Bionano Genomics (NASDAQ: BNGO) saw its stock soar 5.18% in pre-market trading on Wednesday following the announcement of a peer-reviewed publication demonstrating the effectiveness of its Optical Genome Mapping (OGM) technology. The study, published in Genome Research, showcases OGM as an accurate and cost-effective method for detecting and sizing large repeat expansions associated with numerous genetic disorders.

The research, conducted by scientists at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands, evaluated 85 subjects with known pathogenic expansions in genes linked to myotonic dystrophy and cerebellar ataxia. Key findings include a 98.8% detection accuracy for pathogenic repeat expansions and the ability to measure extremely long expansions exceeding 7,000 repeat units. Additionally, the study revealed evidence of somatic instability in a significant portion of the samples, providing new insights into the unpredictable nature of these disorders.

Erik Holmlin, president and CEO of Bionano, commented on the publication, stating, "This study demonstrates how OGM can address a critical limitation in genome analysis and lays the foundation for researchers around the world to broaden their scope of OGM use in research." He added that this development could pave the way for future advancements in diagnostics and therapeutics for genetic diseases like repeat expansion disorders. The positive market reaction suggests that investors are optimistic about the potential impact of this research on Bionano's future prospects in the genomics field.