Twist Bioscience Begins Shipping of Synthetic RNA Controls for UK Variant Strain of SARS-CoV-2
January 14 2021 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
-- RNA Controls Can Help Avoid False
Negative Results --
Twist Bioscience Corporation (Nasdaq: TWST), a company enabling
customers to succeed through its offering of high-quality synthetic
DNA using its silicon platform, today announced that it has started
shipping its new synthetic RNA reference controls, which includes
the new variant strain of SARS-CoV-2 identified in the United
Kingdom. With this new strain (B1.1.7 lineage, variant under
investigation VUI-202012/01), which contains multiple mutations in
the spike protein and other areas of the viral genome, some of the
RT-PCR probes used widely in COVID-19 testing no longer detect the
S gene that codes for the spike protein. This can lead to false
negative test results.
“By offering synthetic controls for this specific mutation, our
customers are able to update their testing protocols, which will
help to potentially avoid false negative results when testing for
SARS-CoV-2 infection,” said Emily M. Leproust, Ph.D., CEO and
co-founder of Twist Bioscience. “These controls, used alone or in
conjunction with our SARS-CoV-2 NGS RUO Assay to identify all
SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid sequences, are invaluable research tools
for monitoring viral evolution and for population-scale
surveillance.”
For more information on the Twist products to combat COVID-19,
please visit:
https://www.twistbioscience.com/coronavirus-research-tools.
In March, Twist launched synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA distinct
reference sequences as positive controls for the development of
both next-generation sequencing (NGS) and reverse
transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays to test for
SARS-CoV-2. These controls continue to be included in many
different assays worldwide and can be used to determine the limit
of detection, monitor day-to-day test variations and are included
on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website as reference
materials for SARS-CoV-2. Twist has subsequently released
additional SARS-CoV-2 controls to cover the evolution of the virus,
and remains committed to using its DNA synthesis platform to offer
valuable products that improve health and sustainability.
The Twist synthetic controls are designed based on specific
SARS-CoV-2 variants, cover the full viral genome and are
sequence-verified. For customers interested in alternative variants
of SARS-CoV-2, Twist can provide custom controls and offers a suite
of research tools, including next-generation sequencing (NGS)
products for SARS-CoV-2 as well as a broad respiratory panel and
the most comprehensive viral panel.
Customers purchasing synthetic controls are subject to Twist’s
leading biosecurity screening protocols and applicable laws and
regulations.
About Twist Bioscience Corporation
Twist Bioscience is a leading and rapidly growing synthetic
biology and genomics company that has developed a disruptive DNA
synthesis platform to industrialize the engineering of biology. The
core of the platform is a proprietary technology that pioneers a
new method of manufacturing synthetic DNA by “writing” DNA on a
silicon chip. Twist is leveraging its unique technology to
manufacture a broad range of synthetic DNA-based products,
including synthetic genes, tools for next-generation sequencing
(NGS) preparation, and antibody libraries for drug discovery and
development. Twist is also pursuing longer-term opportunities in
digital data storage in DNA and biologics drug discovery. Twist
makes products for use across many industries including healthcare,
industrial chemicals, agriculture and academic research.
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Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All
statements other than statements of historical facts contained
herein, including without limitation Twist’s ability to deliver
synthetic controls for SARS-CoV-2 to its customers and the ability
for the new synthetic RNA reference control to help avoid false
negative results when testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection, are
forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and
expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, and other important factors that may cause Twist
Bioscience’s actual results, performance, or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, performance, or
achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the
risks and uncertainties of the ability to attract new customers and
retain and grow sales from existing customers; risks and
uncertainties of rapidly changing technologies and extensive
competition in synthetic biology could make the products Twist
Bioscience is developing obsolete or non-competitive; uncertainties
of the retention of a significant customer; risks of third party
claims alleging infringement of patents and proprietary rights or
seeking to invalidate Twist Bioscience’s patents or proprietary
rights; and the risk that Twist Bioscience’s proprietary rights may
be insufficient to protect its technologies. For a further
description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking
statements, as well as risks relating to Twist Bioscience’s
business in general, see Twist Bioscience’s risk factors set forth
in Twist Bioscience’s Quarterly Report Form 10-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on November 27, 2020 and
subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements
contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof,
and Twist Bioscience specifically disclaims any obligation to
update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210114005407/en/
Angela Bitting SVP, Corporate Affairs 925- 202-6211
abitting@twistbioscience.com
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