Fluidigm and Next Gen Diagnostics Enter into Agreement to Improve the Efficiency of Pathogen Sample Preparation for Microbial Whole Genome Sequencing

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and HINXTON, United Kingdom, March 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fluidigm Corporation (Nasdaq:FLDM), an industry leader in microfluidics technology, and Next Gen Diagnostics (NGD), a Wellcome Sanger Institute-based leader in the automation of pathogen bioinformatics, today announce an exclusive agreement that enables NGD to utilize the Fluidigm^® Juno™ system for pathogen whole genome sequencing (WGS) sample preparation. Under the terms of the agreement, Fluidigm will receive milestone payments starting in 2020 and additional revenue over five years.

Although whole genome sequencing provides unique power to accurately detect pathogen transmission, its widespread use in hospitals has been inherently limited by the overall cost per sample, as well as lack of automation and bioinformatic solutions to support the processing of high sample volumes.  

Providing extensive expertise in the analysis of pathogen DNA, NGD has selected industry-leading platforms to bring high-volume, low-cost pathogen sequencing to address the growing global hospital surveillance solutions market, estimated to be more than $400M per annum today. With the goal of expanding this market using whole genome sequencing, NGD has significantly reduced both the costs downstream of pathogen sequencing and time to results by automating bioinformatic analysis performed post-sequencing, from quality control to result generation and assessment. Using Fluidigm microfluidics technology, NGD plans to update its sample preparation workflow upstream of microbial sequencing in the third quarter of 2020 to further reduce running costs and accelerate market penetration.

“Our partnership with Fluidigm will allow NGD to offer low-cost and high-throughput WGS for widespread use in hospitals,” said Paul A. Rhodes, PhD, founder and CEO of NGD. “By combining the cost reductions enabled by NGD’s full bioinformatic automation with the Juno microfluidic sample preparation system, we can offer hospitals and public health laboratories the power of WGS at unprecedentedly low cost, enabling detection of pathogen transmission and surveillance of the spread of drug-resistant pathogens.”

The Fluidigm benchtop Juno microfluidic system enables up to 48 bacterial samples to be prepared for short-read sequencing with significantly lower sample and reagent volumes. Delivering significant savings in cost per sample, the Juno NGS library preparation workflow is being used by an increasing number of global service providers, significantly shortening hands-on time and conserving precious reagents for DNA and RNA sequencing applications.

“The worldwide struggle against emerging drug-resistant microbial pathogens requires new technologies and approaches,” said Chris Linthwaite, President and CEO of Fluidigm. “Supporting innovative partners such as NGD is a central part of our growth strategy. Our microfluidic technology is being adapted to meet a new market need and could make a major contribution to detecting these dangerous pathogens. We are excited about the work NGD is doing, and we see a bright future ahead for them.”

Next Gen Diagnostics

Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., and with a team based at the world-renowned Wellcome Sanger Institute outside Cambridge, UK, Next Gen Diagnostics has developed the world’s most complete automation of pathogen WGS bioinformatics and has combined that with a highly automated sample preparation and sequencing service to offer hospitals a unique turnkey capability: onsite, 24-hour WGS results to enable transmission detection and outbreak prevention and soon regulated diagnostics. Now deployed, validated and in clinical use, this system has already proven to detect transmission, and in partnership with hospital infection control teams, to prevent outbreaks. For more information, visit . 

About Fluidigm

Fluidigm (Nasdaq:FLDM) is an industry-leading biotechnology tools provider with a vision to improve life through comprehensive health insight. We focus on the most pressing needs in translational and clinical research, including cancer, immunology, and immunotherapy. Using proprietary CyTOF^® and microfluidics technologies, we develop, manufacture, and market multi-omic solutions to drive meaningful insights in health and disease, identify biomarkers to inform decisions, and accelerate the development of more effective therapies. Our customers are leading academic, government, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and plant and animal research laboratories worldwide. Together with them, we strive to increase the quality of life for all. For more information, visit 

Fluidigm, the Fluidigm logo, CyTOF, and Juno are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Fluidigm Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Fluidigm products are provided for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Forward-Looking Statements for Fluidigm

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding milestone payments and revenues under a contract, planned implementation of Fluidigm microfluidic products by a third party, and the anticipated benefits to customers of, and applications for, such products. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from currently anticipated results, including but not limited to risks relating to challenges inherent in developing, manufacturing, launching, marketing, and selling new products; uncertainties in contractual relationships; risks relating to company research and development, sales, marketing, and distribution plans and capabilities; reductions in research and development spending or changes in budget priorities by customers; interruptions or delays in the supply of components or materials for, or manufacturing of, Fluidigm products; seasonal variations in customer operations; potential product performance and quality issues; intellectual property risks; and competition. Information on these and additional risks and uncertainties and other information affecting Fluidigm business and operating results is contained in Fluidigm’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Fluidigm disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as may be required by law.

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Fluidigm

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