Element Biosciences chose Seoul to open a global roadshow, showing off a new benchtop sequencer and a single-cell platform in front of the Korean research institutions its biggest shareholder wants to reach. Chosunbiz and The Korea Herald both covered the October 20 event.
VITARI is the sequencer. Element says it hits 99.99% accuracy, processes more than five times the data of its existing instruments per run, and pushes whole-genome analysis toward roughly $100 per person. It is available for pre-order with shipments due by the end of the year, and it runs whole-genome work for rare disease research, cancer gene analysis and single-cell RNA studies.
Cytos is the complementary piece, reading morphology, protein expression and RNA expression from the same cell. Element expects the platform to find work in drug development and in cancer and immunology research where researchers want to watch a cell change before and after treatment.
The Seoul stop is not incidental. Samsung Electronics became Element’s largest shareholder in June with a $175M Series E investment, on top of earlier participation, and is hunting for precision medicine opportunities that combine the sequencer with its own AI, device and digital health businesses.
Chief executive Molly He and chief technology officer Michael Previte presented in person. Researchers from Samsung Medical Center’s genomic institute, KAIST, Yonsei University College of Medicine, the University of Tokyo and Queensland University of Technology joined to share cases.
The roadshow continues in San Diego, Boston, Munich and Stockholm.
