Bionano Genomics Announces the Kick-Off of its Next-Generation Cytogenomics Symposium, The Largest Event Yet to Showcase Saphyr’s Utility in Genome Analysis for Genetic Disease and Cancer
Bionano Genomics (BNGO) announced its 5-day Next-Generation Cytogenomics Symposium starting January 11, featuring 33 presentations from Saphyr users at leading medical institutions. The event will spotlight applications of optical genome mapping (OGM) for analyzing genetic diseases and blood cancers, alongside studies validating clinical assays. Notably, a session will focus on COVID-19 related genome studies. CEO Erik Holmlin emphasized Saphyr's capability to detect structural variants that traditional methods overlook, potentially increasing diagnostic yields.
- The symposium showcases 33 presentations from distinguished Saphyr users, enhancing Bionano's visibility in the genomics field.
- Saphyr's ability to detect clinically relevant structural variants could position it as a new standard in genetic disease diagnosis.
- The effectiveness and adoption of Saphyr remain uncertain and face competition from existing methods.
- Dependence on future data presentations may not guarantee immediate market acceptance.
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionano Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BNGO) announced the kick-off its 5-day Next-Generation Cytogenomics Symposium, which starts Monday January 11 and will feature 33 presentations by distinguished Saphyr users from leading hospitals and medical research institutions around the world. The presentations will cover applications of optical genome mapping (OGM) with Saphyr to analyze the genomes of patients with a variety of genetic diseases, blood cancers, solid tumors and repeat disorders as well as the studies supporting validation of clinical assays developed by Saphyr users. The last day of the symposium is dedicated to the study of the genomes of severely ill COVID-19 patients. The event is being held virtually and concludes on January 15, 2021.
Alka Chaubey, FACMG, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of Bionano Genomics commented: “I joined Bionano Genomics in August of 2020 because I believed that Saphyr was finally ready to transform the way genomes are analyzed in cancer and genetic disease. I quickly realized that the research and clinical communities were not sufficiently aware of Saphyr’s capabilities as an informative tool for detecting structural variants of clinical significance. We created this symposium as part of our efforts to change that. I believe this event will be a turning point for Bionano Genomics as we demonstrate the remarkable capabilities of OGM with Saphyr and how it has the potential to become a standard platform in the pathologist’s and researcher’s armamentarium.”
Erik Holmlin, PhD, CEO of Bionano Genomics commented: “Over the last year we’ve made tremendous progress in advancing the capabilities of Saphyr to detect the various classes of large genomic variants that are relevant in cancer and genetic disease with high throughput and low cost in a simple workflow. Important recent data will be presented at our symposium, which we believe demonstrates that Saphyr can detect all clinically reported structural variants identified by traditional cytogenetic methods, which short-read or long-read sequencing technologies have not been able to do. In addition to its equivalency to the methods that are standard of care, presenters will illustrate how OGM with Saphyr finds additional variants missed by the traditional methods, which has led to diagnosing more patients and an increase in diagnostic yield. We are excited to show the global community how Saphyr enables next-generation cytogenomics.”
Each session will last about 2.5 hours and start at 7 am PST. After the scientific presentations, the speakers will join for a live panel discussion and Q&A moderated by Bionano’s Chief Medical Officer Alka Chaubey. After conclusion of the live event, the recordings will be made available for on-demand viewing.
Monday, January 11: Constitutional Cytogenetics
This session starts with a presentation on the clinical validation studies of Saphyr compared to the standard of care cytogenetics for constitutional genetic disease and prenatal testing. Additional speakers show how Saphyr can find pathogenic variants undetected by traditional methods for a variety of genetic diseases and disorders of sex development.
Tuesday, January 12: Heme Malignancy
Eight speakers from around the world will present results from their studies comparing Saphyr with the cytogenetic standard of care for genome analysis of a variety of heme malignancies including MDS, adult and pediatric B-ALL, and CLL leukemias, ending with the presentation of results from a large national multi-center evaluation on Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Wednesday, January 13: Solid Tumor
In this session, speakers will discuss their analysis of solid tumor genome structure in head and neck cancer, non-inflammatory and inflammatory breast cancer, liver cancer, uveal melanoma, ending with an update on the development of a cancer LDT with Saphyr.
Thursday, January 14: Complex Molecular Diagnostics
This session returns to genetic diseases with a focus on repeat expansions and contractions and other complex molecular mechanisms. Hear how Saphyr’s ultra-long DNA molecule imaging can measure repeat contractions causing FSHD, repeat expansions causing spinocerebellar ataxia and familial adult myoclonic epilepsy, and can potentially solve other genetic mysteries.
Friday, January 15: Covid-19 Host Genome SV Expert Panel Session
Key members of the COVID-19 Host Genome SV Consortium will present how they are using Saphyr and other genomics technologies to detect structural variants in the human genome that can predispose to mild or severe COVID-19 disease. Speakers will present on their study of 37 critically ill, ICU-admitted patients, on children with MIS-C, on comparative genomics of SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptible animals and people, and more.
The full schedule of speakers and registration access is available at http://bit.ly/3pLPT28
About Bionano Genomics
Bionano is a genome analysis company providing tools and services based on its Saphyr system to scientists and clinicians conducting genetic research and patient testing and providing diagnostic testing for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disabilities through its Lineagen business. Bionano’s Saphyr system is a research use only platform for ultra-sensitive and ultra-specific structural variation detection that enables researchers and clinicians to accelerate the search for new diagnostics and therapeutic targets and to streamline the study of changes in chromosomes, which is known as cytogenetics. The Saphyr system is comprised of an instrument, chip consumables, reagents and a suite of data analysis tools, and genome analysis services to provide access to data generated by the Saphyr system for researchers who prefer not to adopt the Saphyr system in their labs. Lineagen has been providing genetic testing services to families and their healthcare providers for over nine years and has performed over 65,000 tests for those with neurodevelopmental concerns. For more information, visit www.bionanogenomics.com or www.lineagen.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes and are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: the timing and content of the presentations identified in this press release; the effectiveness and utility of Bionano’s technology in basic genetic research and clinical settings, and in the contexts and applications contemplated by the presentations identified in this press release; adoption of Saphyr as a standard platform in research and pathology settings; and the execution of Bionano’s strategy. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include the risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the global economy; general market conditions; changes in the competitive landscape and the introduction of competitive products; changes in our strategic and commercial plans; our ability to obtain sufficient financing to fund our strategic plans and commercialization efforts; the ability of medical and research institutions to obtain funding to support adoption or continued use of our technologies; the loss of key members of management and our commercial team; and the risks and uncertainties associated with our business and financial condition in general, including the risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in other filings subsequently made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management's assumptions and estimates as of such date. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise.
CONTACTS
Company Contact:
Erik Holmlin, CEO
Bionano Genomics, Inc.
+1 (858) 888-7610
eholmlin@bionanogenomics.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Ashley R. Robinson
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
+1 (617) 430-7577
arr@lifesciadvisors.com
Media Contact:
Darren Opland, PhD
LifeSci Communications
+1 (617) 733-7668
darren@lifescicomms.com
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