Applied Biosystems Launches Genotyping Service Provider Program

Business Wire, August 16, 2007

SNPlex Program Delivers Comprehensive Solution, Broadens Access to Technology for the Study of Genetic Variations

FOSTER CITY, Calif. -- Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, today announced that it has established a global genotyping service provider program for scientists interested in the study of how specific genetic variations may impact health or disease. The SNPlex[TM] Service Provider Program was created for research laboratories that do not have access to capillary electrophoresis (CE) genetic analysis instrument systems. The goal of the program is to provide these researchers with a comprehensive solution for genotyping research through the global service providers participating in the program.

The providers in the program include the Chinese National Human Genome Center (China); DNAVision (Belgium); IntegraGen, Inc. (France); Medical Solutions Geneservice (United Kingdom); the University of California at Los Angeles DNA Sequencing and Genotyping Core Facility (United States); and Vanderbilt University DNA Sequencing and Genotyping Facility (United States).

High-throughput genotyping services offered through the program will enable researchers to study large populations of individuals to gain an understanding of genetic areas of interest and further expand research into potentially finding cures for a variety of diseases that include cancer, heart disease and diabetes, among others. The program members will provide assistance with medium to large-scale genotyping research, such as validation or fine mapping studies that require obtaining high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. SNPs are variations in DNA sequence that are believed to affect how diseases develop and determine how a drug may affect a particular disorder.

Applied Biosystems is a global leader in the development and commercialization of instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services for the life-science market. The SNPlex Service Provider Program is based on the SNPlex[TM] Genotyping System, which consists of custom designed assays, universal core reagents, analysis software, and fully supported system documentation that are optimized for the use on Applied Biosystems' CE platforms. The program provides a broad range of support, including planning, sample extraction, genotyping, data interpretation and statistical analysis through the participating service providers.

The Chinese National Human Genome Center has used the SNPlex genotyping system in conjunction with Applied Biosystems' CE sequencing platforms to lead many national and international genomics research projects related to large scale DNA sequencing, functional genomics, proteomics, and SNP detection.

"The Chinese National Human Genome Center has undertaken many projects in screening candidate genes for disease associations in pedigrees or populations and in our experience the SNPlex System is ideal for this kind of research," said Dr. WeiZhi Chen, M.D. and chief technology officer at the Chinese National Human Genome Center. "Our involvement in this program demonstrates our commitment to delivering highly customized genotyping services to the research community."

Scientists at UCLA's GenoSeq Core anticipate that its customers will utilize SNPlex technology for a wide variety of research, including cancer and neuropsychiatric studies. GenoSeq Core utilized Applied Biosystems SNPlex genotyping and sequencing platforms to establish high-throughput assays and methodologies for more than 240 laboratories in the past year.

"It's not always practical for a researcher to set up a high-throughput assay in their laboratory if the methods are not the main focus of their work," said Dr. Jeanette Papp, director of GenoSeq Core. "GenoSeq Core has the requirements for these experiments in place, including the instrumentation, necessary robotics, bioinformatics, and most importantly, the expertise. This program is another way for us to provide high quality SNP genotyping services to our customers, broaden access to genotyping platforms, and enable them to accelerate their research and business."

Applied Biosystems is supporting the SNPlex Service Provider Program by providing technical and marketing support, which is expected to enhance the participating service providers' ability to deliver advanced genotyping services to customers. Members of the program were chosen based on proficiency in executing the SNPlex chemistry workflow and generating reliable data using GeneMapper[TM] Software for Data Analysis.

"Applied Biosystems believes in partnering with leading laboratories to create programs that broaden access to technologies and software that will enable the acceleration of important research related to the study of disease and other genetic traits," said Phoebe White, senior director of genotyping, Applied Biosystems, "The SNPlex Service Provider Program facilitates access to a complete genotyping analysis system for those who have not scaled up their research and made an investment to purchase on their own."