Swift Biosciences

Swift Biosciences, founded in 2010 by David C. Olson, develops and commercializes library preparation kits and reagents for next-generation sequencing (NGS). Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the company provides tools for academic, translational, and clinical research. Its products are used in various fields, including oncology, agrigenomics, metagenomics, and inherited disease research.

The company's product portfolio is designed to accelerate and streamline DNA and RNA sample preparation for NGS instruments from providers like Illumina and Ion Torrent. Key offerings include the Accel-NGS® DNA and Methyl-Seq DNA library kits, which utilize a proprietary Adaptase™ technology to enable library creation from low-input or challenging samples like cell-free DNA and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. These kits aim to maximize data output, provide comprehensive genome coverage, and lower sequencing costs for researchers. Swift Biosciences also developed amplicon panels for detecting specific, clinically relevant mutations and products to support SARS-CoV-2 research.

After raising approximately $35.2 million over several funding rounds from investors including Arboretum Ventures and Fletcher Spaght, Swift Biosciences was acquired by Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), a Danaher subsidiary, in March 2021. Following the acquisition, Swift's team and operations continued in Ann Arbor, with its products being integrated into IDT's xGen™ NGS portfolio.

Keywords: next-generation sequencing, NGS library preparation, DNA sequencing, RNA sequencing, molecular biology reagents, genomics, translational research, agrigenomics, metagenomics, oncology research, liquid biopsy, cell-free DNA, methylation sequencing, amplicon sequencing, Adaptase technology, Integrated DNA Technologies, Danaher, David C. Olson, Ann Arbor