SPRQ-Nx chemistry for Revio and Vega platforms is designed to reduce sequencing expenses by up to 40% while adding multiomic capabilities.
PacBio announced innovations to its Revio and Vega sequencing platforms designed to lower costs and expand multiomic capabilities, with new chemistry targeting genome sequencing for less than $300 at scale.
The advancements center on new SPRQ-Nx sequencing chemistry and consumables, which could deliver up to 40% cost reduction from current pricing for customers operating at scale. The technology enables multiple runs per SMRT Cell while maintaining output per run to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
Beta testing of SPRQ-Nx chemistry on the Revio platform is expected to begin in November 2025, with full commercial availability planned for 2026. Beta participants will be able to purchase 384 genomes of sequencing reagents for approximately $250 per genome.
“With lower sequencing costs, deeper biological insights, and new capabilities for clinical research and production-scale labs, we are delivering on our goal to make HiFi sequencing accessible for every genome and every lab,” says Christian Henry, president and chief executive officer of PacBio, in a release. “From early discussions with customers, we’re seeing funding for projects at a larger scale than we’ve seen in the past.”
Enhanced Capabilities for Regulated Environments
The updates include 5hmC detection for epigenetic profiling and 21 CFR Part 11 compliance features for the Vega benchtop system. Vega will integrate SPRQ-Nx chemistry and 5hmC detection capabilities in 2026, along with rapid two- and four-hour sequencing runs designed for applications such as plasmid and targeted sequencing.
The compliance features include secure authentication and audit logging to support labs operating under regulated conditions. PacBio plans to provide long-term support for both platforms through 2032.
“Long reads are essential for population genomics because they reveal variants, phasing, methylation, and complex regions that other methods often miss,” says Michael Schatz, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University, in a release. “With Revio’s multi-use SMRT Cells driving down sequencing costs, long-read data will be foundational to the next generation of population studies.”
Market Positioning and Applications
The cost reductions target population genomics, clinical research, and production-scale environments. Henry noted increased customer interest in larger-scale projects, particularly those leveraging sample numbers to build AI models.
At launch, Revio systems running SPRQ-Nx are designed to produce native long-read genomes at what PacBio characterizes as the lowest cost in the market. The technology maintains the company’s accuracy standards while expanding data richness through multiomic capabilities.
Customers can register for early access to SPRQ-Nx through PacBio’s website. The company is demonstrating the technology at the American Society of Human Genetics 2025 meeting.
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