Qitan Tech to Launch New Nanopore Sequencer, Potentially Reshaping Industry Landscape

Following the release of China’s first nanopore gene sequencer, the QNome-9604, in September 2020, Qitan Technology—the first company in China and the second globally to manufacture nanopore gene sequencers—has recently announced its “2021 Qi·Qitan Technology New Product Launch Event.” The event is scheduled to be held via online live streaming on December 10. At the launch, Qitan Technology will unveil its first nanopore single-molecule gene sequencer ready for mass production, along with supporting chips and reagents, and announce the completion of its production facility located in the Tianfu International Bio-Town in Chengdu.

As gene sequencing technology continues to achieve breakthroughs, sequencers are being continuously optimized and iterated in terms of size, sequencing speed, and accuracy. Based on information recently preemptively disclosed by Qitan Technology on its official WeChat account, industry insiders speculate that the formal market launch of domestically produced nanopore gene sequencers may reshape the landscape of China’s upstream gene sequencing market.

As early as September 2020, Qitan Technology released the QNome-9604, China’s first nanopore gene sequencer with fully independent intellectual property rights. This compact and portable sequencer weighs only 1.9 kg, yet it achieves ultra-long read lengths exceeding 150 Kbp and stably generates 500 Mbp of data within 8 hours. It has passed third-party testing by TÜV Rheinland, which verified that its performance metrics—including the number of sequencing channels, accuracy, and read length—fully meet established standards. After more than a year of intensive technological breakthroughs, whether Qitan Technology’s new product can achieve further advancements in throughput, accuracy, and cost—areas of greatest concern to the industry—remains to be seen and is highly anticipated.

According to a thematic report on the gene sequencing industry published by CB Insights, a U.S.-based venture capital data firm, the global long-read sequencing market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24% over the next decade. This anticipated market growth can be attributed to the continuous optimization and expanding applications of long-read sequencing technologies, most notably the rapid advancements and successful commercialization of zero-mode waveguide (ZMW) SMRT technology and nanopore strand sequencing technology.

It is understood that as the second company globally to advance fourth-generation gene sequencing technology to the stage of commercial application, Qitan Technology’s sequencing capabilities are becoming increasingly refined, with its application scenarios continuously expanding. Its prototype products, currently in the Alpha Test phase, have already established multiple collaborations with leading enterprises, universities, and research institutes in fields such as pathogen research, genetic disease studies, oncology, forensic science, and wildlife and plant conservation. At the upcoming press conference, Qitan Technology will release the latest data and case studies from the Alpha Test phase of its nanopore gene sequencing technology, along with its application advantages across various sectors. This development will serve as a significant boost to downstream enterprises and institutions in the industry, signaling that the era of domestic substitution has arrived.

Leading technological capabilities and extensive commercial application scenarios are also key factors that have made Qitan Technology, a Chinese potential unicorn in the gene sequencing sector, highly favored by investors. In June this year, Qitan Technology completed a Series B financing round of over RMB 400 million, marking the largest funding deal among upstream companies in China’s gene sequencing industry in 2021. With the completion of this financing, Qitan Technology has further increased its investment in scientific research while simultaneously launching and accelerating its industrialization process.

Currently, Qitan Technology’s Chengdu factory has been completed, and mass production of its new products is imminent. Qitan Technology is set to become the first high-tech enterprise in China to commercially launch nanopore gene sequencing technology through independent R&D, positioning itself to lead a leapfrog advancement in the upstream sector of China’s gene sequencing industry. This development may disrupt the dominance of international giants in gene sequencer manufacturing, thereby triggering a significant reshuffling of the global market landscape.

What major breakthroughs has Qitan Technology achieved with its newly launched nanopore gene sequencer? Can it compete with the technologies of international giants in terms of core capabilities? Does it meet the expectations of mid- and downstream industry players for “Intelligent Manufacturing in China”?

Qitan Technology’s online launch event will reveal the answers. Click the poster below to view more details.