Profile: Helicos BioSciences Corporation (HLCS.O)

Helicos BioSciences Corporation (Helicos), incorporated in May 2003, is a life sciences company focused on genetic analysis technologies for the research, drug discovery and clinical diagnostics markets. Helicos has developed a technology, called the True Single Molecule Sequencing (tSMS) technology, to facilitate the rapid analysis of large quantities of genetic material by directly sequencing single molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or single DNA copies of ribonucleic acid (RNA). The Company's Helicos Genetic Analysis Platform obtains sequencing information by repetitively performing a cycle of biochemical reactions on individual DNA molecules and imaging the results after each cycle. It consists of an instrument called the HeliScope Single Molecule Sequencer, an image analysis computer tower called the HeliScope Analysis Engine, associated reagents, which are chemicals used in the sequencing process, and disposable supplies. The system could provide scientists and clinicians with the capability to compare genes and genomes from thousands of individuals.

True Single Molecule Sequencing Technology

The tSMS technology allows the simultaneous sequencing of strands of single DNA molecules. The first step of this single molecule sequencing approach is to cut, or shear, a sample of DNA into relatively small fragments. The double helix of each fragment is then separated into its two complementary strands. Each strand is used as a template for synthesis of a new complementary strand. This is accomplished through a series of biochemical reactions, in which each of the four bases are successively introduced. If the introduced base is complementary to the next base in the template, it will be added to the new strand. Each of the added bases is tagged with a fluorescent dye, which is illuminated, imaged and then removed. The sequence of each new DNA strand is determined by collating the images of the illuminated bases from each cycle of highly specific incorporation and imaging. The raw sequencing data is then analyzed by computer algorithms.

Helicos Genetic Analysis Platform

The Helicos Genetic Analysis System is the instrument component of the Helicos Genetic Analysis Platform which consists of three key components. The HeliScope Single Molecule Sequencer performs the tSMS chemistry and directly analyzes images of single molecules, producing accurate sequences of billions of templates at a time. It consists of a high-speed mechanical stage and a laser illumination subsystem, an image acquisition subsystem, a fluid handling subsystem and computer subsystems that control and analyze the sequencing reactions. The HeliScope Analysis Engine provides computing power for near real-time image analysis and on-board data storage. The on-board data storage is appropriately sized to support two complete runs. The tool operates downstream from the HeliScope Sequencer in the data pipeline. The HeliScope Sample Loader speeds the loading of samples into the Helicos flow cells. It provides 25 discreet loading ports to ensure proper separation of samples and ease of loading.

The Company's Helicos Genetic Analysis System also includes Helicos tSMS Kits. These are application specific reagent kits for sequencing that consists of formulations of a DNA polymerase enzyme, Helicos' fluorescently tagged bases, imaging reagent, a formulation of a cleavage reagent and application specific flow cells that have surface coating with the chemical and optical properties needed for single molecule sequencing.

The biochemical sequencing reactions that occur in the HeliScope Sequencer involve the use of a formulation of a DNA polymerase enzyme, fluorescently tagged bases and imaging reagents. Helicos has developed nucleotide triphosphates, called Virtual Terminator Nucleotides that allows the addition of only one base at a time to each DNA strand. The Company's imaging reagents improve the stability of its fluorescent tags and increase their brightness. The cleavage reagents are used to remove the fluorescent tags from the Virtual Terminators.

The HeliScope Single Molecule Sequencer is designed to perform sequencing reactions inside two glass flow cells. The system alternates between the flow cells, performing sequencing reactions in one flow cell while recording images from the other. Each flow cell has an active area of about 16 square centimeters and contains 25 separate channels. The Company's flow cells are designed to allow researchers to sequence separate samples in each channel, which will enable the simultaneous sequencing of at least 50 different DNA samples. The initial version of the flow cell is designed to permit binding of DNA strands at an average density of approximately 100 million strands of DNA per square centimeter, equaling an average of approximately 2.8 billion strands of DNA for both flow cells.

Helicos competes with Applied Biosystems, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Illumina, Inc., Complete Genomics, Inc., Roche Applied Science, Genizon BioSciences, Genovoxx, Intelligent Bio-Systems, Lucigen, Microchip Biotechnologies, Pacific Biosciences, Shimadzu Biotech, and ZS Genetics, Affymetrix, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Applera Corporation, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Life Technologies, Inc., Affymetrix, Inc.and Illumina, Inc.