Perlegen Forms Collaboration With Genentech in Cancer Genetics

Business Wire, Jan 6, 2006

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Perlegen Sciences, Inc. announced today that it has begun a collaboration with Genentech, Inc. (NYSE:DNA) to study the genetics of cancer. Findings from the study could potentially be applied to the discovery and development of targeted medicines and molecular diagnostics for the disease. Perlegen's high throughput oligonucleotide array approach utilizes Affymetrix (Nasdaq:AFFX) GeneChip(R) technology.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. It has been estimated that approximately one-half of all men and one-third of all women will develop some form of cancer during their lifetimes. An improved understanding of the genetics of cancer may enable the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostic tests for cancer, as well as better targeting of cancer treatments to responsive patient populations.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We look forward to applying Perlegen's expertise to further our understanding of the important role genetics plays in cancer," said David Cox, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Perlegen. "We are proud to collaborate with Genentech, a recognized leader in oncology therapeutics and pioneer in targeted therapies for cancer patients."

About Perlegen

Perlegen Sciences, Inc. is working to provide safer and more effective drugs to consumers. The company can quickly and cost effectively analyze millions of genetic variations in DNA samples and use this information to explain and predict the efficacy and adverse effect profiles of prescription drugs. In doing so, Perlegen strives to bring drugs to the market that might otherwise have been discontinued in clinical development. Perlegen also applies its expertise to discovering genetic variations associated with disease for potential new therapeutics and diagnostics. For years, scientists and drug manufacturers have been eager to comprehensively examine entire genomes; through Perlegen, this is now possible.

Based in Mountain View, California, Perlegen was formed in late 2000 as a spin-off from Affymetrix, Inc. For more information about the company and its technologies, visit Perlegen's website at www.perlegen.com.

Perlegen Sciences, Perlegen, and the Perlegen logo are trademarks of Perlegen Sciences, Inc.