DNAnexus’ cloud-based approach to DNA sequencing

Mountain View, California-based DNANexus operates a cloud-based data analysis platform.

The company’s cloud-based analytics platform is aimed at conducting research into genomics and other big data pursuits, with a collaborative environment facilitating the combination and analysis of real-world and clinical data.

The company’s customers include significant numbers of the largest diagnostics and pharmaceuticals organisations. DNAnexus said its customers use 10 million core processing hours a month, storing 28 petabytes of data - a number up 70% yearly for the past four years.

Since its foundation in 2009, the company has accrued $272.6mn in funding. Its latest Series G, announced earlier this month, saw the company receive $100mn from lead investors Perceptive Advisors and Northpond Ventures, alongside TPG Biotech, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, GV, Foresite Capital and First Round Capital.

In a press release, Sam Chawla of Perceptive Advisors, said: “DNAnexus has changed how global diagnostics and biomedical R&D markets manage their data and infrastructures. We are impressed with the velocity of DNAnexus’ growth, the breadth of its customers and partners, and the company’s dedication to innovation and technology. It couldn’t be clearer that the integration of clinical and genomic data is driving Precision Medicine, and DNAnexus is leading this space.”

The company said the funds would be used to expand into clinical diagnostics, alongside supporting the platform.

“This financing drives advancement of our data science technologies benefiting our rapidly growing customer base,” said Richard Daly, Chief Executive Officer at DNAnexus. “The next wave of biomedical insights and treatments will be driven by large-scale clinical, multi-omics, and real world data resulting from cross-institutional collaborations. Our customers have continued to grow during the current COVID-19 epidemic using the virtual cloud workspace we provide. The trend toward cloud-based data analysis and collaboration is accelerating, and we are at the right place at the right time to future-proof and serve our customers.”