Illumina Launches Latest DRAGEN Software for Complex Multiomics Analysis

Story BySaloni Tyagi

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1 month ago

Illumina Launches Latest DRAGEN Software for Complex Multiomics Analysis

The updated version includes preconfigured tools for oncology workflows, including the industry's first commercially available heme WGS application and tools for tumor-normal DNA analysis and MRD detection.

Illumina, a US-based genomics company, has rolled out version 4.4 of its DRAGEN software, introducing new oncology applications, enhanced multiomics support, and significantly improved structural variant (SV) calling accuracy.

This release is designed to simplify next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis for clinical researchers and extend the software’s usability across a broader range of workflows.

“DRAGEN has pushed the limits in what is possible in complex genomic data analysis, while making bioinformatics more accessible and easier to use,” said Rami Mehio, head of global software and informatics, Illumina.

“With DRAGEN v4.4 we make bioinformatics even easier for complex oncology workflows and multiomics analysis. With out-of-the-box oncology applications, customers can set up their clinical research tests with a fraction of the effort typically required and obtain meaningful insights in record time,” he added.

The updated version includes preconfigured tools for oncology workflows, including the industry's first commercially available heme whole-genome sequencing (WGS) application and tools for tumor-normal DNA analysis and molecular residual disease (MRD) detection.

Integration with the Illumina Connected Insights platform allows a streamlined workflow across research and clinical applications in oncology, genetic disease, infectious disease, and population genomics.

The University Hospital of Tübingen in Germany is one of the early adopters of DRAGEN v4.4.

Researchers there will evaluate the platform’s performance in a clinical study comparing its whole-genome germline data analysis with an existing in-house pipeline.

The study seeks to assess the value of DRAGEN’s secondary analysis capabilities in locating genetic risk factors for diseases such as cancer.

“We're eager to bring the power of DRAGEN and its sophisticated AI capabilities to this challenge, to deepen our understanding of the insights that can be generated from germline testing,” said Marc Sturm, head of Bioinformatics for Diagnostics at the Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany.

Other significant upgrades in DRAGEN v4.4 include support for Illumina’s emerging multiomics assays, such as Single Cell 3'RNA Prep and Protein Prep, with future backing for methylation analysis and spatial technologies.

DRAGEN now also offers a personalized pangenome reference feature, which boosts small variant calling accuracy by 20%.

DRAGEN secondary analysis continues to be available via various deployment options, including standalone servers, cloud platforms, and select Illumina sequencers.