Investor Relations

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 11, 2020-- Twist Bioscience Corporation (Nasdaq: TWST), a company enabling customers to succeed through its offering of high-quality synthetic DNA using its silicon platform, today announced the addition of four new synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA Controls for the development, verification, and ongoing validation of diagnostic tests. The controls include new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, expanding the genetic diversity of synthetic controls including common mutations found in varying global geographical regions.

“The COVID-19 global pandemic has led to the unprecedented need for diagnostic tests for detecting the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a variety of sample types, with an incredible demand for high quality tools that keep researchers safe,” said Emily M. Leproust, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience. “Initially, we offered synthetic controls to cover the two primary variants of SARS-CoV-2 (MT007544.1 and MN908947.3), and as the virus has evolved, we are expanding our library of available RNA positive controls to include several more subtypes to continue to facilitate the continued escalation of testing capabilities worldwide.”

In March, Twist launched two fully synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA distinct reference sequences as positive controls for the development of both next-generation sequencing (NGS) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays to test for SARS-CoV-2. These controls continue to be included in many different assays worldwide and can be used to determine the limit of detection, monitor day-to-day test variations and are included on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website as reference materials for SARS-CoV-2.

The Twist synthetic controls are designed based on specific SARS-CoV-2 variants, cover the full viral genome and are sequence-verified. For customers interested in alternative variants of SARS-CoV-2, Twist can provide custom controls and also plans to launch additional positive controls in June to continue to address the evolution of the virus and ongoing testing requirements as states and countries begin to re-open. All RNA synthetic controls are anticipated to be delivered within two weeks of ordering. For more information on the Twist Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA controls, please visit: https://www.twistbioscience.com/coronavirus-research-tools.

Customers purchasing synthetic controls are subject to Twist’s leading biosecurity screening protocols and applicable laws and regulations.

About Twist Bioscience Corporation

Twist Bioscience is a leading and rapidly growing synthetic biology and genomics company that has developed a disruptive DNA synthesis platform to industrialize the engineering of biology. The core of the platform is a proprietary technology that pioneers a new method of manufacturing synthetic DNA by “writing” DNA on a silicon chip. Twist is leveraging its unique technology to manufacture a broad range of synthetic DNA-based products, including synthetic genes, tools for next-generation sequencing (NGS) preparation, and antibody libraries for drug discovery and development. Twist is also pursuing longer-term opportunities in digital data storage in DNA and biologics drug discovery. Twist makes products for use across many industries including healthcare, industrial chemicals, agriculture and academic research.

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Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained herein, including without limitation Twist’s ability to deliver synthetic controls for SARS-CoV-2 to its customers and its ability to provide such synthetic controls within two weeks and its launch of additional controls in June, are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that may cause Twist Bioscience’s actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risks and uncertainties of the ability to attract new customers and retain and grow sales from existing customers; risks and uncertainties of rapidly changing technologies and extensive competition in synthetic biology could make the products Twist Bioscience is developing obsolete or non-competitive; uncertainties of the retention of a significant customer; risks of third party claims alleging infringement of patents and proprietary rights or seeking to invalidate Twist Bioscience’s patents or proprietary rights; and the risk that Twist Bioscience’s proprietary rights may be insufficient to protect its technologies. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Twist Bioscience’s business in general, see Twist Bioscience’s risk factors set forth in Twist Bioscience’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated May 12, 2020. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Twist Bioscience specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200611005218/en/

Investor Contact:
Argot Partners
Maeve Conneighton
212-600-1902
maeve@argotpartners.com

Media Contact:
Angela Bitting
925- 202-6211
media@twistbioscience.com

Source: Twist Bioscience Corporation