PacBio, TychoBio Partner to Train AI Models for RNA Therapy Design Using Long-Read Sequencing

Pacific Biosciences of California Inc. (PACB) and TychoBio announced a collaboration to generate full-length RNA data for training AI models used in RNA therapy design, sending PACB shares down 6.28% to $2.78. Under the agreement, TychoBio will use PacBio's HiFi and Kinnex long-read RNA sequencing to generate data from more than 10,000 samples, creating large-scale datasets linking steric blocking antisense oligonucleotide (SBO) design to transcriptome-wide effects. The partners plan to expand the approach to siRNA and other RNA-targeting compounds. TychoBio will test candidate therapies across multiple cell types and use PacBio sequencing to measure transcriptome changes after treatment. The data will train models predicting efficacy, duration and potential unintended effects of RNA therapies. PacBio said full-length transcript data offers insight into RNA isoform and splicing changes, supporting characterization of RNA therapies in rare diseases. The companies said the collaboration will integrate HiFi sequencing data directly into TychoBio's research workflow.