Plasmidsaurus collaboration and contract expansion

Oxford Nanopore and Plasmidsaurus announce collaboration and multi-year, multi-million dollar contract expansion

Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc (LSE: ONT) ("Oxford Nanopore"), the company delivering a new generation of nanopore-based molecular sensing technology, and Plasmidsaurus, the LA-based company that introduced overnight whole-plasmid sequencing, today announce a new strategic collaboration to advance plasmid sequencing beyond legacy methods, and an expanded multi-year, multi-million dollar global contract.

Plasmidsaurus' whole-plasmid sequencing is used by researchers and industry professionals around the world for a broad spectrum of applications, from basic research to industrial applications, gene therapy, vaccine development, genetic engineering and more. Its sequencing capabilities are based on Oxford Nanopore's real-time, long-read sequencing technology, which has enabled Plasmidsaurus to set new standards for quality and speed, delivering overnight results and richer datasets that unlock more accurate, comprehensive, and reliable insights.

The extension of the existing contract will see the collaboration continue to take share of a fast-growing estimated $1.5B market opportunity in synthetic biology as nanopore-based sequencing continues to displace traditional methods, such as Sanger, for plasmid sequencing. Founded in 2021, Plasmidsaurus has since opened nine labs in three countries and is expanding its global network of 660 dropboxes and labs in key biotech hubs, including new locations in the US, Europe, and Asia. Plasmidsaurus became an Oxford Nanopore customer in 2021.

As strategic collaborators going forward, Oxford Nanopore and Plasmidsaurus also intend to co-develop new technologies, reagents, and applications beyond plasmid sequencing, including microbial and gene therapy use cases, to best meet evolving market needs, providing further market share opportunities.

Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore commented:

"By collaborating with Plasmidsaurus, we are advancing the fields of synthetic biology and biotechnology through the unique capabilities of nanopore technology that are not possible with legacy methods. Our joint efforts will drive significant market growth and deliver best-in-class sequencing services to a global audience."

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