Qiagen N : Digital Insights launches ultra-fast NGS analysis able to process a whole genome in 25 minutes for a $1 in cloud computing costs

• New innovation set to change speed and cost of whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS)

• Removes key barriers in cost and speed for adopting WES and WGS screening

• Included in market-leading CLC analysis platform for cloud, server or desktop use

Redwood City, California, and Hilden, Germany, January 23, 2023 -- QIAGEN Digital Insights (QDI), the bioinformatics business of QIAGEN, today announced their enhanced QIAGEN CLC Genomics Workbench Premium that removes the data-analysis bottleneck of next-generation sequencing (NGS) by adding game-changing analysis speed to analyze and interpret whole genome sequencing (WGS), whole exome sequencing (WES) and large panel sequencing data.

The update to QIAGEN CLC Genomics Workbench Premium incorporates LightSpeed technology, a software accelerator that, at unprecedented speed, converts raw sequencing data in FASTQ files from any paired-end short read sequencing platform into interpretable lists of genetic variants in the VCF format. It can analyze an entire human genome at 34x coverage on an ordinary computer in just 25 minutes and a 50x whole exome in 90 seconds within standard cloud environments. With QIAGEN CLC LightSpeed technology, labs can run WGS analyses for about $1 per genome and WES for less than a few cents per exome using cloud infrastructure. Alternatively, labs can efficiently run the QIAGEN CLC LightSpeed technology on existing local hardware with similar performance.

"QIAGEN CLC Genomics Workbench Premium is much faster, more accurate, greener and cheaper than previous data-analysis and visualization solutions," said Dr. Jonathan Sheldon, Senior Vice President of QIAGEN Digital Insights. "Thanks to LightSpeed's ground-breaking technology, WGS analysis is extremely fast, beats most other FASTQ to VCF workflows on accuracy, uses less power and requires no investments in new hardware or software licenses beyond CLC."

QDI's investment in the LightSpeed technology is ideally suited to NGS areas such as neonatal screening for hereditary diseases or large population-genomics studies in which speed and cost are priorities. This enhancement in CLC Genomics secondary analysis software demonstrates QIAGEN's continued leadership and commitment to targeted growth areas, including WGS and WES.

"LightSpeed will allow QDI to maintain its leadership position in data analysis as the market moves away from analyzing a few hundred selected genes to comprehensive genetic testing," continued Jonathan Sheldon. "Its cost and time efficiency gives high-throughput NGS sequencing laboratories the chance to use the technology widely for clinical and research clients. The quicker unwanted mutations are spotted, the sooner associated diseases can be identified and treated."

QDI's licensing models enable laboratories to analyze WGS and WES samples in parallel. Their QIAGEN CLC Genomics Workbench Premium is a cost-saving, scalable solution that can analyze NGS data from any sequencing platform and runs locally, on a server or in the cloud.

Learn more about the LightSpeed technology now available from QIAGEN CLC Genomics Workbench Premium: https://digitalinsights.qiagen.com/news/blog/discovery/analyze-whole-genome-sequencing-samples-at-the-speed-of-light/

About QIAGEN Digital Insights

QIAGEN Digital Insights, the bioinformatics business of QIAGEN, is the leading provider of genomic and clinical knowledge, analysis and interpretation tools and services for scientists and clinicians. We have over 25 years of experience in the industry, 90,000 users worldwide, over 100,000 citations in scientific papers, more than 3 million profiled patient cases and over 40 billion scientific data points. Discover our portfolio of expertly curated genomic and clinical knowledge solutions as well as bioinformatics software and services for efficient data management, sharing and actionable insights.

About QIAGEN

QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands-based holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions that enable customers to gain valuable molecular insights from samples containing the building blocks of life. Our sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights. Automation solutions tie these together in seamless and cost-effective workflows. QIAGEN provides solutions to more than 500,000 customers around the world in Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare), Applied Testing (primarily forensics), Pharma (pharma and biotech companies) and Academia (life sciences research). As of June 30, 2022, QIAGEN employed more than 6,100 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at http://www.qiagen.com.