Roche/IBM collaboration
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Firms will collaborate to develop a nanopore-based DNA sequencing system, according to a July 1 announcement. The system will be based on IBM technology that allows "true single molecule sequencing by decoding molecules of DNA as they are threaded through a nanometer-sized pore in a silicon chip"; this approach "holds the promise of significant advantages in cost, throughput, scalability, and speed" compared to currently available systems, the companies claim. Sequencing can provide individual genetic information necessary for effectively diagnosing diseases and providing personalized treatments, Roche notes. The IBM technology, to be marketed by Roche, could allow whole human genome sequencing for as little as $100, the companies claim