Affymetrix and Children's Research Institute Form Five-year Strategic Alliance.Researchers to Screen the Genetic Information of Up to 25,000 Patients in Five Years to Develop Novel Diagnostics and Screening Tests for Common, Complex Diseases Affecting Children SANTA CLARA Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. , Calif. & MILWAUKEE -- Affymetrix Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFX) and Children's Research Institute, a not-for-profit medical research member organization of Children's Hospital A children's hospital is a hospital which offers its services exclusively to children. The number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th century, as pediatric medical and surgical specialties separated from internal medicine and adult surgical specialties. and Health System affiliated with Medical College of Wisconsin, announced today that they have entered into a five-year strategic alliance. The alliance will help Children's Research Institute build processing capacity over the next five years to analyze up to 25,000 samples using several different Affymetrix arrays. The goal of the alliance is to demonstrate the clinical utility of array-based molecular diagnostics, and to leverage arrays to make molecular diagnostic tests better, faster and more economical. Scientists at Children's Research Institute will use Affymetrix GeneChip([R]) microarray technology to analyze the genomic information of consenting patients. The large-scale clinical studies are designed to enable researchers to better identify the genetic variations associated with common, complex diseases that affect children. The resulting information will be used to develop novel diagnostics and screening tests to help clinicians and families make more informed decisions. "The primary objective of Children's Research Institute is to bring together the best in cutting-edge medical research with the best in established medical treatment for children," said Robert Kliegman, M.D., executive vice president of Children's Research Institute. "We are excited to work together with Affymetrix, as its technology platform for highest-throughput genotyping Genotyping refers to the process of determining the genotype of an individual with a biological assay. Current methods of doing this include PCR, DNA sequencing, and hybridization to DNA microarrays or beads. is critical for our goal of identifying genes and markers for common diseases," said Ulrich Broeckel, M.D., leading investigator in the Individualized in·di·vid·u·al·ize tr.v. in·di·vid·u·al·ized, in·di·vid·u·al·iz·ing, in·di·vid·u·al·iz·es 1. To give individuality to. 2. To consider or treat individually; particularize. 3. Medicine Institute at Children's Research Institute. "The Children's Research Institute is one of the premier pediatric pediatric /pe·di·at·ric/ (pe?de-at´rik) pertaining to the health of children. pe·di·at·ric adj. Of or relating to pediatrics. genetic research facilities in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. ," said Fred Pollock, director of translational medicine translational medicine Molecular medicine The constellation of activities which seek to translate the science of gene discovery, gene transfer, and functional genomics into gene-targeted therapies and strategic alliances at Affymetrix. "We are excited about moving forward with this strategic alliance that is designed to accelerate the development of new personalized per·son·al·ize tr.v. per·son·al·ized, per·son·al·iz·ing, per·son·al·iz·es 1. To take (a general remark or characterization) in a personal manner. 2. To attribute human or personal qualities to; personify. treatments and tests targeted at the more common diseases affecting our children." 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 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 Program partners. This technology is already being used in many applications, including diagnostics, forensics See computer forensics. , animal, industrial and food testing. About Children's Research Institute Children's Research Institute advances state-of-the-art pediatric healthcare practice through dedicated laboratory and clinical research. The institute focuses solely on initiatives that promise to provide discoveries leading to new answers and improved solutions to children's unmet healthcare needs. Children's Research Institute is affiliated with Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and is a member of Children's Hospital and Health System. Children's Hospital and Health System is able to fulfill its mission thanks in part to philanthropic gifts and support from members of the community. For more information, please visit the website at www.chw.org/research. About Affymetrix Affymetrix GeneChip([R])microarray technology is the industry-standard tool for analyzing complex genetic information. After inventing microarray technology in the late 1980s, Affymetrix scientists have been dedicated to developing innovative products that provide researchers with a more complete view of the genome. These products continue to accelerate genetic research and enable scientists to develop diagnostics and tailor treatments for individual patients by identifying and measuring the genetic information associated with complex diseases. Today, Affymetrix technology is used by the world's top pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology companies Top 100 Biotechnology Companies The following is a list of the top 100 biotechnology companies ranked by revenue. The first nine companies qualify for the list of the top 50 pharmaceutical companies. , as well as leading academic, government and not-for-profit research institutes. More than 1,500 systems have been shipped around the world and more than 8,500 peer-reviewed papers have been published using the technology. Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., and has manufacturing facilities in Sacramento, Calif., and Singapore. The company has about 1,100 employees worldwide and maintains sales and distribution operations across Europe and Asia. For more information about Affymetrix, please visit the company's website at www.affymetrix.com. Forward-looking Statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. 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 Children's Research Institute discussed in this press release; risks of the company's ability to achieve and sustain higher levels of revenue, higher gross margins and reduced operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. ; uncertainties relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc technological approaches, manufacturing and 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 FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. and other regulatory approvals; competition; risks relating to intellectual property of others and the uncertainties of patent protection and litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. . These and other risk factors are discussed in Affymetrix' Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the year ended December 31, 2006, and other SEC reports, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 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([R]) are registered trademarks owned or used by Affymetrix Inc. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion