SeqOne: Boosting COVID-19 Testing Capacity
It’s a small startup with big results. Nicolas Philippe, founder of the Montpellier-based platform SeqOne, which specializes in genomic analysis, proposes to harness the power of next-generation sequencers for COVID-19 testing. This technology could, within a few weeks, increase testing capacity in France.
From genomic analysis to COVID-19 testing, it was only a small step—one that the Montpellier-based company SeqOne did not hesitate to take at the request of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation. Specializing in medical genomics, the SeqOne platform already boasts recognized expertise in the fields of oncology, rare diseases, non-invasive prenatal screening, and the identification of genetic predispositions through next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS). This technology could also meet the massive demand for COVID-19 testing.
More than 20,000 patients a day
“It all started with a paper published in the United States on March 20,” explains Nicolas Philippe, a bioinformatics researcher and the company’s founder. “It showed that it was possible to multiplex—in other words, to analyze the DNA of several people in a single sequencing run.” The result is the ability to screen more than 20,000 patients in a single day, measuring each person’s viral load or identifying any mutations in the virus. This is a strategic advantage for detecting a potential resurgence of the epidemic as early as possible.
“From the very beginning, SeqOne’s core missionhas been to serve patients. “We already work with half of France’s university hospitals and all private testing laboratories,”explains Nicolas Philippe, who, to engage SeqOne in the fight against COVID-19, had to complete several steps: setting up a certified platform, working upstream with laboratories authorized to test for COVID-19, and, of course, finding partners to develop the biological protocol.“This final step is currently being finalized; we are in discussions with various laboratories, notablythe Institute of Human Genetics in Montpellier. In the best-case scenario, we will be able to begin in mid-June, ” the CEO notes.
Information Technology in the Service of Medicine
It was during his university studies that Nicolas Philippe, originally a computer engineer specializing in“combinatorial text algorithms,”discovered a genuine interest in healthcare. Describing himself as“a product of academic research,” this native of Normandy arrived in Montpellier in 2007 to pursue a thesis at the Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics, and Microelectronics (LIRMM, University of Montpellier, CNRS).“During this thesis,I was able to work closely with the Montpellier UniversityHospital , the CNRS, andInserm and put my skills to work in the service of medicine.”
At the time, new DNA sequencing techniques were making their debut on the scientific scene, drastically reducing the cost and time required to decode genomic material while increasing the amount of data collected, as the researcher notes:“Genomic sequencing began in the early 2000s, but it cost several million euros and took weeks.” A technical revolution that would thus pave the way for the development of genomic medicine and the optimization of healthcare.
Hard work pays off
For seven years, Nicolas Philippe worked on his dissertation and postdoctoral research abroad without ever losing sight of high-throughput sequencing, and along the way he won several awards, including the Hélène Starck Prize and the Pôle BioSanté Rabelais Prize. Upon returning to France, he continued his work with Inserm before the idea of starting his own company took root in 2014. Officially launched in 2017, with support from SATT AxLR, Montpellier University Hospital, BIC, BPI LRI, the Occitanie Region, and the University of Montpellier, SeqOne now employs nearly thirty people.“Our team is very dynamic, and our skill sets complement each other perfectly. We all speak the same language: genomics.”