WaferGen Biosystems Announces General Availability of Quick-Turnaround SmartChip Custom Panels

FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: WGBS), a leading developer of state-of-the-art genomic analysis systems, today announced general availability of its Quick-Turnaround SmartChip Custom Panels to enable validation studies of specific genes of interest through customization of high-throughput, real-time PCR SmartChip assay panels -- all on a Quick-Turnaround basis.

Using the SmartChip Custom Panels, WaferGen can now offer researchers -- on a Quick Turnaround basis -- their own application-specific real-time PCR assay panel. Customers can choose from WaferGen's existing library of assays, or have WaferGen develop a panel for them. The WaferGen scientific team will design, optimize, and deliver SmartChip Custom Panels with tens to hundreds of assays repeated across the chip. Custom panels allow customers to save time and money on real-time PCR validation studies compared to traditional methods by enabling hundreds of samples at a cost of $10s to $100s per sample in a single experiment. The Quick-Turnaround SmartChip Custom Panels become a valuable tool in enabling researchers to validate biomarkers coming from genome-wide Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) discovery programs.

"We continue to enhance our SmartChip genomics analysis solution with additional gene panel offerings," said Alnoor Shivji, Chairman and CEO. "Our custom panels with quick turnaround time will enable researchers to conduct large-scale validation studies with unmatched speed and cost advantages. We now offer the ability to run up to 384 samples on a single SmartChip, offering the maximum flexibility to researchers involved in biomarker validation studies. Combined with our growing breadth of validated gene expression assays, the SmartChip Custom Panels contribute to the SmartChip System becoming an industry-leading validation platform for biomarker discovery studies."

About WaferGen and the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. is a leader in the development, manufacture and sale of state-of-the-art systems for genomic analysis for the life science and pharmaceutical industries. The company currently offers the breakthrough SmartChip Real-Time PCR System, the next-generation Real-Time PCR system for discovery and validation of biomarkers, or gene expression patterns, on a single platform. The company believes that SmartChip is ideal for researchers seeking to confirm discoveries made with the growing use of next-generation sequencing. In addition, the high throughput capabilities of the SmartChip System enable researchers to extend their research across large panels of genes, and hundreds of samples, at a very reasonable cost.

Combined with next-generation chemistry and optimized assays being developed by WaferGen under the guidance of David Gelfand, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and one of the pioneers of PCR, the SmartChip System is designed to provide accurate, highly sensitive and high-throughput gene expression profiling capabilities to researchers, clinicians and pharmaceutical companies.

In addition, the company offers an innovative fee-based service for gene-expression profiling using the SmartChip System. For additional information, please see http://www.wafergen.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements". Such statements include statements relating to the expected benefits of the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System with respect to next generation sequencing and health care costs, statements relating to the expected benefits and advantages of the SmartChip service for gene-expression research, statements relating to the expected benefits and advantages of the SmartChip technology, including the SmartChip Custom Panels, to other applications, statements relating to the company's belief that the SmartChip System is ideal for researchers seeking to confirm discoveries made with the growing use of next-generation sequencing, statements relating to the company's belief that its product is poised to become an industry-leading validation platform for biomarker discovery projects, and other statements relating to future events that are not historical facts, including statements which may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the company. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include the risks that: (i) the company may be unsuccessful in commercially developing its products or in achieving market acceptance of new and relatively unproven technologies; (ii) the company will need to raise additional capital to meet its business requirements in the future and the company may not be able to do so on reasonable terms or at all; (iii) the company's proprietary intellectual property rights may not adequately protect its products and technologies; and (iv) the company expects intense competition in its target markets, including from companies that have much greater resources than the company, and there can be no assurance that the company will be able to compete effectively. More detailed information about the company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and the most recent Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read this document free of charge on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. The company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts:

WaferGen

510-651-4450

Don Huffman, CFO

don.huffman@wafergen.com


Joyce Strand

joyce.strand@wafergen.com



SOURCE WaferGen Biosystems, Inc.

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