FREMONT, Calif., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. , a leading developer of state-of-the-art genetic analysis systems, today announced eight new early-access customers that include major universities and service providers in the U.S. and Japan. The company also announced that it has shipped the first SmartChip Real-Time PCR System to an international customer following CE marking certification. WaferGen’s commercialization strategy is to generate revenue through the early-access program and the recently launched service prior to broader availability of the SmartChip System planned for later this year.
“These notable early users of our SmartChip platform are clear indication of its value to vastly improve gene expression analysis and genotyping in order to provide a better understanding of disease at the molecular level and advance the drug development process,” said Alnoor Shivji, WaferGen chief executive officer, president, and chairman.
“The CE Marking certification of our SmartChip Cycler and SmartChip Nanodispenser will enable us to market and sell the SmartChip system in Europe and Japan where the CE mark is recognized,” said Shivji. “This certification along with the TUV safety approval for North America represents significant steps in our process toward commercialization.”
Three of the new customers have signed agreements to use the WaferGen SmartChip Service to receive gene-expression profiling services by WaferGen scientists at the company’s new headquarters facility in Fremont, Calif. The WaferGen SmartChip Service is targeted at scientists involved in the discovery and validation of molecular biomarkers, which are gene expression patterns. By comparing biomarkers of normal and diseased patients in the presence or absence of drugs, scientists have better insight into the genes or set of genes that can be used in drug development.
The WaferGen SmartChip System
The WaferGen SmartChip Service
About WaferGen and the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System
Based on collaborations established with leading research institutions, WaferGen believes that the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System is positioned as the platform of choice for biomarker discovery and validation. The system will provide a number of key ease-of-use features including content-ready chips with gene panels optimized for microRNA, cancer, and whole genome. WaferGen believes the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System will be the first platform to combine the high-throughput capability and cost efficiencies of existing microarrays, with the sensitivity and accuracy of real-time PCR.
This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements”. Such statements include statements relating to the expected benefits and advantages of the SmartChip service for gene-expression research, the expected benefits and advantages of the SmartChip technology to other applications, the expected throughput levels of the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System and other statements relating to future events or to the company’s future financial performance and are not historical facts, including statements which may be preceded by the words “intends,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “aims,” “believes,” “hopes,” “potential” or similar words.
The information stated above was prepared by WaferGen BioSystems, Inc. and reflects solely the opinion of WaferGen. Nothing in this statement shall be construed to imply any support or endorsement of WaferGen, or any of its products, by The Regents of the University of California, its officers, agents and employees.
WaferGen Biosystems, Inc.
