SAN DIEGO, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sequenom, Inc. announced today the launch and commercial availability of two new products for quantitative biomarker analysis for the company’s proprietary MassARRAY system. These products are directed to the rapidly growing methylation marker analysis market and the well-established and larger gene expression analysis market.
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The first product, the EpiTYPER(TM) assay, is a novel enabling tool for DNA methylation marker research. DNA methylation markers are a relatively new and important class of biomarkers that are useful because of their correlation to gene activity. High levels of cytosine methylation in genomic regions, such areas being referred to as CpG islands, are often associated with decreased or completely inhibited gene expression. Researchers believe that DNA methylation patterns play an important role in early cancer detection and prognosis. Sequenom’s new EpiTYPER assay assists cancer geneticists and researchers in other fields by providing quantitative results in the form of methylation ratios in targeted genomic regions.
“Unlike classic methods that assess methylation activity at individual sites in the genome, the EpiTYPER assay quantitatively assesses methylation ratios simultaneously across multiple CpG sites over multiple samples, dramatically increasing the scope and throughput of analysis,” said Norma J. Nowak, Ph.D., of Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY. Roswell Park is a leading cancer hospital and one of 39 research facilities in the United States designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
The second product, the QGE iPLEX(TM) multiplex assay, provides scientists with a superior research tool for quantitative gene expression analysis. While other technologies typically provide for an analysis of only one to four genes per reaction, Sequenom’s multiplex assay provides simultaneous quantitative results for 20 or more genes per reaction. Customers benefit from Sequenom’s new assay by reducing their reagent costs per data point by up to 70% depending upon the particular study, and by obtaining more data per time interval, compared to competing technologies.
Gene expression analysis is a core element of genetic research. Quantitative gene expression analysis involves the study of genetic activity level through the precise measurement of gene transcript amounts. This analysis is important because it provides information that helps researchers assess disease prognosis and predict and evaluate patient response to therapeutic treatment.
“With the launch of these new products, we are delivering on our product goals for the first quarter of 2006,” said Harry Stylli, Ph.D., M.B.A., President and Chief Executive Officer of Sequenom. “Together with our existing products for genotyping and mutation analysis, these new products now empower MassARRAY system users to perform genotyping, gene expression, and methylation studies all on a single platform. We believe these new products and our platform’s multi-capability will drive new system sales and increase demand for our consumables chips and reagents.”
The EpiTYPER assay and the QGE iPLEX assay will be presented at the American Association of Cancer Research Annual Conference in Washington D.C. beginning April 1, 2006.
About Sequenom
Sequenom is committed to providing the best genetic analysis products that translate genomic science into superior solutions for non-invasive prenatal testing, biomedical research, molecular medicine and agricultural applications. The Company’s proprietary MassARRAY system is a high-performance DNA analysis platform that efficiently and precisely measures the amount of genetic target material and variations therein. The system is able to deliver reliable and specific data from complex biological samples and from genetic target material that is only available in trace amounts. The Company has exclusively licensed intellectual property rights for the development and commercialization of non-invasive prenatal genetic tests for use with the MassARRAY system and other platforms.
Sequenom(R), MassARRAY(R), EpiTYPER(TM), and iPLEX(TM) are trademarks of Sequenom, Inc.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding anticipated product performance and demand for the company’s systems, consumable chips and reagents, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the risks detailed from time to time in Sequenom’s SEC filings, including Sequenom’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and its most recently filed quarterly report on Form 10-Q. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that is likely to change. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Sequenom undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the issuance of this press release.
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CONTACT: Investor Relations, Clarke Neumann of Sequenom, Inc.,+1-858-202-9206, cneumann@sequenom.com
