacity and too expensive, at ~€200/genome, to serve this vast potential market in healthcare, research, and drug discovery, already estimated at over €20B. Single Technologies’ 3D sequencing is an imaging-based, massively parallel sequencing system that uniquely employs a hydrogel layer on a cylindrical surface to embed and sequence in 3 dimensions, not only DNA fragments, but also barcode-labelled RNAs, proteins, single cells, or whole tissues. Rather than being restricted to a small 2D flow-cell surface or tissue sections manually placed onto a slide, as in competitors’ systems, sample embedded in the spinning cylinder (a toroid) is imaged via a parallel array of 128 or 256 detectors that sweep across the large area and depth of the hydrogel. Sequencing-by-synthesis proceeds at unprecedented throughput, due to extremely fast, high-resolution confocal imaging. The open fluidics and reusability of Single’s platform greatly lowers costs by eliminating the most expensive and restrictive part of state-of-art NGS: the flow-cell. We have demonstrated sequencing quality of Q30—a standard in the field—and have collaborations ongoing using Single’s platform with SciLifeLab at Karolinska Institute, the Genome Institute of Singapore, and other consortia. Pharma, healthcare providers and large national genomics projects have also shown keen interest in our technology as potential customers. Commercialisation will proceed in 3-steps: 1) a central data production site for early adopters, on instruments in-house, followed by 2) revenue per data subscription on rented/leased instruments placed externally, finally overtaken by 3) a growing instrument sales + consumables revenue stream.