Affymetrix (NASDAQ:AFFX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2019 to Aug 2024
![Click Here for more Affymetrix Charts. Click Here for more Affymetrix Charts.](/p.php?pid=staticchart&s=N%5EAFFX&p=8&t=15)
Affymetrix Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFX) and Partners HealthCare
announced today that they have entered into a three-year translational
research collaboration to develop microarray-based diagnostics for
complex diseases such as newborn hearing loss, autism and hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy. Under the terms of the agreement, Partners researchers
at Harvard Medical School (HMS), Partners HealthCare and Harvard
Medical School-Partners HealthCare Center for Genetics and Genomics
(HPCGG) will create and validate microarray tests in Clinical
Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) laboratories.
"This collaboration with Affymetrix will allow us to better
translate innovations and research discoveries at Partners into highly
valuable clinical diagnostic tests and technologies that will improve
patient management and care," said Trung Do, executive director of
business development at Partners HealthCare.
Over the past decade, there have been hundreds of microarray
studies -- expression and genotyping -- with potential diagnostic
implications. However, these discoveries have rarely translated into
validated diagnostic tests. Researchers at HPCGG will now be able to
validate their discovery data in an easily accessible CLIA
environment. Scientists will use Affymetrix GeneChip(R) genotyping,
resequencing and expression technologies in the CLIA lab to more
rapidly apply RNA and DNA patterns in tests that can better classify,
manage and treat complex diseases.
"Many of the health problems being tackled by today's medicine are
multifaceted and complex," said Raju Kucherlapati, Ph.D., professor of
Genetics at HMS and scientific director of HPCGG. "One way to address
these challenges is through technology, making it possible for us to
develop tests for both complex and multiple genetic disorders. These
tests will be available throughout the Partners community at
substantially reduced cost to researchers."
"We are delighted to be working with one of the leading
organizations in personalized healthcare to help accelerate the
translation of genetic research," said Fred Pollock, associate
director of translational medicine at Affymetrix. "By offering the
Affymetrix microarray-based diagnostics and screening tests in CLIA
environments, we can help physicians deliver more effective
personalized treatments that have received the appropriate validation
and clearance."
Affymetrix and HPCGG estimate that it may take a year to develop
the first chip-based diagnostic test for use in HPCGG's CLIA-approved
lab. The CLIA-validated tests will first be offered to patients in the
Partners HealthCare System.
Affymetrix collaborates with academic institutions, advocacy
groups, and the pharmaceutical and diagnostics community through its
Translational Medicine Program to develop molecular signatures for
improving patient care. Affymetrix GeneChip microarray technology
helps researchers to diagnose and tailor treatments for individual
patients by identifying and measuring the genetic information
associated with complex diseases. The Translational Medicine Program
complements the Powered by Affymetrix(TM) program, which enables
companies to license GeneChip technology to create innovative
custom-designed microarray products based on signatures such as those
of our Translational Medicine partners. This technology is already
being used in many applications, including diagnostics, forensics,
animal, industrial and food testing.
About Partners HealthCare
Partners HealthCare was founded in 1994 by Brigham and Women's
Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Partners is an integrated
healthcare delivery system that offers patients throughout the region
a continuum of coordinated, high-quality care. The system includes
primary care and specialty physicians, community hospitals, the two
founding academic medical centers, specialty facilities, community
health centers, home-based services and other health-related entities.
Partners HealthCare is a non-profit organization. More information is
available at www.partners.org.
About Harvard Medical School-Partners HealthCare Center for
Genetics and Genomics
HPCGG combines world-class scientific talent with access to a
population of more than 2 million patients and their physicians,
providing a continuum of resources and expertise to rapidly translate
scientific discoveries into diagnoses and treatments that benefit
patients. Through its educational programs at Harvard Medical School
and other academic institutions, the center has created the
infrastructure to educate the medical profession on personalized
medicine approaches. The center also operates full-service clinics for
patients with known or suspected genetic conditions, as well as core
facilities and services for genetic study design, DNA sequencing,
genotyping, proteomics, bioinformatics and microarrays. More
information is available at www.hpcgg.org
About Affymetrix
Affymetrix scientists invented the world's first high-density
microarray in 1989 and began selling the first commercial microarray
in 1994. Since then, Affymetrix GeneChip(R) technology has become the
industry standard in molecular biology research. Affymetrix technology
is used by the world's top pharmaceutical, diagnostic and
biotechnology companies as well as leading academic, government and
not-for-profit research institutes. More than 1,400 systems have been
installed around the world and more than 7,000 peer-reviewed papers
have been published using the technology. Affymetrix' patented
photolithographic manufacturing process provides the most information
capacity available today on an array, enabling researchers to use a
whole-genome approach to analyzing the relationship between genetics
and health. Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., with
manufacturing facilities in Sacramento, Calif., and Bedford, Mass. The
company maintains important sales and marketing operations in Europe
and Asia and has about 1,100 employees worldwide. For more information
about Affymetrix, please visit the company's website at
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
and uncertainties associated with the agreement with the
Harvard-Partners Center for Genetics and Genomics discussed in this
press release; 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; 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/A
for the year ended December 31, 2005, 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.