BRANFORD, Conn., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 454 Life Sciences Corporation, a majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corporation , announced today that in 2005 a total of twenty Genome Sequencer 20 systems were purchased by and installed with customers world-wide. The Genome Sequencer 20 system was developed by 454 Life Sciences and recognized by the Wall Street Journal with the overall and biotechnology Gold Medals in its 2005 Technology Innovation Awards. Beginning in October 2005, the Genome System 20 System and reagents have been distributed worldwide by Roche Applied Science, a business unit of Roche Diagnostics.
Chris McLeod, President and CEO of 454 Life Sciences comments, “We are pleased to have Roche Applied Science as our exclusive distribution partner and research collaborator. In the fourth quarter, we more than doubled the number of installed instrument systems at research centers around the world and have had repeat customers currently using multiple GS20 systems.”
“This has been one of our most successful product launches ever,” commented Volker Pfahlert, Head of Roche Applied Science. “It is clear that the Genome Sequencer 20 system addresses the need for rapid, high-throughput sequencing in numerous life science applications.”
454 Life Sciences financial results for 2005 and guidance for 2006 will be reported on February 2, 2006 in conjunction with CuraGen Corporation’s fourth quarter and 2005 year-end results press release.
About 454 Life Sciences Corporation
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 Science. 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. 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.
Contact: 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 Corporation
CONTACT: Peter Dacey, Vice President, Finance of 454 Life Sciences,+1-877-890-GNOM, info@454.com; or Emily Poe, Vice President of NoonanRusso, +1-212-845-4266, Emily.poe@eurorscg.com, for 454 Life Sciences
