Jacob Thaysen on COVID-19
From Illumina CEO: Genomics in children's hospitals will be the biggest part of the market · · CNBCTelevision
“We've seen in COVID, for example, how it helps us identify the pathogen at the beginning, [and that] was instrumental in the mRNA vaccines that were developed and today used to track how the varieties have emerged around the world.”
On , Jacob Thaysen, Chief Executive Officer & Director at Illumina Inc, spoke about COVID-19 during Illumina CEO: Genomics in children's hospitals will be the biggest part of the market on CNBCTelevision.
About Jacob Thaysen
Jacob Thaysen, CEO of Illumina, participated in a panel on AI in biotech at CES 2026 hosted by AMD CEO Lisa Su, alongside executives from Absci and AstraZeneca. During the discussion, Thaysen stated that accurate DNA sequencing is "super data- and computer-intensive" and noted that Illumina generates more data on its sequencers than is produced on YouTube each day, calling the company's relationship with AMD "super important." He also said that combining generative AI, genomics, and proteomics is "poised to completely change our understanding of biology" and will impact drug discovery, disease prevention, and longevity. In a 2023 interview, Thaysen discussed the use of genomics in children's hospitals to diagnose genetic diseases in newborns, describing it as "far and away" the biggest part of the market. He highlighted Illumina's GRAIL blood test, which he said can identify 50 types of cancer across stages one through four, and noted that early detection improves survival chances. Thaysen stated that Illumina founded GRAIL and later bought it back, and that the company can make the tests more broadly available than the startup could on its own. He also mentioned that the test costs $950 retail and that some employers and insurers cover it.