Quantum-Si Inc (NASDAQ:QSI) shares are surging Friday. The company said its Proteus protein sequencer can now pick out 19 of the 20 amino acids. Here’s what you should know.

Quantum-Si Rises After Reaching 19 Of 20 Amino Acids

Quantum-Si reported that its Proteus development program can now identify 19 amino acids. The proteomics company is working to reshape protein analysis with single-molecule protein sequencing. Next, it will load the 19-amino-acid ability into an early sequencing kit that can run routinely on integrated Proteus instruments.

The advance extends interim Proteus data shown at the 2026 World HUPO Congress. Quantum-Si says the result strengthens its belief that detecting all 20 amino acids is achievable by the end of 2026.

Quantum-Si CEO Says Proteus Is Tracking Toward a 2027 Launch

CEO Jeff Hawkins called the 19-amino-acid result “an important step toward our goal” of covering all 20 by the end of 2026. The company’s R&D team will next put the capability into a developmental kit, Hawkins said. The pace of work on the amino acid recognizer program keeps raising Hawkins’ confidence that all 20 will be detected by year-end.

At World HUPO, a developmental kit that detects 18 amino acids lifted Proteus performance on every key sequencing measure, Hawkins said. Hawkins expects the 19th amino acid to push performance higher once it joins a kit. Together, those results boost Hawkins’ confidence that Proteus can launch commercially in the second quarter of 2027.

Founder JM Rothberg Backs Quantum-Si On Social Media

Founder JM Rothberg promoted the news in posts on X. Rothberg said Quantum-Si exists to bring Moore’s law and AI to biology and medicine once again, and he cheered the company’s 19-of-20 result. As the last amino acids fall into place, Rothberg predicted, next-gen protein sequencing will change biology, medicine and human health for good. Rothberg also said he owns lots of the stock.

Rothberg pointed to his track record. His team invented and commercialized the world’s first next-gen DNA sequencing machine, work that earned him a medal from Barack Obama, and then turned to next-gen protein sequencing. “DNA predicts your future. Proteins are the reality check!” Rothberg wrote.

QSI Shares Are Soaring

QSI Price Action: Quantum-Si shares were up 27.87% at $1.551 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro.

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