Werfen and Oxford Nanopore Collaborate on Transplant Assay Development

Werfen, a company focused on specialized diagnostics, has announced a strategic collaboration with Oxford Nanopore Technologies, which develops nanopore-based sequencing technology, to validate Werfen’s transplant assay portfolios for use on Oxford Nanopore’s sequencing platforms.

Building on a collaboration between Werfen and Oxford Nanopore that began in 2020, this marks a significant milestone, combining Werfen’s validated, high-precision transplant assays with Oxford Nanopore’s rapid, information-rich sequencing technology. Together, the companies aim to streamline laboratory workflows, providing a fast and accurate "DNA-to-result" experience that leverages the speed and scalability of nanopore sequencing.

Image: Together, the companies aim to streamline laboratory workflows and provide a fast, accurate “DNA-to-result” process using scalable nanopore sequencing

By ensuring the optimization and compatibility of Werfen’s transplant portfolio, including solutions for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing and pre-transplant matching, with Oxford Nanopore’s platforms, the aim is to enable laboratories to implement high-quality testing with reduced complexity and faster results. This is particularly critical in transplantation, where rapid, high-resolution data is essential for donor-recipient matching and long-term success.

This agreement reinforces Werfen’s commitment to collaborating with leading technology partners to expand access to advanced, high-quality solutions for complex diagnostics.

“Our mission is to power patient care through meaningful innovation. By allying ourselves with the industry’s most disruptive technology, we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in specialized diagnostics,” said Jordi Llorens, Chief Operating Officer for Transplant at Werfen. “We are lowering adoption barriers for advanced diagnostics across transplant diagnostics and improving both professional and patient experience. This synergy allows laboratories a faster implementation of high-quality testing, ensuring that laboratories can deliver quick, actionable and precise insights that support informed decision-making in transplant patient care.”

“This expanded agreement reflects Werfen’s confidence in Oxford Nanopore as a scalable, flexible platform for molecular assays,” said Thomas Bray, Vice President, Corporate Business Development at Oxford Nanopore Technologies. “What began as a focused collaboration has evolved into a broader collaboration with a global leader, creating meaningful opportunities to extend the impact of nanopore sequencing across an expanding range of applications over time."