PacBio and Covaris Announce Joint Workflow Enabling HiFi Long-Read Sequencing of FFPE Tumor Samples

Rhea-AI Summary

PacBio (NASDAQ: PACB) and Covaris announced a joint extraction-to-library workflow enabling HiFi long-read sequencing from FFPE tumor samples, integrating Covaris truXTRAC FFPE extraction with PacBio Kinnex library prep and Revio sequencing.

In studies across brain, kidney and uterine tumors the workflow produced >100 million HiFi reads per sample, mean read lengths of 750–1,500 bp, >11,000 structural variants and ~5 million small variants per sample, with ~60% of variants phased into haplotypes.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Positive

• >100 million HiFi reads produced per sample in reported tumor studies
• >11,000 structural variants detected per sample, expanding SV discovery versus short reads
• ~60% direct phasing of variants into haplotypes, improving variant context
• Up to 5,000 bp DNA fragments recovered from FFPE using truXTRAC extraction

Negative

• Mean read lengths 750–1,500 bp remain below the 5,000 bp extraction maximum, indicating residual fragmentation
• Small variant counts similar to short-read sequencing, offering limited advantage for small-variant detection

News Market Reaction – PACB

+1.91%

1 alert

+1.91% News Effect

On the day this news was published, PACB gained 1.91%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Recovered fragment length: up to 5,000 base pairs HiFi reads per sample: more than 100 million reads Mean read length: 750–1,500 base pairs +4 more

7 metrics

Recovered fragment length up to 5,000 base pairs DNA fragments recovered from FFPE tissues using truXTRAC FFPE extraction

HiFi reads per sample more than 100 million reads HiFi sequencing output from FFPE tumor samples

Mean read length 750–1,500 base pairs HiFi read length range in FFPE tumor sequencing studies

Structural variants detected over 11,000 per sample Structural variants detected by the Covaris–PacBio FFPE workflow

Small variants detected more than 5 million per sample Small variant calls enabled by HiFi sequencing of FFPE tumors

Phased variants approximately 60% Proportion of variants phased into haplotypes with HiFi FFPE workflow

Short-read SV yield 3,000–7,000 per sample Typical structural variants detected using short-read FFPE sequencing

Market Reality Check

Price: $1.4900 Vol: Volume 6,187,339 is 1.1x ...

normal vol

$1.4900 Last Close

Volume Volume 6,187,339 is 1.1x the 20-day average of 5,628,687, indicating increased interest around this announcement. normal

Technical Price at 1.569 is trading below the 200-day MA of 1.67, despite today’s gain.

Peers on Argus

PACB is up 8.28%, while peers show modest, mixed moves: DCTH +3.62%, RXST +2.54%...

PACB is up 8.28%, while peers show modest, mixed moves: DCTH +3.62%, RXST +2.54%, CTKB +0.87%, SRDX +0.26%, and SENS -1.03%. With no peers in the momentum scanner, the move appears stock-specific.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 18 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Mar 18	HiFi data collaboration	Positive	-3.6%	Basecamp Research selected PacBio HiFi sequencing for Trillion Gene Atlas project.
Mar 05	Board appointment	Positive	-2.6%	AI-focused executive Christopher Gibson joined the Board to support data strategy.
Feb 24	HiFi dataset launch	Positive	+5.1%	DNAstack partnership launched global federated HiFi whole-genome dataset for rare disease.
Feb 18	Conference participation	Neutral	+3.1%	Management joined TD Cowen health care conference with a webcasted fireside chat.
Feb 12	Earnings report	Neutral	-7.1%	Q4/FY 2025 results showed revenue growth, better margins, but a large GAAP net loss.

Pattern Detected

Recent positive strategic and collaboration news has often seen mixed or negative next-day price reactions, making today’s positive move a partial break from that pattern.

Recent Company History

Over the past six months, PacBio has reported multiple ecosystem-building initiatives and corporate developments. Key items included the Feb 12, 2026 earnings report with revenue growth but a large GAAP net loss, several large-scale HiFi data collaborations (DNAstack, Basecamp Research), and participation in a major health care conference. Governance changes added AI-focused expertise to the board. Compared with those partnership-focused updates, today’s Covaris workflow news continues the theme of expanding HiFi long-read applications, particularly in oncology and archived clinical samples.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf

Shelf Active

Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2026-02-25

An effective Form S-3ASR shelf dated Feb 25, 2026 allows PacBio to offer various securities over time, with specific terms and proceeds to be detailed in future prospectus supplements. The filing also covers potential resales by selling stockholders, from which PacBio would not receive proceeds.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement showcases a joint PacBio–Covaris workflow that unlocks FFPE tumor archives for HiF...

Analysis

This announcement showcases a joint PacBio–Covaris workflow that unlocks FFPE tumor archives for HiFi long-read sequencing, yielding more than 100 million reads and over 11,000 structural variants per sample with about 60% phasing. It fits a broader pattern of PacBio building data-rich ecosystems around HiFi technology. Investors may watch how widely this is adopted in oncology research, how it complements prior collaborations, and any future use of the existing Form S-3ASR shelf registration.

Key Terms

formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (ffpe), long-read sequencing, short-read sequencing, structural variants, +4 more

8 terms

formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (ffpe) medical

"robust HiFi sequencing of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples."

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) describes a common laboratory method for preserving tissue samples by first hardening them with a formaldehyde solution and then encasing them in wax. Like freezing a piece of fruit to keep it from spoiling, FFPE keeps cellular structures intact so tests can be run later; for investors, FFPE matters because it is the standard sample type used in diagnostic tests, pathology reports, and biomarker research that drive clinical decisions, regulatory approvals, and market demand for medical products.

long-read sequencing technical

"limited their compatibility with long-read sequencing."

Long-read sequencing is a laboratory method that reads much longer stretches of DNA at once than older approaches, giving a clearer, more continuous picture of a genome—like reading whole sentences instead of just chopped-up words. For investors, it matters because it can improve accuracy of genetic tests, speed up drug research, reduce costly follow-up testing, and create competitive advantages for companies that develop or use the technology in diagnostics and therapeutics.

short-read sequencing technical

"By comparison, short-read sequencing of FFPE tissue typically detects 3,000–7,000 structural variants"

A laboratory method that reads DNA or RNA in many short fragments and stitches those pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle to determine the full genetic sequence. For investors, it matters because this approach is typically faster and cheaper than alternatives, shaping product costs, throughput and clinical utility; its strengths and limits (for example, missing large-scale rearrangements) affect revenue potential, competitive advantage and technical risk for life‑science companies.

structural variants medical

"The data enabled detection of over 11,000 structural variants and more than 5 million small variants"

Structural variants are large-scale changes in an organism’s DNA—such as missing, extra, flipped, or rearranged chunks of genetic material—that are like tearing out, duplicating, or reshuffling chapters in a book. Investors should care because these changes can drive or explain diseases, alter how well diagnostics and therapies work, and shift the commercial and regulatory outlook for drugs, tests, and gene-based treatments.

haplotypes medical

"with approximately 60% phased into haplotypes."

A haplotype is a group of specific DNA variants that tend to be inherited together on the same chromosome, like a block of neighboring houses that usually pass from one generation to the next as a package. Investors follow haplotypes because they can predict how populations will respond to drugs, how reliably a genetic test can identify disease risk, and how valuable a biotech’s precision‑medicine or diagnostic product might be in different patient groups.

adaptive focused acoustics technical

"Covaris’ Adaptive Focused Acoustics® (AFA)-based truXTRAC FFPE extraction method"

Adaptive focused acoustics is a laboratory technology that uses precisely shaped and timed sound waves to target and process biological samples—for example breaking up cells, shearing DNA, or mixing liquids—while automatically adjusting energy and focus for consistent results. For investors, it matters because the method can speed up workflows, reduce waste and variability, and enable scalable, automated sample processing that affects product value, lab throughput and potential adoption by research or clinical customers.

somatic mutation phasing medical

"enabling comprehensive genomic profiling, including structural variant detection and somatic mutation phasing."

Somatic mutation phasing is the process of determining whether two or more DNA changes that arise in body cells (not inherited) sit on the same copy of a gene or on different copies. Think of it like checking whether two typos are written on the same printed page or on two separate copies of a recipe; that location changes how the cell behaves and how a drug may work. For investors, phasing affects how reliably a therapy or diagnostic will target a disease and can influence clinical outlook and commercial value.

hi-fi sequencing technical

"enabling researchers to generate high-quality HiFi sequencing data from archived tumor samples."

Hi-fi sequencing (high-fidelity sequencing) is a DNA/RNA reading method that produces long, highly accurate genetic reads by repeatedly sampling the same molecule and combining those reads into a single low-error result. Like replacing a blurry photo with a sharp one, it uncovers genetic details that simpler tests miss, improving diagnostic confidence, speeding research, and reducing costly false leads—factors that can affect product value, regulatory risk, and revenue for companies in genomics and diagnostics.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

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New extraction-to-library prep workflow enables highly accurate long-read sequencing from archived clinical samples, expanding opportunities in cancer research

MENLO PARK, Calif. and WOBURN, Mass., April 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PacBio (NASDAQ: PACB), a leading developer of high-quality, highly accurate sequencing solutions, and Covaris, a PerkinElmer company and leader in sample preparation technologies, today announced a joint workflow has been developed for robust HiFi sequencing of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. The protocol will be formally presented at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting. This solution integrates Covaris’ truXTRAC^® FFPE extraction technology with PacBio’s Kinnex™ library preparation and sequencing on the Revio system, delivering a streamlined workflow from sample to sequencing.

FFPE samples are among the most abundant and clinically relevant sources of biological material, particularly in oncology research. However, DNA damage and fragmentation caused by fixation have historically limited their compatibility with long-read sequencing. The combined Covaris–PacBio workflow is designed to help address these challenges, enabling researchers to generate high-quality HiFi sequencing data from archived tumor samples.

The workflow leverages Covaris’ Adaptive Focused Acoustics^® (AFA)-based truXTRAC FFPE extraction method to recover longer DNA fragments, up to 5,000 base pairs, from FFPE tissues. PacBio’s Kinnex library preparation concatenates these fragments into longer molecules suitable for HiFi sequencing, improving efficiency and data quality.

In studies across brain, kidney, and uterine tumor samples, the workflow produced more than 100 million HiFi reads per sample, with mean read lengths of 750–1,500 base pairs. The data enabled detection of over 11,000 structural variants and more than 5 million small variants per sample, with approximately 60% phased into haplotypes. By comparison, short-read sequencing of FFPE tissue typically detects 3,000–7,000 structural variants per sample, less than half the yield achieved here, due to limitations in spanning complex rearrangements and repetitive regions. Notably, while short-read approaches produce comparable small variant counts, their shorter read lengths generally limit the ability to directly phase variants into haplotypes, often requiring statistical inference or specialized library methods. As a result, the approximately 60% direct phasing achieved with this workflow represents a distinctive and potentially clinically meaningful advantage of long-read HiFi sequencing.

“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing genomic research through innovative, integrated solutions,” said Annemarie Watson, CEO of Covaris. “By combining our proven AFA-based extraction technology with PacBio’s sequencing expertise, we are enabling researchers to unlock valuable insights from even the most challenging FFPE samples, helping accelerate discoveries in cancer biology and beyond.”

“What’s so exciting about this workflow is that it opens up vast archives of banked samples for HiFi sequencing on the Revio and Vega systems,” said Dave Miller, Vice President of Global Marketing at PacBio. “With SPRQ-Nx enabling a significantly lower cost per genome, clinical researchers can revisit these samples to uncover structural variation, phase mutations, and resolve complex genomic regions that have remained out of reach with short-read sequencing, ultimately accelerating progress in oncology.”

The combined workflow demonstrates consistent performance across diverse tissue types and varying DNA quality, enabling comprehensive genomic profiling, including structural variant detection and somatic mutation phasing. By unlocking FFPE samples for HiFi sequencing, PacBio and Covaris are helping transform underutilized archives into powerful datasets: enriching the context and scale of data available for AI-driven discovery and enabling new biological findings that were previously out of reach.

About PacBio

PacBio (NASDAQ: PACB) is a premier life science technology company that designs, develops, and manufactures advanced sequencing solutions to help scientists and clinical researchers resolve genetically complex problems. Our products and technologies, which include our HiFi long-read sequencing, address solutions across a broad set of research applications including human germline sequencing, plant and animal sciences, infectious disease and microbiology, oncology, and other emerging applications. For more information, please visit www.pacb.com and follow @PacBio.

PacBio products are provided for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

About Covaris, LLC

Covaris, a PerkinElmer company, develops, manufactures, and markets instruments, consumables, and reagents used in pre-analytical sample preparation for genomic and proteomic analysis to help accelerate the pace of research and life science innovations. Using proprietary technologies including focused acoustic energy, Covaris’ tools achieve highly accurate and reproducible results with the goal of empowering customers to make new discoveries, develop new assays and improve bioanalytical results. Some of the non-contact applications include faster automated DNA fragmentation, cell lysis, accelerated binding partner mixing, bead resuspension, and compound formulation. Additional information about Covaris, LLC is available at www.covaris.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the availability, uses, accuracy, advantages, quality or performance of, or benefits of using, or expected benefits of using, PacBio products or technologies, including in connection with the FFPE extraction workflow using Covaris’ truXTRAC technology and PacBio’s Kinnex library preparation technology to, among other things, address challenges in recovering longer DNA fragments from FFPE samples; enabling researchers to gain insights from the large number of banked FFEP samples, including from those that have less than desirable DNA quality, and accelerate discoveries in cancer and other areas; resolving complex genomic regions from FFPE samples that are out of reach using short-read technologies; enriching the context and scale of data available for AI-driven discovery and enabling new biological findings that were previously out of reach; and other future events. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they are subject to assumptions, risks, and uncertainties and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from currently anticipated results, including, challenges inherent in sequencing a large number of genomes from FFPE samples, the difficulty of generating discoveries in new areas of research or with respect AI model training; potential product performance and quality issues; rapidly changing technologies and extensive competition in, and potential FDA regulatory issues relating to, genomic sequencing; unanticipated increases in costs or expenses; interruptions or delays in the supply of components or materials for, or manufacturing of, PacBio products and products under development; third-party claims alleging infringement of patents and proprietary rights or seeking to invalidate PacBio's patents or proprietary rights, among others. Additional factors that could materially affect actual results can be found in PacBio's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including PacBio's most recent reports on Forms 8-K, 10-K, and 10-Q, and include those listed under the caption "Risk Factors." These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof; except as required by law, PacBio disclaims any obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available.

Media Contact:

PacBio:
Investors: ir@pacb.com
Media: pr@pacb.com

Covaris: Markus Leutert
VP, Corporate Communications & Sustainability
markus.leutert@perkinelmer.com

FAQ

What does the PacBio–Covaris FFPE workflow enable for PACB investors and researchers?

It enables HiFi long-read sequencing of archived FFPE tumor samples, unlocking large biobank potential. According to PacBio, the joint workflow integrates truXTRAC extraction with Kinnex library prep and Revio sequencing to generate high-quality HiFi data from challenging FFPE material.

How many reads and variant calls did the PACB workflow produce in the reported tumor studies?

The workflow produced more than 100 million HiFi reads and extensive variant calls per sample. According to PacBio, studies reported >100M HiFi reads, >11,000 structural variants and ~5 million small variants per sample with ~60% phased.

What read lengths can researchers expect from PacBio's FFPE workflow using truXTRAC and Kinnex?

Reported mean HiFi read lengths ranged from 750 to 1,500 base pairs in the study samples. According to Covaris and PacBio, truXTRAC can recover DNA fragments up to 5,000 base pairs, which are concatenated by Kinnex for sequencing.

How does the PACB long-read FFPE workflow compare to short-read sequencing for structural variant detection?

The long-read workflow detects substantially more structural variants than short reads, improving discovery in complex regions. According to PacBio, long reads found >11,000 SVs per sample versus ~3,000–7,000 SVs typically found by short-read FFPE sequencing.

Will the PacBio–Covaris workflow reduce sequencing costs for clinical-scale FFPE studies (PACB)?

The announcement indicates potential cost improvements for HiFi genomes via SPRQ-Nx, lowering per-genome cost for clinical research. According to PacBio, SPRQ-Nx enables a significantly lower cost per genome to facilitate revisiting archived samples at scale.