Alliance for Genomic Discovery expands with Regeneron Genetics Center membership and new proteomics data offering
Dataset grows to more than 312,000 whole genomes with longitudinal clinical data
GSK is one of the first to lead a further expansion of 50,000 whole genomes paired with proteomic data
The AGD dataset is among the largest collections of whole genome sequences available, and it is the world's largest pairing of whole genome sequences with the depth of clinical data that comes from a leading academic medical center. De-identified, deep phenotypic data from electronic health records (EHR) enables more precise definition of disease cohorts and are enriched for advanced disease.
"AGD has already enabled disease-impacting discoveries in autoimmune disease and obesity, with many more such studies underway, and continued expansion accelerates this progress," said
RGC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Regeneron, harnesses the vast potential of human genetics to discover important new medicines, validate existing research programs, and optimize clinical trials. With a database of nearly 3 million sequenced exomes and de-identified EHRs, RGC enables meaningful biological discoveries and guides Regeneron's broader drug discovery and development efforts.
"We are thrilled to join the Alliance alongside so many of our longtime partners, including Vanderbilt with their exceptional biobank and population-scale genetics program — one of the most impressive in the world," said
Through the Alliance, RGC will add significant scale to the Alliance's database as well as its already expansive genomic database. One of RGC's main goals is to uncover large-effect protective genetic factors that can illuminate the next generation of high-confidence drug targets and ultimately deliver transformative new medicines. Regeneron integrates human genetics across its entire enterprise and intends to leverage this data at every stage of drug discovery and development — from target discovery to clinical trial design to patient and market access to emerging predictive health analytics. This collaboration reflects RGC's ongoing partnerships with Illumina and the broader biopharma community to build large-scale population genomics consortia, a commitment that dates back to landmark initiatives such as the
Powerful proteomic data can accelerate drug discovery research for pharma
Multiomic data adds new dimensions to drug discovery research, uncovering deeper biological information than genomics alone. GSK is one of the first to participate in the next phase of AGD, which expands the dataset's molecular depth by adding proteomics to enable entirely new layers of biological insight. The dataset will consist of 50,000 paired whole-genome and proteomic samples, designed to facilitate faster, more efficient target discovery and therapy development.
Adding proteomics to the AGD dataset will aid in understanding molecular mechanisms of disease-associated genetic variation. The diverse genetic ancestry in AGD provides an opportunity to study population-specific genetic variants and their associated proteins.
"We are thrilled to have GSK on board as we move to the next evolution of AGD," said
In conjunction with Illumina's recently announced Billion Cell Atlas, this expanded effort continues the momentum of pharma leveraging combinations of large-scale datasets to identify and understand genetic targets, leading to new insights into disease mechanisms.
About the
Existing Alliance members include AbbVie, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK, Merck, and
AGD builds on NashBio and
AGD began sequencing in
Illumina and NashBio are actively expanding the AGD network to continue to build on current successes, accelerate therapeutic discovery, and set new standards for clinical R&D pace, cost efficiency, and efficacy.
Use of forward-looking statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors to which our business is subject that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements are: (i) challenges inherent in researching, developing and launching new technologies; (ii) our and our partners' ability to deploy new products, services, and applications, and to expand the markets for genomics-related products and services; and (iii) the challenges associated with multiparty collaborations, including our reliance on the performance of such partners, together with other factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, or in information disclosed in public conference calls, the date and time of which are released beforehand. We undertake no obligation, and do not intend, to update these forward-looking statements, to review or confirm analysts' expectations, or to provide interim reports or updates on the progress of the current quarter.
About Illumina
Illumina is improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome. Our focus on innovation has established us as a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, serving customers in the research, clinical, and applied markets. Our products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture, and other emerging segments. To learn more, visit illumina.com and connect with us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
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