AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Luminex Corporation partner, Tm Bioscience , announced last week availability of an upper respiratory viral panel that detects all of the major human respiratory viruses, including H5N1 (Avian Flu) and SARS Corona.
“We are pleased to witness Tm Bioscience’s rapid expansion of their molecular testing menu using their proprietary Tag-It(TM) chemistry and Luminex’s xMAP(R) multiplexed detection technology,” noted Patrick Balthrop, Luminex CEO. “This new panel for major respiratory pathogens should provide customers with a more comprehensive and cost effective testing solution.”
“The flexibility and robustness of the Tag-It(TM) and xMAP(R) technologies have allowed us to rapidly create a test that will empower public health officials with vital information as they deal with both traditional infectious diseases and emerging pathogen threats,” noted Mr. Greg Hines, President and CEO of Tm Bioscience. “This panel is an example of our intention to continue expanding our menu of multiplexed molecular diagnostics to address additional opportunities in the gene-based testing market.”
About Luminex
Luminex Corporation develops, manufactures and markets proprietary biological testing technologies with applications throughout the life sciences industry. The Company’s xMAP system is an open-architecture, multi-analyte technology platform that delivers fast, accurate and cost-effective bioassay results to markets as diverse as pharmaceutical drug discovery, clinical diagnostics and biomedical research, including the genomics and proteomics research markets. The Company’s xMAP technology is sold worldwide and is in use in leading research laboratories as well as major pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology companies. Further information on Luminex Corporation or xMAP can be obtained on the Internet at http://www.luminexcorp.com .
About Tag-It(TM) reagents and genetic tests
Tm Bioscience’s product menu is focused in the fields of human genetic disorders, pharmacogenetics and infectious disease. The Company has commercialized Analyte Specific Reagents* and a series of Tag-It(TM) tests** for a variety of genetic disorders. The Company’s Tag-It(TM) Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Kit is the first multiplexed human disease genotyping test to be cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an in vitro device (IVD) for diagnostic use in the United States. All genetic tests from Tm Bioscience are based on the Tag-It(TM) Universal Array platform, which utilizes a proprietary universal tag system that allows for easy optimization, product development and expansion. Assays from Tm operate on the Luminex xMAP(R) system, a well- established bead based instrument. Combined, the Universal Array and Luminex instrument enable the rapid production of flexible, high-throughput, low-cost DNA-based tests.
* Analyte Specific Reagent. Analytical and performance characteristics are not established. ** For Investigational Use Only. The performance characteristics of these products have not been established About Tm Bioscience - Putting the Human Genome to Work(TM)
Tm Bioscience is a DNA-based diagnostics company developing a suite of genetic tests. Tm Bioscience’s product pipeline includes tests for genetic disorders, drug metabolism, and infectious diseases. Tm Bioscience is located in Toronto, Ontario. Additional information about Tm Bioscience can be found at http://www.tmbioscience.com .
Statements made in this release that express Luminex’s or management’s intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or predictions of future events are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “will,” “could,” “should” and similar expressions are intended to further identify such forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It is important to note that the Company’s actual results or performance could differ materially from those anticipated or projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause Luminex’s actual results or performance to differ materially include risks and uncertainties relating to, among others, market demand and acceptance of Luminex’s products, the Company’s dependence on strategic partners for development, commercialization and distribution of products, fluctuations in quarterly results due to a lengthy and unpredictable sales cycle, Luminex’s ability to scale manufacturing operations, potential shortages of components, competition, the timing of regulatory approvals and any modification of the Company’s operating plan in response to its ongoing evaluation of its business, as well as the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Luminex’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of Luminex as of the date of this press release, and Luminex expressly disclaims any intent, obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in Luminex’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS: Luminex: Harriss T. Currie Vice President, Finance Chief Financial Officer 512.219.8020 hcurrie@luminexcorp.com Tm Bioscience - Canada: James Smith The Equicom Group Tel.: 416-815-0700 Email: jsmith@equicomgroup.com Tm Bioscience - U.S.: Sharon Weinstein Account Supervisor Euro RSCG Life NRP 212.845.4271 sharon.weinstein@eurorscg.com
Luminex Corporation
CONTACT: Harriss T. Currie, Vice President, Finance, Chief FinancialOfficer of Luminex Corporation, +1-512-219-8020, or hcurrie@luminexcorp.com; or Canada, James Smith of The Equicom Group, +1-416-815-0700, orjsmith@equicomgroup.com ; or U.S., Sharon Weinstein, Account Supervisor ofEuro RSCG Life NRP, +1-212-845-4271, or sharon.weinstein@eurorscg.com ,both for Tm Bioscience
