Watchmaker Genomics Rethinks Whole Genome Sequencing with Expanse™

New approach to PCR-free whole genome sequencing debuts at ASHG 2026 as Early Access begins

BOULDER, Colorado, US, 15^th October 2026 – Watchmaker Genomics today announced the introduction of Expanse™ Whole Genome Sequencing, a fundamentally new approach to PCR-free WGS that integrates library preparation and normalization into a single workflow. The company will preview Expanse at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2026 Annual Meeting as it opens its Early Access program.

PCR-free whole genome sequencing offers significant advantages in data quality, but realizing those benefits consistently and at scale remains challenging. Achieving uniform coverage at target depth depends on precise library quantification and pooling, processes that traditionally involve labor-intensive qPCR and dilution steps prone to variability and error. High DNA input requirements and limited compatibility with challenging sample types introduce additional barriers, making PCR-free WGS difficult to scale across diverse samples and applications.

Expanse takes a fundamentally different approach, integrating Watchmaker's novel EquiPlex™ Cas9-mediated normalization technology directly into a fully automatable PCR-free library preparation workflow. By eliminating qPCR and manual normalization, the solution removes key processing bottlenecks while delivering balanced library representation and more uniform sequencing coverage.

Beyond normalization, Expanse combines key workflow optimizations to maximize usable sequencing data from every flow cell lane. Cas9-mediated normalization inherently enriches for sequencing-competent molecules, while robust library preparation chemistry delivers consistent insert sizes across a variety of DNA inputs. Together, these advances improve sequencing efficiency and flow cell utilization. The integrated workflow takes sample DNA to a normalized, sequencing-ready library pool in approximately 2.5 hours, supports inputs as low as 75 ng, and accommodates diverse sample types, including FFPE.

"Sequencing capacity has advanced dramatically, but the workflows used to prepare samples haven't kept pace," said Trey Foskett, CEO of Watchmaker Genomics. "With Expanse, we're not simply making individual steps faster. We're fundamentally changing how libraries are prepared and normalized to make high-quality PCR-free WGS more practical at scale."

Expanse builds on a series of innovations introduced by Watchmaker earlier this year. In February, the company announced a licensing agreement with Caribou Biosciences supporting its novel application of CRISPR-Cas9 as a normalizing molecular binding tool rather than a cutting enzyme. This technology powered the launch of the EquiPlex™ Normalization Kit at ESHG 2026, with potential applications extending to PCR-free cfDNA sequencing. Expanse takes the technology further, integrating normalization directly into the WGS workflow to address longstanding barriers to scalability and sequencing efficiency.

Watchmaker will share early Expanse performance data at ASHG 2026 in a presentation titled “From Bottlenecks to Breakthroughs: Unlocking High-Quality WGS at Scale” on October 22 at 4:15 PM ET in CoLab Theater 2. The presentation will highlight results across reference DNA, blood, saliva, and FFPE samples, demonstrating the potential of this integrated approach to improve sequencing efficiency, coverage uniformity, and variant-calling performance.

The company is also inviting select laboratories to participate in the Expanse Early Access program ahead of broader commercial availability. To learn more, visit the website or connect with the Watchmaker team at ASHG booth 1022.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Watchmaker Genomics

Jen Pavlica
VP, Marketing
Watchmaker Genomics
E: [email protected]

Sciad Communications, Media Relations

Jasmin Shearan
E: [email protected]
T: +44 (0)20 34057892

About Watchmaker Genomics

Watchmaker Genomics is a life sciences company focused on developing high-performance tools that empower genomic research and clinical applications. Leveraging expertise in protein engineering and next-generation sequencing, Watchmaker delivers precision reagents and platforms that enable superior accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in molecular analysis. The company is dedicated to advancing breakthrough technologies to support innovations in cancer detection, epigenetics, and liquid biopsy applications.