Profile: Illumina, Inc. (ILMN.O)

Illumina, Inc., incorporated on April 28, 1998, is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of integrated systems for the large-scale analysis of genetic variation and biological function. The Company provides a comprehensive line of products and services that serve the sequencing, genotyping and gene expression markets. It also, develops and commercializes sequencing technologies used to perform a range of analyses, including whole genome re-sequencing, gene expression analysis and small ribonucleic acid (RNA) analysis. Its customers include genomic research centers, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, clinical research organizations and biotechnology companies. The Company operates in two business segments: Life Sciences and Diagnostics. On August 1, 2008, the Company acquired Avantome, Inc. The Company’s subsidiary is Solexa, Inc.

Technologies

The Company’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing technology is based on the use of its sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS) biochemistry. It is applied on microscopic islands of DNA, referred to as DNA clusters. Large numbers of clusters are sequenced simultaneously by alternate cycles of SBS biochemistry and fluorescent imaging. Its BeadArray technology combines microscopic beads and a substrate in a manufacturing process to produce arrays that perform many assays simultaneously, enabling large-scale analysis of genetic variation and biological function. VeraCode technology platform leverages the power of digital holographic codes to provide a robust detection method for multiplex assays. Each VeraCode bead type is inscribed with a digital holographic code to designate and track the specific analyte or genotype of interest throughout the multiplex reaction. It helps to serve markets, which include research, agriculture, forensics, pharmaceuticals and molecular diagnostics.

The Company’s products are: instumentation and consumables. The products range in instrumentation includes Genome Analyzer II, which is an instrument for high-throughput sequencing using Illumina sequencing by synthesis technology; iScan System, is a high resolution imaging instrument to scan its BeadArray based assays, and BeadXpress Reader, is a low- to mid-multiplex, high-throughput instrument for readout of assays deployed on VeraCode bead technology. The products range in Consumables includes Standard Sequencing Kit, which are reagents used for sequencing by synthesis chemistry on the Genome Analyzer; Paired-End Genomic DNA Sample Prep Kit, is a streamlined library preparation kit to generate 200 - 500 kb insert paired-end reads; InfiniumHD Whole-Genome BeadChips, is a multi-sample DNA Analysis microarrays that interrogate up to 1.2 million markers per sample; iSelect Custom Genotyping BeadChips, is a customer designable SNP genotyping arrays for 6,000 to 200,000 markers for use with any species, and Whole-Genome Gene Expression BeadChips, is a multi-sample expression profiling arrays with up-to-date content for human, mouse and rat.

Services

The Company offers sequencing services on its Genome Analyzers, which ranges from small sets of samples to large-scale projects, like whole-genome sequencing, necessitating multiple instruments running in parallel for extended periods of time. The applications offered include re-sequencing, de novo sequencing, small RNA discovery and profiling, gene expression using tag based or using random primed RNA sampling technology, ChIP SEQ and methylome interrogation.

The Company offers FastTrack Genotyping Services, which includes genotyping products, including standard and custom GoldenGate, standard Infinium and Infinium HD, as well as iSelect Infinium. The projects range from a few hundred samples to over 10,000 samples. Its customer base includes academic institutions, and biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

The Company competes with Affymetrix, Agilent, Beckman Coulter, Complete Genomics, Fluidigm, GE Corp., Life Technologies, Luminex, Pacific Biosciences, Roche Diagnostics, and Sequenom.