Illumina(ILMN) Prnewswire·2025-05-13 13:15Core Insights - Illumina Inc. has launched DRAGEN version 4.4 software, which features a 30% improvement in structural variant calling accuracy and includes new oncology applications and multiomics pipelines [1][2][13] - The software aims to simplify next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis, enabling researchers to obtain insights faster and expand lab capabilities [2][3] Product Features - DRAGEN v4.4 offers preconfigured applications for oncology workflows, including the first commercially available heme whole-genome sequencing (WGS) application [13] - The software introduces a personalized pangenome reference capability, enhancing single nucleotide variant (SNV) and indel calling accuracy by 20% [13] - Enhanced support for multiomics assays, including Illumina Single Cell 3'RNA Prep and Illumina Protein Prep, is also part of the new features [13] Clinical Applications - The University Hospital of Tübingen in Germany is conducting a pioneering study using DRAGEN v4.4 to evaluate the clinical utility of advanced secondary analysis on whole-genome germline testing [4][5] - The study aims to compare the diagnostic yield of WGS processed with DRAGEN v4.4 against existing in-house analysis software, highlighting DRAGEN's superior accuracy in variant calling [5][6] Industry Impact - DRAGEN v4.4 is positioned as a leader in variant calling accuracy, with previous studies validating its performance against other variant calling programs [5][6] - The software's advancements are expected to deepen the understanding of insights generated from germline testing, potentially impacting various disease areas [6]