The Coriell Institute for Medical Research Selects Affymetrix SNP Array 6.0 for Delaware Valley Personalized Medicine Project

Business Wire, Dec 5, 2007

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Affymetrix Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFX) announced today that the Coriell Institute for Medical Research will use the Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0 for a series of whole-genome association studies for the Delaware Valley Personalized Medicine Project (DVPMP). Scientists will use the Affymetrix genotyping platform to identify genes that affect the risk of developing cancer, heart and blood vessel diseases, lung disease, as well as stroke and other complex health conditions. The results of the study will provide researchers with a better understanding of these diseases, which should lead to more effective, personalized treatments for patients.

Under the leadership of new President and CEO Michael F. Christman, Ph.D., the Coriell Institute for Medical Research has established a state-of-the-art genotyping and microarray center and formed close partnerships with several Delaware Valley hospitals, including Fox Chase Cancer Center, Cooper University Hospital and Virtua Health, to enroll patient volunteers in a research study that will correlate individual patient genome profiles with disease course and treatment outcomes. This information will enable scientists from around the world to better understand why patients respond differently to treatments. The DVPMP will also explore how the resulting information can best be viewed and utilized by patients themselves and their physicians in a secure, user-friendly web browser-based system.

"The Delaware Valley Personalized Medicine Project is a forward-thinking, joint effort involving patient volunteers, physicians, scientists, ethicists and information technology experts," said Dr. Christman. "This project was designed to allow patients to benefit from the advances of genome-informed medical practice, while ensuring that patient privacy is vigorously protected."

In contrast to for-profit personal genome companies, the DVPMP aims to explore the use of genetic risk factors in clinical decision making. This approach allows participants to consult with their own physician about their risk variants and to make important decisions about preventive care and proper medical treatments.

The research team at Coriell will use the Affymetrix technology to conduct whole-genome association studies on DNA samples from 10,000 individuals initially, with the ultimate goal of reaching 100,000 participants. The Affymetrix SNP Array 6.0 is a single microarray that simultaneously measures more than 1.8 million markers for genetic variation. The array enables researchers to perform the most powerful whole-genome association and copy number studies ever by genotyping more markers across more individuals at a lower cost per sample. These higher-powered studies increase the probability of discovering genes associated with complex diseases.

"The Delaware Valley Personalized Medicine Project is another powerful example of how the Affymetrix SNP Array 6.0 is making a significant impact on human disease research, prevention and treatment," said Kevin King, president of Affymetrix. "Scientists are now running higher-powered, larger-scale studies to better detect genes associated with complex diseases and tailor treatments for individual patients."

All DVPMP participants will be able to view medically relevant information about their genomic profiles through a secure web browser-based system. The participants will control their genetic profiles and medical data, and their physicians will be required to obtain access from the participant in order to view any information. Participants will be able to determine whether the information will become part of their personal medical records. A variety of educational material on genomics and medicine will also be provided through streaming video, downloads and seminars. There is no charge to study participants.

For more information about the SNP Array 6.0, please visit: http://www.affymetrix.com/genechip/snp6.affx

For more information about other whole-genome association studies led by Dr. Christman using Affymetrix technology, please visit:

Researchers discover genetic variant associated with obesity in humans: http://www.microarraybulletin.com/community/article.php?p=133

First African American Genome Scan for Disease Genes: http://www.affymetrix.com/userForum/news/collaborations/ ChristmanVideo.uf (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

About the Coriell Institute for Medical Research

The Coriell Institute for Medical Research is an internationally known, not-for-profit, biomedical research institution headquartered in Camden, N.J. Founded in 1953, the Institute conducts research on cancer, human genetic variation, mechanisms of cellular differentiation and other genetic disorders. Coriell is the world's leading biobank resource for human cells and recently established a state-of-the-art genotyping and microarray center. For more information, please visit http://coriell.org