Element Biosciences, with Samsung as top shareholder, shows genome tools in Seoul
In short
Element Biosciences, a US genome analysis equipment company in which Samsung Electronics is the largest shareholder, held a roadshow at the RYSE hotel in Seoul on 20 October. It demonstrated the VITARI benchtop sequencer and announced the first shipment of its Cytos multiomics solution. The company says VITARI reaches 99.99% accuracy at about $100 per person.
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Element Biosciences, a US genome analysis equipment company in which Samsung Electronics is the largest shareholder, is presenting sequencing and multiomics technology at a roadshow called 'Shift Your Science' on 20 October. The event is at the RYSE hotel in Mapo district, Seoul. Asia Economy and Chosun Ilbo said Element announced it; Yonhap said Samsung Electronics announced it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Element demonstrated the high-throughput benchtop sequencer VITARI and announced the first shipment of the multiomics analysis solution Cytos. Sequencing reads the DNA base sequence, while multiomics analyses DNA, RNA, proteins and other biological information together. According to the company, VITARI has about 99.99% DNA analysis accuracy, handles more than five times as much data per run as existing products and lowers genome analysis cost to about $100 per person. Pre-orders are open, and shipments are due from the end of the year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Asia Economy said VITARI can be used for whole-genome and exome sequencing for rare disease research, targeted sequencing for clinical oncology research and single-cell RNA sequencing. Cytos is designed to analyse cell shape, protein expression and the whole transcriptome in a single cell, according to Asia Economy and Yonhap. Asia Economy said this allows changes in cell state after drug administration to be compared over time. Chosun Ilbo said Element expects Cytos to be used in drug development and in cancer and immune disease research. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Co-founders Molly He, the chief executive, and Michael Previte, the chief technology officer, are giving keynote talks. Researchers from Samsung Seoul Hospital's genetics research institute, KAIST, Yonsei University College of Medicine and the University of Tokyo are speaking. Asia Economy and Newsis also listed Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology and Tata Memorial Hospital. Asia Economy said the researchers will present clinical trial results and uses in cancer, gene regulation, immunology and agricultural genomics. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Newsis, Yonhap and Chosun Ilbo quoted Molly He as saying: 'Progress in biology research starts with securing good-quality experimental data.' Asia Economy, Newsis and Chosun Ilbo quoted her as saying Cytos observes changes in cells and analyses the results together, enabling more accurate and refined experiments. Asia Economy, Newsis and Yonhap quoted her as saying it would help researchers answer biology questions that were hard to solve with existing analysis technology. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Element was founded in San Diego in 2017. Asia Economy and Chosun Ilbo said it launched its mid-size sequencer AVITI in 2022. Newsis said it launched the multiomics instrument AVITI 24 in December 2024 and called it an industry first. Samsung took part in the Series D round in July 2024 and put a further $175 million (about 230 billion won, according to Yonhap) into the Series E round in June, securing the largest-shareholder position. Samsung plans to combine its AI, medical device and digital health capabilities with Element's technology to look for new precision medicine business. The roadshow is to continue in San Diego, Boston, Munich and Stockholm. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
Samsung Electronics said it wants to combine Element's genome analysis technology with its AI, medical device and digital health capabilities to find new business in precision medicine. The documents are company and wire reports, and the performance figures are the company's own claims.
Key facts
- Element Biosciences held its 'Shift Your Science' roadshow at the RYSE hotel in Mapo district, Seoul, on 20 October. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Samsung Electronics took part in Element's Series D round in July 2024 and put a further $175 million into its Series E round in June, securing the position of largest shareholder. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Element demonstrated the high-throughput benchtop sequencer VITARI and announced the first shipment of the multiomics solution Cytos. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- According to the company, VITARI has about 99.99% DNA analysis accuracy, processes more than five times as much data per run as existing products, and brings genome analysis cost to about $100 per person. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- VITARI is taking pre-orders, with shipments due from the end of this year. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The roadshow is to continue in San Diego, Boston, Munich and Stockholm. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Samsung Electronics is the largest shareholder of Element Biosciences, a US genome analysis equipment company, after a $175 million Series E investment in June. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Element is holding a roadshow in Seoul on 20 October at which it demonstrates VITARI and announces the first shipment of Cytos. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Element co-founders Molly He (CEO) and Michael Previte (CTO) are giving keynote talks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Researchers from Samsung Seoul Hospital's genetics research institute, KAIST, Yonsei University College of Medicine and the University of Tokyo are speaking. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether VITARI delivers 99.99% accuracy, five times more data per run and a $100 per person cost. The figures are attributed to the company in the documents, and no independent verification is given.
- Details of the first Cytos shipment, such as the recipient or the quantity. The documents say the first shipment was announced but give no further detail.
- Yonhap calls Cytos the world's first multiomics solution that analyses cell shape, protein expression and the whole transcriptome in a single cell. Only Yonhap makes this claim; the other documents do not.
- The exact VITARI shipping date. The documents say only that shipments start at the end of this year.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asia Economy reports that Element will present sequencing and multiomics technology at a roadshow in Seoul on 20 October. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reports the roadshow at the RYSE hotel and the planned VITARI demonstration and Cytos shipment announcement. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reports that Samsung Electronics announced the roadshow and that Element demonstrated VITARI and announced the first Cytos shipment. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports that Element said it would hold the roadshow in Seoul on 20 October. [ 4 ]