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Affymetrix, ParAllele and Cambridge University Collaborate for
Large-Scale Genetic Study of Diabetes
Candidate-Gene Association Study to Use Standard Panel of More Than 10,000
Coding SNPs and Genotype Over 2,000 People
SANTA CLARA, Calif., SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and CAMBRIDGE, England, July
20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX) and ParAllele
BioScience announced today that scientists at Cambridge University will use
GeneChip(R) Tag Arrays and MegAllele(TM) genotyping reagents in one of the most
informative genetic studies of type 1 diabetes ever planned. This study
utilizes the new products resulting from the recent partnership between
Affymetrix and ParAllele, enabling researchers to perform large-scale
genotyping in their own labs with their own panels of single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs).
(For an interactive version of this press release with additional information,
please go to http://www.affymetrix.com/pr and click on the release title)
Professor John Todd of the University's Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory (DIL) at
Cambridge is leading this research effort. His group will be the first to use
a ParAllele-developed standard panel of 10,000 non-synonymous SNPs -- SNPs that
change the sequences of proteins -- to compare genotypes between 1,000 control
samples and 1,000 diabetic samples. The scientists have planned this as the
first stage in the analysis of over 20,000 DNA samples already collected from
diabetes patients and their relatives. The DIL is committed to sharing these
samples and results with other researchers in the worldwide effort of finding
new disease-associated genes for the development of better therapies and
prognostic tests. The controls come from the 1958 British Birth Cohort in
collaboration with Professor David Strachan of St. George's Hospital Medical
School, London.
"This research project is the most exciting and important genetics experiment
I've ever been involved in," said Todd. "We've been collecting samples for
quite some time and have been waiting for a technology that would give us the
genetic power we needed to commence informative studies. Using this new
solution from Affymetrix and ParAllele for a genome-wide gene association study
provides us with the best opportunity we've ever had to discover new
disease-associated genes and polymorphisms."
"We're delighted to offer scientists a full range of tools to analyze the
genome in different ways, leading to a better understanding of disease," said
Greg Yap, Senior Marketing Director of DNA Analysis at Affymetrix. "Our new
partnership with ParAllele enables us to provide researchers with another
solution for genetic association studies and complements our existing solutions
for genome-wide genotyping and resequencing."
ParAllele's MegAllele(TM) products include genotyping reagent kits and software
specifically designed for use with Affymetrix GeneChip(R) Tag Arrays and
instrumentation systems. These new products offer the ability to genotype up
to tens of thousands of SNPs in a single, flexible assay.
"We are pleased to be working with a pioneer such as John Todd on such an
important study," said Nick Naclerio, President & CEO of ParAllele BioScience.
"This will be the first time that any researcher has directly analyzed this
many potentially disease-related SNPs in such a well-characterized population.
The ability to conduct studies of this scale may provide important new insights
into type 1 diabetes."
Using the combined MegAllele and GeneChip product, scientists can select SNPs
from custom panels of 3,000 to 5,000 SNPs and standard panels of up to 10,000
pre-selected SNPs. The panel being used in the Cambridge University study is
also available to other researchers worldwide. Assay design is customized and
comprehensive, enabling researchers to successfully genotype more of the SNPs
they want.
About ParAllele Bioscience:
ParAllele BioScience, Inc. is accelerating healthcare breakthroughs by
providing comprehensive genetic discovery solutions to the life science
research, pharmaceutical and diagnostic sectors. The company's products and
services utilize a unique approach that leverages novel biochemical processes
rather than complex instrumentation to discover and analyze minute variations
in the human genome. The understanding of how subtle genetic variations
contribute to disease risk, prognosis and drug response will lead to new and
more effective drugs, predictive diagnosis, and the ability to better tailor
therapies to individual patients. To date, ParAllele has established research
collaborations with multiple large pharmaceutical companies and prestigious
academic and government institutions.
Headquartered in South San Francisco, California, ParAllele BioScience was
founded by a team of leading researchers from the Stanford Genome Technology
Center and Uppsala University. The company's investors include Abingworth
Management, Index Ventures, Mohr Davidow Ventures and Versant Ventures. For
more information about ParAllele, please visit the company's website at
http://www.parallelebio.com/.
About Affymetrix:
Affymetrix is a pioneer in creating breakthrough tools that are driving the
genomic revolution. By applying the principles of semiconductor technology to
the life sciences, Affymetrix develops and commercializes systems that enable
scientists to improve the quality of life. The Company's customers include
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agrichemical, diagnostics and consumer products
companies as well as academic, government and other non-profit research
institutes. Affymetrix offers an expanding portfolio of integrated products and
services, including its integrated GeneChip brand platform, to address growing
markets focused on understanding the relationship between genes and human
health. Additional information on Affymetrix can be found at
http://www.affymetrix.com/.
All statements in this press release that are not historical are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act as amended, including statements regarding Affymetrix'
"expectations," "beliefs," "hopes," "intentions," "strategies" or the like.
Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially for Affymetrix from those projected, including,
but not limited to risks of the Company's ability to achieve and sustain higher
levels of revenue, higher gross margins, reduced operating expenses,
uncertainties relating to technological approaches, manufacturing, product
development, market acceptance (including uncertainties relating to the outcome
of the genetic study of diabetes described in this press release), personnel
retention, uncertainties related to cost and pricing of Affymetrix products,
dependence on collaborative partners, uncertainties relating to sole source
suppliers, uncertainties relating to FDA and other regulatory approvals,
competition, risks relating to intellectual property of others and the
uncertainties of patent protection and litigation. These and other risk factors
are discussed in Affymetrix' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and
other SEC reports, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for subsequent
quarterly periods. Affymetrix expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking
to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect any change in Affymetrix' expectations with regard
thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such
statements are based.
About the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and
Inflammation Laboratory (DIL; http://www-gene.cimr.cam.ac.uk/todd/ ):
The DIL, centered in the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, is a
multidisciplinary research program within the University departments of Medical
Genetics and Paediatrics. The DIL collaborates with the Department of Public
Health and Primary Care and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, and is a
member of the international Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium.
The goals of the DIL are to identify genes and molecular mechanisms that
contribute to the breakdown of self-tolerance in type 1 diabetes and autoimmune
disease and so therapeutically modulate one or more of these pathways to
prevent primary, or transplanted, beta cell destruction.
To further these aims, 2005 will see the completion of an 8,000 case DNA
collection, and a 1,500 family study focused on diabetes complications.
NOTE: Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo, and GeneChip are registered trademarks
owned or used by Affymetrix, Inc.
DATASOURCE: Affymetrix, Inc.
CONTACT: media, Wes Conard, Associate Director, Public Relations,
+1-408-731-5791, or investors, or investors, Doug Farrell, Vice President,
Investor Relations, +1-408-731-5285, both of Affymetrix, Inc.; or media
Nick Naclerio, PhD, President & CEO of ParAllele BioScience, +1-650-583-5833,
or ; or media, Karen Bergman or Michelle Corral
BCC Partners, +1-650-575-1509, or +1-415-794-8662, for ParAllele BioScience
Web site: http://www.affymetrix.com/
Web site: http://www.parallelebio.com/
Web site: http://www-gene.cimr.cam.ac.uk/todd