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New Affymetrix Arrays with 100,000 SNPs Available for Early
Technology Access Customers
First in a Family of Arrays That Will Enable Genome-Wide Association Studies
SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Affymetrix, Inc., today
announced that its new GeneChip(R) Mapping 100K Array Set is now broadly
available through an early technology access program. This two-microarray set
can genotype over 100,000 SNPs and is the first in a family of products that
will enable scientists to begin large-scale whole-genome association studies,
which up to now have been unaffordable or impractical.
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The 100K, which Affymetrix plans to formally launch this summer, is already
being used in high-density genome scans and genome-wide association studies of
the genetics of complex diseases and drug response. Twelve customers, including
leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and leading academic
researchers, have started experiments under the initial phase of the program,
which is now expanding.
"We were amazed at how quickly we could generate highly accurate genotype
calls," said Dr. Peter Nurnberg, Head of the Gene Mapping Center at the Max
Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin-Buch and coordinator of the
National Genotyping Platform of Germany. "The 100K is a significant step to
allow whole genome association studies. We anticipate the 100K will have a
significant impact on our research in the field of complex diseases and
beyond."
In a pharmacogenomic study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute, researchers at the Mayo Clinic are using the 100K to investigate the
genetic basis for differential responses to antihypertensive drugs in different
patients and populations. By taking a whole-genome association approach to
these studies, these scientists hope to identify the unknown genes influencing
drug-response and to ultimately enable more effective tailoring of
antihypertensive therapy in individual patients.
The 100K is the newest member of the Affymetrix DNA analysis product line, which
includes comparative sequencing, custom genotyping, and whole genome SNP
microarrays. The 100K uses the same GeneChip technology that revolutionized mRNA
gene expression analysis, enabling researchers to understand both the function
and variation of whole genomes on a single, integrated platform.
The 100K builds on the innovative, scalable, easy to use assay that Affymetrix
pioneered with the GeneChip Mapping 10K Array. The 100K allows researchers to
genotype over 100,000 SNPs using just two reactions. Previously, genotyping
100,000 SNPs would have required 100,000 PCR reactions, a hurdle that made this
kind of research impractical. Before the advent of 100K, the commercial product
for genotyping the most SNPs was Affymetrix' Mapping 10K.
"The power of 100,000 SNPs in a single experiment is enabling researchers to
attempt unprecedented genetic studies at a genome-wide scale," said Greg Yap,
Sr. Marketing Director, DNA Analysis. "The GeneChip Mapping 100K Set is the
first in a family of products that will enable scientists to identify genes
associated with disease or drug response across the whole genome instead of just
studying previously known SNPs or genes, and to study complex real-world
populations instead of simple ones. To do this, we are making large-scale SNP
genotyping not only quick and easy, but also affordable -- about 1 cent per
SNP."
About half of the SNPs on the 100K set are from public databases, while the
other half are from the SNP database discovered by PerlegenSciences, Inc. All
of the SNPs on the 100K set are freely available and have been released into the
public domain. Because the assays and arrays used in the 100K set are extremely
scalable, more SNPs from both public sources and the Perlegen database will be
added to next generation arrays.
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 product
development and market acceptance of the GeneChip(R) 100K Mapping Array set),
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.
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, Doug Farrell, Vice President, Investor
Relations, +1-408-731-5285, both of Affymetrix, Inc.
Web site: http://www.affymetrix.com/