DNA Is Still Where It's At: Christian Henry, CEO of PacBio, on Watershed Year in 2024

In our last episode, we explored the growing shift from genomics to multi-omics. But for Pacific Biosciences CEO Christian Henry, the foundation of discovery remains clear: “DNA is still where it’s at.” PacBio is doubling down on long-read sequencing, committed to delivering on its promise of accuracy and completeness.

2024 marks a “watershed year” for PacBio, with the launch of the Vega system—a benchtop long-read sequencer at an unprecedented $169,000 price point—alongside major advancements in automation, bioinformatics, and sample prep. According to Henry, this is the first time in PacBio’s history that they have “the full product,” allowing researchers to access long-read sequencing more easily than ever before. The response has been overwhelming, with demand outpacing supply and 70% of Vega inquiries coming from new customers.

But the conversation wasn’t just about technology. Henry voiced deep concerns over the current political and funding landscape, particularly regarding NIH uncertainty. He strongly defended the past 50 years of biological progress, warning: “It would be a shame to undo that.” Despite economic pressures, he remains optimistic about the future of genomics, noting how long reads are not only competing with short reads on cost but unlocking new areas of discovery—from the dark regions of the genome to phased haplotypes and epigenetics.

Henry is always a great discussion partner. Join in this interview about the evolving sequencing market, PacBio’s competitive strategy, and what’s at stake for the future of genomics.