BRANFORD, Conn., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 454 Life Sciences Corporation, a majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corporation , announced today the initiation of a collaborative research agreement with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, a research collaboration of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and its hospitals and the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. Under the collaboration, researchers at the Broad Institute will use 454 Life Sciences' system to conduct disease-related genomic studies in order to study the genetic basis for complex diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. 454 Life Sciences has enabled its Genome Sequencer 20 System to perform "Ultra-deep Sequencing"(TM) of specific genes of interest for use in the collaboration.
"We are excited about the potential of the 454 technology platform to have a significant impact on advancing our disease gene studies," said Chad Nusbaum, co-director of the Genome Sequencing and Analysis program at the Broad Institute. "We hope this collaboration will lead not only to new insights into disease genomics, but also to the development of additional exciting applications for this promising technology."
The identification of mutations from analyzing the genomes of various diseases is critical to understanding the genetic basis behind such diseases. This information could ultimately lead to tools that will help researchers to diagnose certain conditions and determine those patients who are most likely to respond to treatment. 454 Life Sciences' high throughput sequencing technology has initially been used for sequencing of whole genomes. This new application applies the technology's superior sensitivity and identification of linked mutations to in-depth studies of specific genes of medical interest.
"We are honored to have established this collaborative research relationship with the Broad Institute, which was also our first customer for the commercially available Genome Sequencer 20 System," stated Christopher K. McLeod, President and Chief Executive Officer of 454 Life Sciences. "Under this agreement, Broad and 454 Life Sciences will collaborate to bring our instrument system into mainline, large scale, genomic projects at the Broad Institute, while working together to develop additional, novel uses of the technology for a broad range of important scientific inquiries which require ultra-deep sequencing of genes of interest."
About 454 Life Sciences
454 Life Sciences, a 66% majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corporation , is commercializing novel instrumentation and measurement services for rapidly and comprehensively conducting high-throughput nucleotide sequencing, with specific application to sequencing of whole genomes and ultra-deep sequencing of target genes. 454 Life Sciences' Genome Sequencer 20 System enables one individual to prepare and sequence an entire genome after performing a single sample preparation, irrespective of the size of the genome being studied. The hallmark of 454 Life Sciences' technology is the PicoTiterPlate(TM), which allows a single instrument using patented light emitting sequencing chemistries to produce over 20 million nucleotide bases per five-hour run, totaling more than 100 times the capacity of instruments using the current macro-scale technology.
The Genome Sequencer 20 System and reagents are available exclusively from Roche Applied Sciences. For additional information on the Genome Sequencer 20 System and reagents, please visit http://www.roche-applied-science.com/sis/sequencing/genome/. 454 Life Sciences offers sequencing services directly to customers on a fee for service basis at their state-of-the-art Measurement Services Center. For additional information on 454 Life Sciences, please visit http://www.454.com.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. These statements include statements concerning the ability of 454 Life Sciences' system to help better understand the genetic basis for complex diseases, the potential of the 454 technology platform to have a significant impact advancing disease gene studies, the potential for the collaboration between the 454 Life Sciences and the Broad Institute to lead to new insights into disease genomics and to the development of additional applications for this technology, the potential for information obtained through this technology to lead to tools that will help researchers diagnose certain conditions and determine those patients who are most likely to respond to treatment, and the collaboration of 454 Life Sciences and the Broad Institute to bring 454 Life Sciences' instrument system into mainline, large scale, genomic projects at the Broad Institute. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. 454 Life Sciences and CuraGen caution investors that there can be no assurance that actual results or business conditions will not differ materially from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the following: the early stage of development of 454 Life Sciences' products and technologies; customer acceptance of 454 Life Sciences' products and technologies; 454 Life Sciences' ability to scale- up production of its products and technologies; disputes between 454 Life Sciences and CuraGen; the success of competing products and technologies; technological uncertainty and product development risks; uncertainties of clinical trials, government regulation and healthcare reform; uncertainty of additional funding with respect to both CuraGen and 454 Life Sciences; 454 Life Sciences' and CuraGen's history of incurring losses and the uncertainty of achieving profitability; CuraGen's stage of development as a genomics-based pharmaceutical company; patent infringement claims against 454 Life Sciences' and CuraGen's products, processes and technologies; the ability to protect 454 Life Sciences' and CuraGen's patents and proprietary rights; uncertainties relating to commercialization rights; product liability exposure; and competition. Please refer to CuraGen's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2005 for a complete description of these risks. 454 Life Sciences and CuraGen disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless required by law.
454 Life Sciences Peter Dacey Vice President, Finance info@454.com (877) 890-GNOM Noonan Russo Emily Poe Vice President emily.poe@eurorscg.com (212) 845-4266
454 Life Sciences Corporation; CuraGen CorporationCONTACT: Peter Dacey, Vice President, Finance of 454 Life Sciences, +1-877-890-GNOM, info@454.com; or Emily Poe, Vice President of Noonan Russo,+1- 212-845-4266, emily.poe@eurorscg.com
Web site: http://www.curagen.com//
