PacBio Announces Major Advances for Revio and Vega to Lower Genome Cost and Expand Multiomic Capabilities

Rhea-AI Summary

PacBio (NASDAQ: PACB) announced SPRQ-Nx chemistry and consumables for Revio and Vega to reduce HiFi genome sequencing costs and add multiomic and regulated‑lab features. PacBio says customers at scale could see up to a 40% cost reduction, bringing per‑genome costs to under $300, with beta testing on Revio beginning November 2025 and commercial availability in 2026. Beta participants can purchase 384 genomes of reagents at about $250 per genome.

Other upgrades include 5hmC epigenetic detection, faster Vega runs (2–4 hours), 21 CFR Part 11 authentication and audit logging, and long‑term support for Revio and Vega through 2032.

Positive

• Up to 40% sequence cost reduction to <$300 per genome
• Beta pricing: 384 genomes reagent bundle at ~$250 per genome
• 5hmC detection adds epigenetic multiomic capability
• 21 CFR Part 11 features enable regulated‑lab compliance
• Support commitment for Revio and Vega through 2032

Negative

• Full commercial availability not expected until 2026
• Cost savings conditional on scale; individual labs may not achieve 40% reduction

Insights

Genomics product strategy expert

Revio and Vega upgrades cut per‑genome costs and add multiomic features, improving scalability for large studies.

PacBio plans to ship new SPRQ‑Nx chemistry and consumables that it says enable multiple runs per SMRT Cell to lower costs while keeping output and accuracy; at scale customers could see up to a 40% reduction and per‑genome reagent pricing potentially under $300, with beta participants able to buy 384 genomes at about $250 per genome.

The changes affect the core business model by improving reagent efficiency and throughput, which should expand addressable demand for population genomics where sample numbers matter; the claimed economics rest entirely on successful multi‑run SMRT Cell operation without compromising HiFi quality.

Watch implementation and adoption over the next 6–18 months: beta testing starts in November 2025, full commercial availability is planned in 2026, and platform support is pledged through 2032. Key validation items to monitor are actual realized per‑genome cost at scale, maintained data accuracy, and throughput per instrument under SPRQ‑Nx.

Clinical and regulated‑labs integration expert

Vega additions target regulated research with 5hmC detection and 21 CFR Part 11 features, enabling clinical‑style workflows.

Vega will gain 5hmC epigenetic profiling and shorter two‑ and four‑hour run modes for targeted applications while integrating secure authentication and audit logging to support 21 CFR Part 11 compliance; SPRQ‑Nx will also be added to Vega in 2026.

These capabilities lower barriers for regulated labs to use long reads, but the practical impact depends on validated performance of 5hmC calls, the robustness of the compliance features, and any associated validation documentation; the announcement does not provide those validation details.

Concrete near‑term milestones to track include beta outcomes beginning November 2025, commercial availability in 2026, and the availability of validation guides and audit logs required for regulated use within the same commercial release window.

New SPRQ-Nx chemistry designed to deliver the most complete view of the genome for less than $300 at scale

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PacBio (NASDAQ: PACB), developer of the world's most advanced sequencing technologies, today announced innovations to its Revio and Vega platforms designed to lower sequencing costs, add new multiomic capabilities, and expand support for regulated research environments.

The advancements center on new SPRQ-Nx sequencing chemistry and consumables, which are designed to deliver PacBio’s most affordable HiFi genome to date. Customers operating at scale could see as much as a 40% reduction from current costs, down to a price of less than $300 per genome. Additional improvements include 5hmC detection for epigenetic profiling and 21 CFR Part 11 compliance features for Vega. These updates reflect PacBio’s continued investment in making its highly accurate long-read sequencing solutions accessible at scale for population genomics, clinical research, and production-scale environments.

Beta testing of SPRQ-Nx chemistry on the higher throughput Revio is expected to begin in November 2025, with full commercial availability planned in 2026. Beta participants will be able to purchase 384 genomes of sequencing reagents for approximately $250 per genome. At launch, Revio systems running SPRQ-Nx will produce complete, multiomic native long-read genomes at the lowest cost in the market. PacBio intends to achieve these cost savings by enabling multiple runs per SMRT Cell while maintaining output per run, which will improve efficiency, reduce waste, and preserve PacBio’s hallmark accuracy and data richness.

“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,” said Christian Henry, President and Chief Executive Officer of PacBio. “From early discussions with customers, we’re seeing funding for projects at a larger scale than we’ve seen in the past. Our new pricing will allow researchers to apply the richness of HiFi data to many applications requiring more genomes, especially those leveraging large sample numbers to build robust AI models.”

Vega, PacBio’s benchtop system, will integrate SPRQ-Nx chemistry and 5hmC detection capabilities in 2026. Vega will also add rapid two- and four-hour sequencing runs, designed for high-demand applications such as plasmid and targeted sequencing. These upgrades will include secure authentication and audit logging features to support 21 CFR Part 11 compliance for labs operating under regulated conditions.

“Long reads are essential for population genomics because they reveal variants, phasing, methylation, and complex regions that other methods often miss,” said Michael Schatz, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University. “With Revio’s multi-use SMRT Cells driving down sequencing costs, long-read data will be foundational to the next generation of population studies, enabling deeper discovery and greater representation across diverse populations.” With the increased demand for HiFi data in large-scale, multi-year population studies, PacBio plans to provide to long-term support for the Revio and Vega platforms through 2032.

Interested customers can register for early-access to SPRQ-Nx through PacBio’s updated Technology Page, or visit booth #919 at ASHG 2025 for more details.

For more information about PacBio, visit: https://www.pacb.com

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. 

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 uses, advantages, and benefits or expected uses, advantages or benefits of using, PacBio products or technologies; price, affordability and cost reductions; complete, multiomic genomes at the lowest cost native long-read genome in the market at launch for systems running SPRQ-Nx; expected dates and time frames of product and product feature availability; completeness of the genome and views thereof; expanded multiomic and epigenetic capabilities; regulatory compliance features; beta testing anticipated availability; efficiency; waste reduction; expected larger customer project scales and AI modeling; commitment to long-term product support through 2032; 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 commercializing new products; potential manufacturing, performance and quality issues; unexpected cost and tariff increases; regulatory requirements; and third-party claims alleging infringement of patents and proprietary rights or seeking to invalidate PacBio's patents or proprietary rights. 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.

Contacts

Investors:
Jim Gibson: jamesgibson@pacb.com or ir@pacificbiosciences.com

Media:
pr@pacificbiosciences.com

FAQ

What cost reduction did PacBio announce for Revio (PACB) with SPRQ‑Nx?

PacBio says SPRQ‑Nx can cut sequencing costs by up to 40%, targeting <$300 per genome at scale.

When will SPRQ‑Nx beta testing begin on Revio (PACB)?

Beta testing on Revio is expected to begin in November 2025.

How much will beta reagents cost per genome for PacBio (PACB)?

Beta participants can purchase a 384‑genome reagents bundle at about $250 per genome.

What new epigenetic capability will PacBio (PACB) add to Revio and Vega?

PacBio will add native long‑read 5hmC detection for epigenetic profiling.

What regulated‑lab features are being added to Vega (PACB)?

Vega will receive secure authentication and audit logging to support 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.

When will SPRQ‑Nx and Vega upgrades be commercially available for PacBio (PACB)?

PacBio plans full commercial availability in 2026, with Vega integrating SPRQ‑Nx and 5hmC in 2026.