San Diego’s Illumina is the world leader in gene sequencing technology — the ability to read and record DNA. Now, the billion-dollar company is buying another in a bid to expand its portfolio in protein science.
On Friday, Illumina acquired SomaLogic for $350 million, with the possibility to earn an additional $75 million tied to milestones and royalties.
SomaLogic, based in Boulder, Colo., is a leader in protein lab tests, and Illumina, which announced the deal in June, aims to scale that science and lower lab costs.
Protein, please
Protein has gone viral, but molecular protein is a little different than what’s in your shake.
Think of it like this: DNA is the body’s manual and protein is the “worker” carrying out its instructions.
While Illumina has the lion’s share of studying and manufacturing these manuals, SomaLogic is a major player in proteomics.
The company is known for SomaScans, a lab test that can measure thousands of proteins to tell you what is happening in the body.
These protein tests have the potential to lead to scientific breakthroughs in cancer treatments, antibiotics and vaccines.
“We envision a future where this technology is utilized in everyday care as precision medicine becomes reality,” said Todd Christian, senior vice president of services, arrays and genomic access at Illumina. “SomaScan enables researchers to better understand the causes of disease and potential targets for new therapies.”
Democratizing biological blueprints
“As one company, we’ll leverage highly complementary capabilities that will deliver biological insights at scale to help our customers accelerate drug discovery and development of precision medicines for patients,” Christian told the Union-Tribune.
Scale being the key word. For years, Illumina had said that it would democratize DNA labs, thereby customizing treatment and accelerating drug discovery.
In 2022, Illumina said it aimed to bring genomic sequencing in labs down to $200 per run with its NovaSeq X.
Sequencing hundreds of genomes at once lowers costs and reduces the time and resources needed to produce answers that matter for human health.
Now, Illumina says it is applying that same large-scale approach to protein analysis.
Illumina had been utilizing SomaLogic’s technologies through its own Illumina Protein Prep for more than three years. Now, it owns SomaScan.
The acquisition will bring an Illumina office to Colorado, as the purchase includes SomaLogic’s 250 employees and the Boulder facilities, which include a lab, office and manufacturing space.
“SomaLogic’s technology paired with Illumina’s multiomics capabilities will provide deep insights into how proteins function and interact, helping to accelerate understanding of complex biology and human health,” said Christian.