NABsys-Affiliated Scientists Receive Two of the Eight 'Revolutionary Genome Sequencing Technologies - The $1,000 Genome' Awards from the National Human Genome Research Institute

Business Wire, August 2, 2007

NABsys is Only For-Profit Entity to Receive an Award

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- NABsys, Inc. announced today that two NABsys-affiliated scientists, Dr. John Oliver, Vice President of Research and Development, and Dr. Xinsheng Sean Ling, NABsys founder and principal academic collaborator and Associate Professor of Physics at Brown University, have received two of the eight "Revolutionary Genome Sequencing Technologies - The $1,000 Genome" awards from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), an institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NABsys was the only company, rather than academic lab, to receive an award. The funds will support the development of NABsys' proprietary Hybridization-Assisted Nanopore Sequencing (HANS) platform which the company expects will decrease the cost of whole-genome sequencing to well under $1,000 per person/patient, allowing for the widespread implementation of personalized medicine.

"We are pleased that the NHGRI recognizes the value of the NABsys sequencing platform," said Dr. Barrett Bready, NABsys President and CEO. "The fact that two of the eight scientists to receive '$1,000 genome' money were part of the NABsys team is a great validation of our proprietary approach. Additionally, the fact that NABsys is the only company to receive an award this year is further validation of the potential of the platform."

The genetic basis of the most deadly diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and stroke, is not well understood. Understanding the underlying genetics associated with these diseases would lead to a more rational approach to drug design and would allow for personalized, predictive, and preventive medicine. The primary impediment to gaining this understanding and to the implementation of personalized medicine has been the high cost of DNA sequencing.

Dr. Oliver's grant is a two-year $500,000 award made to NABsys. Dr. Ling's grant is a three-year $820,000 award made to Brown University. NABsys has an exclusive licensing agreement with Brown.

"The NABsys sequencing platform, Hybridization-Assisted Nanopore Sequencing combines nanopore sequencing and sequencing by hybridization to create a platform that is much more powerful than either alone," said Dr. John Oliver, Vice President of Research and Development. "These awards will help accelerate the work of our interdisciplinary team as they refine the physics, biochemistry, and computer science associated with HANS."

About NABsys

NABsys is a nanobiotechnology company developing a next-generation DNA sequencing platform that the company believes will allow an entire human genome to be sequenced for less than $1,000, ultimately enabling personalized medicine. The company's platform, Hybridization-Assisted Nanopore Sequencing (HANS) uses nanotechnology-based detectors known as nanopores and is being developed in collaboration with researchers at Brown University. The company was founded in 2004 and is located in Providence, RI. To learn more about NABsys, please visit www.nabsys.com.