By mid-January 2021, the U.K., South Africa and Brazil had confirmed that “variants of concern” were driving massive surges in COVID-19 cases in their countries. Once alerted, other nations found these troubling strains rapidly multiplying within their populations as well. At the time, the world had reported 90 million cases, creating abundant opportunities for the coronavirus to mutate. Of those cases, the virus in just 360,000 had been sequenced – and nearly all of them from just a handful of countries.

Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc. (PGDx) secured $103 million in a series C fundraising round led by Cowen Healthcare Investments and other stars of the med-tech investment world. Participants included Northpond Ventures, Vensana Capital, Rock Springs Capital, Kern Capital, Sands Capital, PFM Health Sciences, Windham Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Innovatus Capital Partners, Catalio Capital Management, and others.

Patient-centered predictive health company Sema4 said Wednesday it has inked a merger agreement with CM Life Sciences, a special purpose acquisition company led by Casdin Capital and Corvex Management. Upon closing, CM Life Sciences will be renamed and its common stock listed on the Nasdaq global market under a name and ticker symbol yet to be announced.

Preventive medicine hasn’t always had the backing of hard data, but research into genomics at the U.S. National Institutes of Health may soon change that.

Preventive medicine hasn’t always had the backing of hard data, but research into genomics at the U.S. National Institutes of Health may soon change that. Evan Eichler of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute said on a recent NIH webinar that phased genome assembly may allow medical science to efficiently treat diseases caused by genetic disorders, but will also enable preventive medicine, the holy grail of those who seek to restrain the ever-increasing cost of medical care.

Illumina Inc. and Sequoia Capital China are collaborating to launch a startup ecosystem in China. The Sequoia Capital China Intelligent Healthcare Genomics Incubator, Powered by Illumina, will support life sciences startup companies in the field of genomics. Illumina for Startups will offer sequencing systems and reagents, lab space in China, and expertise. Sequoia Capital China will provide investment and business guidance.

Helix Opco LLC, a company specializing in population genomics, has received de novo marketing authorization from the U.S. FDA for its whole exome sequencing platform, which covers roughly 20,000 genes. The San Mateo, Calif.-based company also picked up 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the first test to run on the Helix Laboratory Platform, a genetic health risk application for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. That test has been cleared for over-the-counter use in conjunction with the Helix Laboratory Platform.

PERTH, Australia – Australia is employing some new genomic tools to help identify SARS-CoV-2 infections and track them within communities. Illumina Inc. and the University of Melbourne have partnered to establish the Illumina-University of Melbourne Genomics Hub – a first for the Asia-Pacific region – which will bring together the best of genomic expertise and technology in Australia.

PERTH, Australia – Australia is employing some new genomic tools to help identify SARS-CoV-2 infections and track them within communities. Illumina Inc. and the University of Melbourne have partnered to establish the Illumina-University of Melbourne Genomics Hub – a first for the Asia-Pacific region – which will bring together the best of genomic expertise and technology in Australia.

LONDON – Clinical genomics specialist Congenica Ltd. has raised $50 million in a series C round that will enable it to extend beyond its roots in rare disease diagnosis to personalized medicine in cancer, and health and wellness, while expanding its geographical reach.