PacBio
Pacific Biosciences (NASDAQ: PACB) designs and manufactures HiFi long-read DNA sequencing systems (Revio, Vega) based on proprietary SMRT technology, serving academic, government, clinical, and biopharma customers with 99.9% accurate reads up to 25 kb for rare disease, population genomics, and oncology applications.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersMenlo Park, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What PacBio does
Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. (PacBio) is a publicly traded (NASDAQ: PACB) biotechnology company that designs, develops, and manufactures HiFi long-read DNA sequencing systems. The company's core technology is Single Molecule Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing, which produces highly accurate long reads (up to 25 kb at 99.9% Q33 accuracy) by detecting fluorescent signals from individual DNA polymerases operating within nanofabricated zero-mode waveguide (ZMW) arrays called SMRT Cells. Circular SMRTbell library templates enable multi-pass consensus sequencing, while native detection of DNA methylation (5mC, 5hmC, 6mA) is captured in every run without bisulfite conversion. AI-powered basecalling is performed onboard via Google DeepConsensus running on embedded NVIDIA GPUs. The product portfolio centers on two sequencing systems — Revio (production-scale, 4 simultaneous SMRT Cells, up to 480 Gb/day) and Vega (benchtop, $169,000 list price) — supported by an integrated consumables ecosystem including Nanobind HMW DNA extraction kits, SMRTbell library prep, Kinnex RNA kits, and PureTarget CRISPR-Cas9 targeted panels.
PacBio's business model is a razor-and-blade capital equipment + recurring consumables structure: instruments generate upfront revenue and a long-tailed consumable annuity, supplemented by global distributor and Certified Service Provider channels that extend sequencing-as-a-service reach. SPRQ-Nx chemistry launched in May 2026 delivers per-genome pricing of approximately $345 (sub-$300 at scale), a roughly 30% cost reduction versus prior chemistry. The customer base spans academic and government research (Estonia National Biobank, Korea KDCA, US NIA Long Life Family Study), clinical diagnostics (Berry Genomics in China, iHope rare disease network across 25 clinical sites in 14 countries), and biopharma (Blank Bio for oncology foundation models, n-Lorem for ultra-rare ASO therapies). FY2025 revenue was $160 million (+4% YoY) with Q4 2025 revenue of $44.6 million (+14% YoY), 40% non-GAAP gross margin, and clinical consumables growing 55% year-over-year. PacBio divested its short-read sequencing assets to Illumina for $48.1 million in January 2026 to focus exclusively on long-read technology. The company carries approximately $645 million in convertible debt against $276 million in cash (Q1 2026).
PacBio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PacBio
- Legal name
- Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
- Website
- https://pacb.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Pacific Biosciences (NASDAQ: PACB) designs and manufactures HiFi long-read DNA sequencing systems (Revio, Vega) based on proprietary SMRT technology, serving academic, government, clinical, and biopharma customers with 99.9% accurate reads up to 25 kb for rare disease, population genomics, and oncology applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PacBio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Long-Read DNA Sequencing Instruments
- NAICS
- In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical Laboratories (621511)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Molecular & Genetic Testing (PCR/NGS/qPCR) (HLAGADAF), Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/qPCR, NGS-based assays) (HLAAALAA), Genetic & Genomic Testing (germline, somatic, carrier, pharmacogenomics) (HLAAALAD), Microbiome Analytics, Sequencing & Bioinformatics Platforms (HLAAAFAI)
Keywords
Where PacBio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Menlo Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
PacBio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Sequencing Instruments: Sale of capital equipment including Revio long-read production system and Vega benchtop system. Revio is a high-throughput floor-standing instrument; Vega is a benchtop system priced at $169,000. Instruments represent a significant upfront revenue component with recurring consumable revenue tail.
- Sequencing Consumables: Recurring revenue from reagents, SMRT Cells, library prep kits, application kits (Kinnex, PureTarget), and Nanobind sample extraction kits. Q4 2025 consumables reached a record $21.6 million, with clinical and hospital segment consumables growing 55% year-over-year. Represents the growing recurring revenue base as installed instrument fleet expands.
- Certified Service Provider Sequencing Services: Global network of Certified Service Providers offer PacBio HiFi sequencing as a service, extending PacBio's reach without direct instrument sales. Revenue flows through kit sales to these providers.
- PacBio Capital Financing: Equipment financing program enabling customers to convert instrument capital expenditure to operating expenditure, lowering adoption barriers and building recurring consumable commitments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Revio system — per genome reagent cost with SPRQ-Nx chemistry at 20x human genome coverage |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Vega benchtop system instrument list price |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Revio population-scale 10,000 human WGS total sequencing reagent cost |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Vega per-run consumables pricing |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
PacBio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PacBio designs, develops, and manufactures long-read DNA sequencing instruments (Revio, Vega, Sequel II/IIe, Sequel II CNDx) along with the associated consumables—SMRT Cells, library prep kits, Nanobind DNA extraction kits, Kinnex RNA kits, and PureTarget CRISPR-Cas9 panels—and SMRT Link analysis software. The instruments run HiFi SMRT sequencing chemistry that combines up to 25 kb read lengths with 99.9% accuracy and native methylation detection. The portfolio targets clinical diagnostics, population-scale genomics, pharmaceutical R&D, and academic research.
Product overview
PacBio offers a unified platform-plus-consumables model centered on HiFi (highly accurate long-read) sequencing technology, combining read lengths of up to 25 kb with 99.9% accuracy. The core portfolio includes two sequencing systems — Revio (high-throughput, production-scale with 4 simultaneous SMRT Cells yielding up to 480 Gb per run) and Vega (benchtop with single SMRT Cell yielding 60 Gb) — both running SPRQ-Nx chemistry for sub-$300 genomes. The ecosystem is built on complementary consumables (Nanobind extraction kits, SMRTbell library prep kits, SRE size selection), application-specific panels (Kinnex RNA kits for transcriptome/single-cell/16S, PureTarget CRISPR-based repeat expansion and carrier screening panels), and software (SMRT Link for run design and analysis). The Compatible Partner Program extends the platform through integrations with third-party bioinformatics (Lucid Genomics, DNAstack) and laboratory automation tools. PacBio is exclusively focused on long-read sequencing following the 2026 divestiture of its short-read assets to Illumina.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Revio: Long-read sequencing system designed for production-scale genomics with SPRQ chemistry, delivering 120 Gb per SMRT Cell
- Vega
- HiFi
- Kinnex
- PureTarget
- Nanobind
- SMRTbell
- SRE (Short Read Eliminator)
Products and services
- Revio Long-Read Sequencing System High-throughput production-scale long-read sequencing system running 4 simultaneous SMRT Cells to deliver up to 480 Gb of HiFi reads per day, designed for population-scale and clinical genomics.
- Vega Benchtop Long-Read Sequencing System Benchtop long-read sequencing system delivering 50-60 Gb of HiFi data per SMRT Cell with single-cell configuration; priced at USD $169,000 with $1,100 per run consumables.
- SPRQ-Nx Sequencing Chemistry with Multi-Use SMRT Cells Updated HiFi sequencing chemistry and reusable SMRT Cells for Revio enabling ~30% lower per-genome cost (~$345, sub-$300 at scale), 5hmC methylation detection, and improved 5mC/6mA detection.
- Nanobind HMW DNA Extraction Kits High molecular weight DNA extraction kits using proprietary Nanobind disk technology that protect DNA from shearing across diverse sample types (blood, saliva, tissue, plant nuclei, bacteria, insects) in 1-2.5 hours.
- Kinnex RNA Sequencing Kits MAS-Seq-based RNA kits that concatenate smaller amplicons into larger fragments for full-length bulk RNA, single-cell RNA, and 16S rRNA sequencing on PacBio long-read systems.
- PureTarget CRISPR-Cas9 Targeted Panels Amplification-free targeted sequencing panels using CRISPR-Cas9 to preserve epigenetic signals, covering repeat expansion loci (FMR1, C9orf72, RFC1) and carrier screening genes (HBB, SMN1/2, CYP21A2).
- SMRTbell Prep Kit 3.0 and HiFi Plex Prep Kit 96 PCR-free library preparation kits producing SMRTbell circular DNA templates in approximately 3.5 hours with 500-3000 ng input DNA, supporting up to 384-plex multiplexing on all PacBio HiFi systems.
- SMRT Link Software Suite Web-based software suite supporting sequencing run design, basecalling, HiFi read generation, variant calling, methylation analysis, and genome assembly across PacBio HiFi systems.
- PacBio Sequel II CNDx Clinical Sequencing System Clinical-grade long-read sequencing system with NMPA regulatory approval in China (via Berry Genomics partnership), the first clinical-grade long-read sequencer approved for clinical use in China, targeting thalassemia and genetic disorders.
- Sequel II/IIe Sequencing Systems Production-scale long-read sequencing platforms (predecessors to Revio) offering HiFi sequencing capabilities with 8M ZMW SMRT Cells for research applications.
- Certified Service Provider Sequencing Services Global network of certified third-party laboratories offering PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing as a service to customers who do not own PacBio instruments.
- PacBio Capital Equipment Financing Equipment financing program enabling customers to convert instrument capital expenditure to operating expenditure, lowering upfront adoption barriers and supporting recurring consumable commitments.
- Short Read Eliminator (SRE) Size Selection Kits Size selection kits that remove DNA fragments below 10 kb via simple size-selective precipitation to improve HiFi read length distribution and sequencing yield.
Quantifiable outcome
- ~30% lower cost per genome with SPRQ-Nx chemistry vs. prior SPRQ chemistry
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use PacBio
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PacBio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability5 records
Feature11 records
PacBio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.
- Blank BiostrategicStrategic collaboration where Blank Bio generates PacBio HiFi long-read RNA sequencing data from up to 100 fresh frozen patient tumor samples spanning multiple cancer indications. Data used to train and evaluate Blank Bio's AI foundation models for precision oncology. Blank Bio raised $7.2 million seed financing co-led by Define Ventures, Leonis Capital, SignalFire, and Y Combinator.
- Lucid GenomicscoreLucid Genomics joined PacBio's Compatible Partner Program to provide tertiary analysis for PacBio's long-read HiFi sequencing instruments. Integration enables labs to streamline conversion of genomic data into annotated, clinically relevant insights through validated workflows. Both companies may collaborate on customer engagements and co-marketing initiatives.
- CovariscoreJoint workflow integrating Covaris truXTRAC extraction technology with PacBio's Kinnex library preparation and Revio sequencing system for HiFi sequencing of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples. Studies across brain, kidney, and uterine tumor samples demonstrated detection of over 11,000 structural variants and 5+ million small variants per sample. Workflow enables analysis of archived clinical FFPE samples previously inaccessible to long-read sequencing.
- Basecamp ResearchstrategicBasecamp Research's Trillion Gene Atlas initiative uses PacBio HiFi sequencing on Revio to generate extensive metagenomic data for the world's largest diverse genomic database at trillion-gene scale. Project aims to analyze ~100,000 samples from 31+ countries across 5 continents, expanding known evolutionary genetic diversity 100-fold in under 2 years. Collaboration with Anthropic, Ultima Genomics, and NVIDIA.
- Personal Genomics of TaiwanminorPacific Biosciences and Personal Genomics of Taiwan settled a patent infringement lawsuit for $23 million total. Settlement structured as $8 million in Q1 2026 and $5 million annually through 2029, with potential increases tied to revenue thresholds. All litigation between the parties was dismissed following the agreement.
- DNAstackstrategicCollaboration to launch the world's first global federated HiFi whole genome sequencing dataset through the HiFi Solves Global Consortium. DNAstack provides federated AI architecture enabling secure cross-border analysis of genomic data while maintaining institutional data control and regional compliance. The consortium has grown to nearly 30 institutions across 15 countries with 10,000+ genomes committed.
- IMECstrategicIMEC, Europe's leading nanoelectronics research institute, collaborates with PacBio on chip development for DNA sequencing. PacBio reduced genome sequencing equipment from over 20 cubic metres to a one-cubic-centimetre chip, lowering costs from $5 million to $1,000. IMEC's future Malaga, Spain hub will focus on life sciences and healthcare chip development, complementing IMEC's existing operations in Leuven, Belgium.
- ArgenTagcoreArgenTag, a single-cell genomics technology provider founded in Argentina, signed a comarketing agreement with PacBio and joined the Compatible Partner Program. Confirms compatibility of ArgenTag's Single-Cell RNA Library Kit with PacBio's Kinnex RNA kits, enabling long-read sequencing at single-cell resolution.
- iHope (Genetic Alliance)strategicPacBio joined Genetic Alliance's iHope program as the first long-read genomic sequencing partner, integrating HiFi long-read whole-genome sequencing into iHope's international network spanning 25 clinical sites across 14 countries. Supports over 1,000 rare disease patients annually with no-cost clinical genome testing. Partnership aims to expand diagnostic capabilities for variants potentially missed by other methods.
- IlluminaminorPacBio completed sale of short-read DNA sequencing intellectual property and assets to Illumina for $48.1 million in net cash proceeds on January 30, 2026. Deal included IP from prior Omniome and Apton Biosystems acquisitions. Illumina granted a non-exclusive license back to PacBio. Deal reflects PacBio's strategic decision to pause high-throughput short-read development and focus exclusively on long-read sequencing.
- n-Lorem Foundation and EspeRarestrategicProposed strategic collaboration to advance individualized antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies for ultra-rare genetic diseases. PacBio would donate sequencing reagents and provide scientific expertise for long-read genome analysis to support n-of-1 therapeutic development. n-Lorem provides free experimental treatments to nano-rare patients; EspeRare advances translational infrastructure and patient access.
- University of California, DavisminorCollaborative development of CiFi method enabling chromosome-scale, haplotype-resolved genome assemblies from a single sequencing run, integrating chromatin conformation capture with HiFi long-read sequencing technology. Community-developed method expanding PacBio's multiomics capabilities.
- Berry GenomicsstrategicBerry Genomics serves as the regulatory and commercial partner for PacBio's Sequel II CNDx system in China. Berry achieved China's NMPA regulatory approval for the Sequel II CNDx system and a thalassemia assay, marking the first clinical-grade long-read sequencer approved in China. Enables Chinese clinicians to use PacBio HiFi sequencing for complex genetic testing, particularly for thalassemia.
- Sidra Medicine (Qatar)minorSidra Medicine joined the Hi-Fi Solves Alliance at the PMFG Summit 2025 in Doha, and its Central Genomics Unit became a PacBio-certified service provider. Supports Qatar's position as a regional hub for AI-driven genomic medicine and precision healthcare innovation.
- NVIDIAcoreNVIDIA GPUs embedded in Revio system provide massive compute power for on-instrument basecalling, HiFi read generation, methylation calling, and barcode demultiplexing. Partnership powers real-time AI-driven sequencing analysis. NVIDIA also involved in the Trillion Gene Atlas initiative alongside PacBio, Anthropic, Ultima Genomics, and Basecamp Research.
- Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE)strategicPrecision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE) drives Phase II of Singapore's National Precision Medicine programme, with PacBio as one of the genomics partners alongside Illumina and Oxford Nanopore. Sidra Medicine joined the Hi-Fi Solves Alliance, and its Central Genomics Unit became a PacBio-certified service provider. SG10K_Health study identified 98.3 million previously unreported genetic variants across Singapore's multi-ethnic population.
- A*STAR and Macrogen Inc.strategicPartnership with Singapore's A*STAR research institute and Macrogen Inc. to launch a cutting-edge genomics laboratory in Singapore. Part of Pacific Biosciences' expansion in Asia-Pacific, establishing high-precision genomics facility for clinical research applications. Supported by omics-based clinical trials market growth.
- Google (Google Research / DeepMind)coreOngoing technology partnership with Google Research for AI-powered DeepConsensus algorithms that enhance HiFi sequencing accuracy and yield. DeepConsensus combines deep learning with AlphaEvolve (Google's AI coding agent) innovations. Runs on NVIDIA GPUs embedded in the Revio system for real-time basecalling and HiFi read generation.
Scale indicators23 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PacBio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Illumina: Dominant sequencing platform provider with the largest installed base globally. Just acquired PacBio's short-read assets in 2026, and broadly competes across clinical, research, and population genomics. Comparable as the primary incumbent in the sequencing market PacBio targets.
- Roche: Broad life sciences incumbent offering sequencing through Roche Sequencing Solutions (acquired from Stratos Genomics and Genia Technologies) and integrated with diagnostics business. Competes broadly in clinical sequencing markets and has greater capital resources than PacBio.
- QIAGEN: Sample preparation and molecular diagnostics company providing consumables and kits for sequencing workflows. Competes with PacBio's Nanobind extraction kits and library prep products. Broadly comparable in life science tools and molecular diagnostics markets.
- Bio-Techne: Life science reagents and tools provider including protein and genomics consumables. Comparable as a consumables-driven life sciences tools business serving research and clinical customers, though with broader portfolio including proteomics.
- Bruker: Scientific instruments company with expanding footprint in genomics and spatial biology (acquired NanoString). Provides analytical instruments for life science research including mass spectrometry and now genomics tools. Comparable as a broad analytical instruments and life sciences tools provider.
Direct peers
- Oxford Nanopore Technologies: Direct competitor in long-read sequencing offering lower-cost nanopore-based platforms. Targets similar clinical, research, and population genomics applications with portable and benchtop devices. Most direct comparable to PacBio in long-read technology category.
- BGI Group / MGI Tech: China-based sequencing platform provider with DNBSEQ technology, particularly strong in Asia-Pacific markets where PacBio is also expanding through Berry Genomics partnership. Direct competitor in clinical and population genomics, especially in China and emerging markets.
Emerging players
- Element Biosciences: Emerging sequencing platform with AVITI system offering affordable short-read sequencing with claimed accuracy advantages. Competes for the same benchtop and mid-throughput lab customers PacBio targets with Vega, though primarily in short-read.
- Singular Genomics: Emerging multi-omics platform offering the G4 sequencer for both short-read and potentially long-read applications. Targets similar academic, clinical, and translational research customers with a focus on flexibility and affordability.
- 10x Genomics: Single-cell and spatial genomics platform provider with Chromium and Visium products. Adjacent competitor in single-cell RNA sequencing and complementary to PacBio's Kinnex single-cell kits. Targets overlapping translational research customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PacBio social profiles
Digital presencePacBio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PacBio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
PacBio subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
PacBio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds11 records
Investors20 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PacBio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A3 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PacBio
What does PacBio do?
PacBio designs, develops, and manufactures long-read DNA sequencing instruments (Revio, Vega, Sequel II/IIe, Sequel II CNDx) along with the associated consumables—SMRT Cells, library prep kits, Nanobind DNA extraction kits, Kinnex RNA kits, and PureTarget CRISPR-Cas9 panels—and SMRT Link analysis software. The instruments run HiFi SMRT sequencing chemistry that combines up to 25 kb read lengths with 99.9% accuracy and native methylation detection. The portfolio targets clinical diagnostics, population-scale genomics, pharmaceutical R&D, and academic research.
Is PacBio a public or private company?
PacBio is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was PacBio founded?
PacBio was founded in 2003. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is PacBio based?
PacBio is headquartered in Menlo Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does PacBio make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Sequencing Instruments are the primary driver. The others are sequencing Consumables, certified Service Provider Sequencing Services and pacBio Capital Financing.
Who are PacBio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Illumina, Roche, QIAGEN, Bio-Techne and Bruker. Direct peers are Oxford Nanopore Technologies and BGI Group / MGI Tech. Emerging players are Element Biosciences, Singular Genomics and 10x Genomics.
Does PacBio have an API?
No public API is recorded for PacBio.
What industry is PacBio in?
PacBio's product category is Long-Read DNA Sequencing Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAF, Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays), with a secondary code of HLAGADAF, Molecular & Genetic Testing (PCR/NGS/qPCR). Its NAICS code is 325413 and its SIC code is 3826.