Illumina agrees to acquire SomaLogic for a maximum of $425 million.
**Illumina Acquires SomaLogic: A Strategic Move into Proteomics and Multiomics**
In a significant move to expand its reach beyond DNA sequencing, Illumina, a global leader in genomics, has announced the acquisition of SomaLogic. The deal, valued at $350 million upfront plus up to $75 million in milestones and royalties, is expected to close in the first half of 2026.
SomaLogic, a pioneer in data-driven proteomics technology, brings to Illumina its SomaScan platform, a complement to Illumina's existing sequencing expertise and technology offerings. The Boulder, Colorado facilities, including a lab, office, and manufacturing space, will be part of the purchase.
The acquisition is strategically significant for Illumina. It aims to advance its multiomics strategy, integrating proteomics capabilities, and thereby expanding into a broader biomolecular analysis space. This move is expected to strengthen the value of Illumina’s NovaSeq X sequencing systems and accelerate innovation in biomarker discovery and disease profiling, enabling more comprehensive multiomics solutions for customers.
Illumina's CEO, Jacob Thaysen, stated that the combination with SomaLogic will accelerate their technology roadmap towards advanced biomarker discovery and disease profiling. Michael Egholm, CEO of Standard BioTools, the company that acquired SomaLogic 18 months ago, believes this acquisition will lead to Illumina's next phase of growth.
The transaction is expected to simplify Standard BioTools' operating structure and will provide SomaLogic's approximately 250 employees worldwide with new opportunities for growth and innovation. Moreover, Illumina will remain an open next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform and will continue to support a variety of multiomics solutions, retaining its existing proteomics partnerships.
The deal includes additional near-term payments of up to $75 million tied to performance milestones, plus royalties. The acquisition is anticipated to help Illumina become a major player in the growing proteomics sector, leveraging SomaLogic’s technology and market position to capture growth opportunities.
In summary, the acquisition of SomaLogic by Illumina signifies a strategic step towards advancing multiomics approaches, integrating proteomics capabilities, and diversifying the product portfolio. This move is expected to enhance the NovaSeq X product line, add SomaLogic’s proteomics kits and certified lab services, and broaden capabilities for customers in genomics and proteomics research.
- The acquisition of SomaLogic by AI-focused medtech company Illumina shows a strategic shift towards advancements in AI-driven devices and multiomics.
- The $350 million deal, potentially reaching $75 million more in milestones and royalties, sets the stage for Illumina to make significant moves in the proteomics market.
- The obtained SomaScan platform will complement Illumina's current medtech offerings, aiding the broadening of their biomolecular analysis space in health-and-wellness, medtech, and technology.
- With SomaLogic’s analytics expertise, Illumina expects to accelerate innovation in biomarker discovery and disease profiling, further strengthening their position in finance and business.
- The acquisition will spur innovation for the approximately 250 employees worldwide at SomaLogic, ensuring continued growth in the science library of proteomics, diagnostics, and related medical-conditions research.
- Besides enhancing its high-performance NovaSeq X sequencing systems, Illumina aims to retain its open next-generation sequencing platform and support a variety of partnerships in the expanding proteomics sector.
- To consolidate SomaLogic's market position and capture growth opportunities in the proteomics sector, Illumina plans to leverage SomaLogic’s technology for strategic M&A and news-making moves across finance, technology, and health-and-wellness.
