By Diagnostics World Staff
February 26, 2026 | Sanofi appoints Belén Garijo as chief executive officer; PacBio collaborates with iHope; Astoriom acquires Precision Stability Storage, expanding its sample management capabilities in the U.S.; and more.
Sanofi has appointed Belén Garijo as chief executive officer. She will take up her duties at the end of the Group's Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2026. The Board will also propose to the shareholder vote the candidacy of Belén Garijo as a director of the group. Garijo will bring an increased rigor to the implementation of Sanofi's strategy and accelerate the preparation of the group's future. Her priority will be to strengthen the productivity, governance, and innovation capacity of R&D. Press release.
Astoriom expanded its sample management capabilities in the U.S. with the acquisition of Precision Stability Storage. This acquisition marks a strategic expansion of Astoriom's footprint in North America, strengthening its presence in high-growth regions for biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical technology innovation. Press release.
Volta Labs announced the launch of the Callisto Complete Kit for DNA EF Library Prep. The new solution pairs Watchmaker Genomics' best-in-class NGS sample preparation chemistry with Volta's digital fluidics automation to deliver a fully automated, PCR-free whole genome sequencing (WGS) library preparation workflow. As WGS continues to expand across clinical research and translational settings, PCR-free workflows are increasingly preferred to minimize amplification bias, reduce sequencing artifacts, and enable more uniform genome coverage, particularly in GC-rich regions. However, executing PCR-free library preparation demands precision and reproducibility, making automation critical for labs seeking consistent results without increasing staffing burden. By eliminating manual liquid handling and reducing operator variability, the Callisto Complete Kit enables laboratories to generate reproducible, high-quality libraries while freeing technical staff to focus on higher-value work. Press release.
Synthace announced a collaboration with Charles River. Under the collaboration, Charles River will give its clients access to Synthace's transformative approach to developing, automating and transferring more robust assays, faster and more efficiently than using other methodologies. The collaboration follows a successful proof-of-concept project in which Charles River used Synthace's software to effectively and rapidly develop a 1536-well assay and assay transfer, implementing a design of over 700 experimental conditions across multiple laboratories and equipment. Press release.
Thermo Fisher Scientific has introduced the Thermo Scientific Sequential Protein/DNA/RNA Extraction Kit, a sample preparation solution that enables sequential extraction of protein, DNA, and RNA from a single sample. The kit is designed to address challenges in cancer and disease research where samples are often limited and difficult to replace. By allowing researchers to generate genomic and prsoteomic data from the same biological material, the solution helps enable more direct comparison of results from small or precious samples. Press release.
New England Biolabs has released the Monarch Mag Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) Extraction Kit, which enables consistent, scalable extraction of low-abundance, circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) for downstream applications including biomarker discovery and diagnostics development. The magnetic, bead-based workflow is compatible with biofluids including plasma, serum, urine and cerebrospinal fluid across variable input volumes from 1ml to 4 ml. Press release.
PacBio has entered a collaboration with iHope to integrate PacBio’s HiFi long-read whole-genome sequencing into iHope’s international network. iHope operates the world’s largest equitable rare-disease genomic testing network. The program is designed to enable collaborative, multi-technology support for rare disease patients, bringing together diverse approaches and clinical expertise to address the biological complexity of rare genetic disorders. The addition of PacBio’s HiFi long-read whole-genome sequencing aims to expand the range of genomic insights available across the network, providing data that supports iHope’s mission to ultimately drive more diagnostic clarity. Press release.
MaxCyte announced the launch of ExPERT DTx, a new high-throughput transfection platform for research and drug discovery applications. ExPERT DTx streamlines workflows by processing up to 96 samples in a single, three-minute run. The platform’s R-50x96 well processing assembly provides one of the most cost-effective solutions for 96-well electroporation on the market, allowing 12 detachable 8-well strips to be processed in parallel with unique parameters for different cell and cargo combinations. This ensures consistent well-to-well performance that effectively eliminates transfection as an experimental variable, while maximizing flexibility and reducing laboratory waste. Press release.
Labcorp announced an expanded collaboration with PathAI to deploy AISight Dx1 across its national network of anatomic pathology labs and hospital collaborations. The Cloud-based technology allows pathologists to view and manage slides digitally and use AI to support key steps in the diagnostic process. AISight Dx will be deployed across Labcorp’s anatomic pathology labs and hospital collaborations, enabling fully digital workflows for case management, slide review, collaboration, and annotation. The platform also integrates AI-powered image analysis, secure storage and system connectivity to deliver faster turnaround, greater efficiency, reliable quality, and improved collaboration. Press release.
Singular Genomics announced the commercial launch and U.S. availability of G4X. The launch marks a major milestone in making large-scale spatial multiomics accessible for translational research, spatial pathology, and AI-driven insights. The G4X platform enables simultaneous analysis of 500-plex RNA, 18-plex protein and fH&E at subcellular resolution from clinically relevant FFPE sample types at an unprecedented scale of 128 samples and 40cm2 per run, nearly 10-fold higher than other commercially available systems. With sample-to-answer in 5 days and per-sample costs in the low hundreds, G4X represents a significant leap forward in spatial multiomics capabilities for the field. The system is now available for purchase in the United States following a successful external early access program that validated performance, scalability, and economics across leading academic medical centers, research institutions and biopharma partners. Press release.
Zyphra announced the release of ZUNA, the company's first foundation model trained on brain data. ZUNA significantly improves the quality and usability of electroencephalography (EEG) data while establishing an early technical foundation for thought-to-text, the direct communication between human thought and AI systems enabled by brain–computer interfaces (BCIs). Press release.
Personalis announced Medicare coverage for the company’s NeXT Personal molecular residual disease test for surveillance of patients with Stage I to III non-small cell lung cancer. This coverage determination is grounded in clinical evidence generated through the company’s collaboration with the TRACERx consortium. Data from this world-renowned longitudinal study, recently published in Cell, demonstrated NeXT Personal's ability to identify residual disease with high accuracy, validating the test’s clinical performance in lung cancer. Press release.
Randox has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance for marketing its newest clinical drug testing panel. It is available on the Evidence MultiSTAT, a fully automated multi‑analyte analyzer and powered by patented Biochip Technology. The panel is developed to offer accuracy in results, cost-effective, and easy-to-use testing for efficient drug screening with an extensive cross-reactivity profile, reducing the negative impact on patient care. Press release.
An innovative bowel cancer screening test developed by Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle University was rolled out for patients in the U.K. The test, known as the MSI plus assay, allows improved and faster testing for Lynch syndrome, a hereditary condition which brings increased risk of certain types of cancer, including colorectal. Screening for Lynch syndrome means that if a person tests positive, a DNA test can then be offered to their relatives to see who else has the condition, so they can be put on a regular program of checks. Press release.
HiArc has launched its first commercial product: HiArc Ctrl is a ready-to-use system, designed to accelerate the development of medical devices, from initial concept through commercialization. HiArc Ctrl allows users to interface with sensors and actuators in real time, significantly shortening the time and resources typically required for prototyping. It integrates seamlessly into engineering labs or manufacturing environments to provide version-controlled, documented workflows suitable for regulated products. The system is suitable for a wide range of application areas including Life Sciences, IVD, Robotics, and Diagnostics. Press release.
Slingshot Biosciences announced its further expansion into the U.K. and European Union markets. This investment provides the product innovators in the region with broader access and faster adoption of Slingshot's reproducible, premium-quality biomarker controls in their cell-based assay development programs. The company's aggressive growth continues, driven by the broad adoption of its cell-mimic technology by hundreds of pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, contract research organizations, clinical diagnostics laboratories, and academic medical centers worldwide. Press release.