Novogene and Illumina has announced that they have entered into an agreement to jointly develop advanced clinical applications in the fields of reproductive health and oncology based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. The collaboration signals the increasing importance of genomic applications to improve healthcare in China.

In recent years, NGS technology has evolved rapidly and is regarded as an essential factor for enabling precision medicine. The collaboration between Novogene and Illumina will focus on providing the most advanced and integrated sequencing solutions to the clinical market. In particular, the two companies will work together to develop a user-friendly diagnostic system for clinical prenatal DNA and oncology testing in the Chinese market.

The collaboration will bring together technology from Illumina sequencers with Novogene's advanced clinical application development capabilities. As part of the agreement, Novogene will provide its nucleic acid extraction, library preparation, and data analysis software, while Illumina will provide NGS instrument components and related reagents.

"As a global provider of high-quality genomic services and leading edge bioinformatics solutions, Novogene is pleased to partner with Illumina to advance the application of NGS technology in precision medicine," said Dr Ruiqiang Li, Novogene founder and chief executive officer.

"Illumina is very excited to collaborate with Novogene to increase access to genetic sequencing solutions in the fields of reproductive health and oncology testing in China," said Mr Tim Orpin, general manager of the Asia Pacific Region for Illumina. "We are committed to partnering with Chinese companies who share our vision of improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome."