SAN DIEGO, Feb. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sequenom, Inc. announced today that The University of Texas M. D. Anderson's Kleberg Center for Molecular Markers has purchased Sequenom's proprietary MassARRAY genetic analysis system and iPLEX assay for the Center's molecular marker research and individualized cancer care initiatives.
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"We will use Sequenom's technology for genotyping and epigenomic studies in support of our efforts to identify individuals at high risk for developing specific types of cancer, develop screening approaches for early diagnosis of cancer, and tailor therapy to the genetic make-up of each patient," said Gordon Mills, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Molecular Therapeutics and co-director of the Kleberg Center. "Sequenom's MassARRAY platform is particularly attractive for our needs because it enables us to do many types of studies in a cost-effective manner, on a single platform, e.g., genotyping, quantitative gene expression, and quantitative methylation marker analysis."
"We are proud that Sequenom's technology was chosen by the Kleberg Center for their cancer pharmacogenetic needs and we hope to expand our relationship with this prominent institution in the future," stated Harry Stylli, MBA, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Sequenom, Inc. "The MassARRAY system's multi-application versatility and quantitative capabilities differentiate it from other technologies and make it especially well-suited for the demands of cancer research. Our iPLEX assay also answers the needs of leading research organizations such as the Kleberg Center by reducing reagent costs per genotype and offering efficient assay design. We are pleased to see validation of our efforts to provide the most advanced cancer research centers with the most enabling tools."
About The Kleberg Center
Opened in 2005 and based in Houston, Texas, the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Center for Molecular Markers is part of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Under the co-direction of Dr. Mills and Stanley Hamilton, M.D., head of the Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at M. D. Anderson, the Kleberg Center's goal is to individualize treatment by analyzing the changes in genes and proteins that distinguish cancer cells from normal cells and one cancer cell from another. Patient studies are ongoing in leukemia, melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancers, ovarian cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer. By simultaneously analyzing changes in thousands of genes and proteins, Kleberg Center scientists hope to identify patients at high risk for cancer or detect cancers earlier by developing blood, serum and other minimally invasive tests.
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), 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 the Kleberg Center's expected use of the MassARRAY system, Sequenom's future relationship with the Kleberg Center and the Kleberg Center's plans to identify high risk individuals, 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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