Roche launches the AXELIOS 1 Sequencer to compete with Illumina in next-generation genomics

GERMANY—Roche has unveiled Axelios 1, its new next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform designed to help researchers generate whole-genome sequencing results within hours, marking a significant expansion of the company’s genomics portfolio.

Powered by Roche’s proprietary sequencing by expansion (SBX) technology, the research-use-only system aims to overcome long-standing challenges related to speed, scalability, accuracy, and cost in genomic research workflows.

The company said Axelios 1 can support laboratories of different sizes, enabling scientists to customise workflows according to their research needs while handling both small studies and large-scale genomic projects on a single platform.

This flexibility is expected to help researchers investigate a broader range of diseases and biological questions without switching between multiple sequencing systems.

Unlike conventional sequencing technologies, Axelios 1 uses SBX chemistry to convert DNA or RNA molecules into enlarged surrogate polymers known as Xpandomers.

These molecules are then analysed using a sequencing instrument equipped with a reusable complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor containing millions of nanopores.

According to Roche, this approach generates clearer signals, enabling faster and highly accurate sequencing with near real-time analysis.

Collaborations strengthen research ecosystem

To support the platform’s commercial launch, Roche partnered with leading research organisations, including the Hartwig Medical Foundation and Broad Clinical Labs, which helped validate Axelios 1’s performance in real-world research settings.

The company has also collaborated with 10x Genomics to ensure compatibility with its single-cell and spatial application kits, while Google’s DeepVariant software and Roche’s open-source XOOS bioinformatics suite provide analysis support for SBX-generated data.

Matt Sause, CEO of Roche Diagnostics, said the new platform combines high accuracy with unprecedented speed, scalability and cost efficiency.

He noted that these capabilities could enable researchers to develop applications that were previously impractical because of technical or financial limitations.

 He added that the technology also has the potential to support future clinical applications and advance personalised healthcare, although Axelios 1 is currently intended exclusively for research use and not for diagnostic procedures.

The platform also offers an open architecture that allows researchers to integrate other life sciences tools into their workflows.

Roche said this design gives laboratories greater flexibility while simplifying sequencing operations across multiple research applications, including whole-genome sequencing, RNA sequencing and other emerging genomic techniques.

Recent developments expand Roche’s diagnostics portfolio

The launch comes as Roche continues to strengthen its molecular diagnostics capabilities. Earlier this month, the company announced the rapid development of a research-use-only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test capable of detecting the rare Ebola Bundibugyo virus.

Roche developed the assay within six days of the virus’s genome sequence becoming available, supporting surveillance and laboratory testing during the ongoing outbreak in Central and East Africa.

Roche also noted that sequencing remains one of the fastest-growing segments in life sciences, with the global market currently valued at approximately US$7.3 billion.

The company believes the introduction of Axelios 1 positions it to meet the growing demand for rapid, high-throughput sequencing technologies across genomics, oncology, infectious diseases and genetic research.