Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) today announced a new price of $19,500 for its individual genome sequencing service. In addition, the company announced a price of $14,500 per genome for groups of five or more participants using the same physician. Individuals with serious medical conditions for whom whole-genome sequencing could provide potential direct clinical value will be eligible for special pricing of $9,500 per genome. In all cases, the service requires individuals to follow Illumina's physician-mediated process, which involves pre-service consultation, consent, and a seven-day cooling off period, with final genome data returned to the physician.
“We are very excited to be able to offer improved pricing for our individual genome sequencing service, as technological advancements continue to drive down costs”
"We are very excited to be able to offer improved pricing for our individual genome sequencing service, as technological advancements continue to drive down costs," said Jay Flatley, president and chief executive officer of Illumina. "We are also pleased to be able to offer special pricing programs that will serve to further increase access to individual genome sequencing. If we can stimulate the generation of more individual whole-genome sequences and the comparison of those sequences to the public databases being populated by academia, the content of the databases can be enriched and the entire field accelerated."
Illumina also announced its intention to create the World Genome Registry, a web-based resource for those who have been sequenced to record the date they were sequenced, at what coverage and with which technology platform. This web site will serve to keep the consumer genetics community updated on the current global numbers and status of individual whole-genome human sequences being generated. The company intends to create this resource and then turn it over to the community once it is established.
A world leader in genotyping, gene expression and whole-genome sequencing, Illumina launched its individual genome sequencing service in June 2009. The service is built around physician-patient consultation, with a physician's order required to initiate the process. Sequencing is performed in Illumina's CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory, following a rigorous process that focuses on physician involvement, patient privacy and data quality. More information about Illumina's individual genome sequencing service and process can be found at https://www.illumina.com/.