Key points from article :
Oxford Nanopore Technologies is entering what CEO and co-founder Gordon Sanghera, PhD, calls “the year of the proteome,” with plans to integrate proteomics alongside DNA and RNA sequencing into a unified multi-omics platform within the next five years. Speaking at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, Sanghera emphasized that combining genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data will unlock new biological insights. He stressed that proteomics will complement—not replace—genomics, creating a more complete picture of human biology.
The company’s 2024 performance reflected this ambition, reporting revenues of approximately £183 million ($228.4 million), an 8% year-on-year increase, with underlying growth of ~23% excluding COVID-related and Emirati Genome Program headwinds. Second-half revenues rose 34%, driven by strong adoption of its PromethION product line, growth in applied industrial and clinical markets, and new product launches. Notably, Oxford Nanopore’s partnership with the NHS, UK Biobank, and Genomics England will generate the first large-scale epigenetic atlas from 50,000 samples—an achievement no other sequencing technology currently matches.
Strategic leadership changes in 2024 saw long-time CTO Clive Brown step down, with his wide-ranging role split between Rosemary Sinclair Dokos and Lakmal Jayasinghe, PhD. This reflects the company’s evolution from a primarily innovation-focused organisation to one also targeting regulated clinical markets. Alongside large-scale genomic projects, Oxford Nanopore is exploring portable and rapid sequencing solutions, such as the Flongle and the planned SmidgION, for point-of-care diagnostics. These tools could enable near-instant infectious disease detection, antibiotic stewardship, and even at-home monitoring, contributing to a decentralised and democratized model of healthcare.
Looking ahead, Oxford Nanopore aims to halve the cost of a human genome to $200–$300 while offering richer, long-read multi-omic data than short-read competitors. The company believes its ability to access complex genomic regions—such as those involved in neurodegeneration or developmental disorders—gives it a competitive edge. Sanghera envisions a “DNA-RNA information age” where real-time sequencing data transforms diagnostics, early disease detection, and precision medicine.
