The UK NHS, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the Leading South Korean Yonsei University Hospital are Among Newest Adopters of Bionano Saphyr® for Digital Cytogenetic Applications

Represents continued growth of the installed base of Saphyr systems for its use in resolving complex genetic disease cases and simplifying cytogenetic workflows across the world

SAN DIEGO, June 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionano Genomics, Inc. (BNGO) announced today that King’s College Hospital London, part of the NHS (National Health Service) in the UK, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and Yonsei University Hospital, the leading South Korean University Hospital, have adopted the Saphyr system. The addition of Saphyr allows their scientists and clinicians to achieve comprehensive analysis of chromosomal aberrations and structural variations, including some that are unresolved by other current technologies, such as chromosomal microarray and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology.

King’s College Hospital London acquired the Saphyr system to perform a study on 210 leukemia patients. Their objective is to validate Saphyr’s performance in digital cytogenetics, with the ultimate goal of replacing the use of standard cytogenetic methods in their laboratories with Bionano genome imaging altogether. King’s College Hospital is the second NHS center to adopt Saphyr, after the NHS Lothian in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Medical College of Wisconsin plans to use Saphyr to expand their analyses on pediatric complex diseases beyond the copy number variants that can be detected with chromosomal microarray and add the balanced variants such as inversions and translocations that are missed by array.

Yonsei University Hospital, one of the oldest and biggest university hospitals in South Korea, treats approximately 4,000,000 patients annually. They intend to use Saphyr to analyze the genomes of patients with various genetic diseases and cancer. As part of their initial validation of Saphyr, a patient with contradicting results generated by traditional cytogenetic methods of karyotyping and chromosomal microarray was analyzed. Saphyr identified the missed variant and detected additional specific gene-related structural variants that matched clinical findings and was not seen in previous results by any existing diagnostics tools.

“We are thrilled to see the increasing pace of adoption of the Saphyr system for digital cytogenetics in major global markets for healthcare. Each of these sites adopted Saphyr under our reagent rental program, underscoring the value in our efforts to reduce barriers that inhibit Saphyr adoption,” said Erik Holmlin, PhD, CEO of Bionano Genomics. “As more and more centers are bringing Saphyr into their institutions, the amount of Bionano data in the field increases substantially, which amplifies our message and expands awareness of Saphyr. We believe its ease of use, streamlined workflow and automated analysis of chromosomal aberrations allow researchers and clinicians to consolidate multiple cytogenetic assays into one, lower the cost and turn-around time for each patient and experience the benefit of genomic structural resolution which we believe can only be achieved by Bionano.”

About Bionano Genomics
Bionano is a genome analysis company providing tools and services based on its Saphyr system to scientists and clinicians conducting genetic research and patient testing. Bionano’s Saphyr system is a platform for ultra-sensitive and ultra-specific structural variation detection that enables researchers and clinicians to accelerate the search for new diagnostics and therapeutic targets and to streamline the study of changes in chromosomes, which is known as cytogenetics. The Saphyr system is comprised of an instrument, chip consumables, reagents and a suite of data analysis tools, and genome analysis services to provide access to data generated by the Saphyr system for researchers who prefer not to adopt the Saphyr system in their labs. For more information, visit www.bionanogenomics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes and are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, including among other things, the intended use of Saphyr by the institutions identified in this press release; expectations regarding the rate and extent of adoption of Saphyr in research and clinical settings, and the effectiveness and utility of Saphyr. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include the risks that our sales, revenue, expense and other financial guidance may not be as expected, as well as risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the global economy; general market conditions; changes in the competitive landscape and the introduction of competitive products; changes in our strategic and commercial plans; our ability to obtain sufficient financing to fund our strategic plans and commercialization efforts; the ability of key clinical studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of our products; the loss of key members of management and our commercial team; and the risks and uncertainties associated with our business and financial condition in general, including the risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in other filings subsequently made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management's assumptions and estimates as of such date. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Company Contact:
Erik Holmlin, CEO
Bionano Genomics, Inc.
+1 (858) 888-7600
eholmlin@bionanogenomics.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Ashley R. Robinson
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
+1 (617) 775-5956
arr@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact:
Kirsten Thomas
The Ruth Group
+1 (508) 280-6592
kthomas@theruthgroup.com