Hercules, CA — October 16, 2014 — Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) today announced the launch of new PrimePCR Assays for Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR™). This release expands Bio-Rad’s current offering of predesigned and fully wet-lab validated assays by an additional 100 assays for copy number variation (CNV) and 92 assays for mutation detection. Bio-Rad will also be adding 5,620 mutation detection assays that were created using the same algorithms and design rules as the wet-lab validated assays.
Bio-Rad’s ddPCR technology provides an absolute measure of target DNA molecules without the need for a standard curve. Together with PrimePCR Mutation Detection Assays, this technology enables detection of one mutant molecule in a background of 2,000 wild-type molecules. Measuring these extremely low levels of mutation abundance could lead to the development of new, less invasive and more sensitive diagnostics. In addition, the high precision and absolute quantification made possible by PrimePCR ddPCR Assays enable the quantitative discrimination required to resolve small fold changes in gene copy numbers for CNV analysis.
Highly studied gene targets
Among the genes that can now be targeted using PrimePCR ddPCR Assays is paired box gene 2 (PAX2), a CNV gene target that is suspected to have both oncogenic and tumor suppression functions in ovarian cancers. Another notable CNV assay released as part of this launch detects the neurexin-1-alpha gene (NRXN1), which has been linked to a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and intellectual disability.
The new mutation detection PrimePCR ddPCR Assays include those for fms-related tyrosine kinase (FLT) mutations that are observed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Mutations in the fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene represent one of the most frequently encountered and clinically challenging classes of AML mutations. This release also includes several assays that detect mutations in the neuroblastoma RAS (NRAS) gene, including the G12V mutation that has recently been linked to poor prognosis in malignant melanoma.
PrimePCR ddPCR Assays are compatible with all Bio-Rad Droplet Digital PCR Systems, including the QX200™ AutoDG™ Droplet Digital™ PCR System.
For more information on Bio-Rad’s PrimePCR products, please visit www.bio-rad.com/PrimePCRpr.
About Bio-Rad
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of innovative products and solutions for the life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. The company is renowned for its commitment to quality and customer service among university and research institutions, hospitals, public health and commercial laboratories, as well as the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and food safety industries. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is based in Hercules, California, and serves more than 100,000 research and healthcare industry customers through its global network of operations. The company employs approximately 7,800 people worldwide and had revenues exceeding $2.1 billion in 2013. For more information, visit our website at www.bio-rad.com.
This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “estimate,” “continue,” or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. For further information regarding the Company’s risks and uncertainties, please refer to the “Risk Factors” in the Company’s public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
For more information contact:
Viresh Patel
Bio-Rad Laboratories
925-474-8602
Viresh_Patel@bio-rad.com
Ken Li
Chempetitive Group
312-997-2436 x 112
kli@chempetitive.com
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