Samsung-Backed U.S. Element to Unveil Next-Generation Genomic Analysis Technology in Seoul

VITARI Demonstration and First Shipment of Cytos Announced
VITARI Delivers 99.99% DNA Analysis Accuracy
Samsung Seeks Business Opportunities in Precision Medicine

Element Biosciences, a U.S. genetic analysis equipment company in which Samsung Electronics is the largest shareholder, will showcase next-generation genomic analysis technologies in sequencing and multiomics in Seoul.

Element said it will hold a roadshow titled "Shift Your Science" at the RYSE Hotel in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 20th to introduce its new products and technologies. Sequencing is the technology used to read the DNA sequences that contain an organism's genetic information. Multiomics integrates the analysis of various types of biological information, including DNA, RNA, and proteins, to provide a comprehensive understanding of biological processes.

At the event, the company will demonstrate VITARI, a high-throughput benchtop sequencing instrument, and announce the first shipment of Cytos, a multiomics analysis solution. Element co-founders Molly He, chief executive officer (CEO), and Michael Previte, chief technology officer (CTO), will also attend and deliver keynote speeches.

Image of AVITI, a DNA sequencing instrument, and VITARI, a high-throughput benchtop sequencing instrument. Element Biosciences.

Researchers from institutions in Korea and abroad will also speak at the event. Researchers from the Samsung Medical Center Genome Research Institute, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and Yonsei University College of Medicine, as well as the University of Tokyo, the Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), and Tata Memorial Hospital, will present clinical trial results and examples of the technology's use in a range of fields, including cancer, gene regulation, immunology, and agricultural genomics.

Founded in San Diego, California, in 2017, Element has focused on improving the accuracy and lowering the cost of genomic analysis through DNA sequencing technology. Since launching its mid-throughput sequencing instrument, AVITI, in 2022, the company has expanded its business globally.

Samsung Electronics participated in Element's Series D funding round in July 2024 and invested an additional $175 million in its Series E round in June this year, securing its position as the company's largest shareholder. Samsung plans to explore new business opportunities in precision medicine by combining Element's genomic analysis and multiomics technologies with its capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI), medical devices, and digital health.

VITARI is a next-generation sequencer that delivers high throughput in a compact benchtop instrument. According to the company, it achieves DNA analysis accuracy of approximately 99.99% and can process more than five times as much data as its previous products in a single run. It has reduced the cost of genomic analysis to around $100 per person. The instrument can be used in a range of research, from whole-genome and exome sequencing for rare disease studies to targeted sequencing for clinical oncology research and single-cell RNA sequencing. Preorders are now being accepted, with shipments scheduled to begin at the end of this year.

Cytos is a multiomics solution designed to analyze multiple types of biological information from a single cell at the same time using one instrument, including the cell's morphology, protein expression, and whole transcriptome. Because it can measure multiple biological features in the same cell, researchers can compare changes in cell states over time following drug administration. The solution could help researchers develop hypotheses to explain complex drug response mechanisms and is also expected to have significant applications in drug development.

"Cytos makes it possible to observe changes in cells and analyze the results comprehensively, enabling more accurate and sophisticated experiments," said Element CEO He. "It will help researchers find answers to a wide range of biological questions that have been difficult to address with existing analytical technologies."

This year's roadshow will begin in Seoul and continue in major cities around the world, including San Diego and Boston in the United States, Munich in Germany, and Stockholm in Sweden.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.