Fluidigm Announces That the Chinese University of Hong Kong Has Selected the BioMark™ System for a Range of Molecular Diagnostic Applications

Business Wire, May 21, 2007

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Fluidigm has announced that the Department of Chemical Pathology, at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has adopted the BioMark Real-time PCR System. The system is based on innovative BioMark dynamic arrays and digital arrays -- nanofluidic chips for genetic analysis. The laboratory, under the direction of Professor Dennis Lo, is using the system to detect and to quantify viruses associated with cancer, to detect somatic mutations in a high background of normal genes, and to develop gene expression profiles, as well as for research on other molecular diagnostic applications.

The laboratory, based at the Prince of Wales Hospital (CUHK's teaching hospital), is highly regarded for its work developing novel diagnostic tests and applications.

"We are delighted that this leading Chinese reference laboratory, in an emerging area of healthcare, will be validating our system as a clinical research tool," said Fluidigm CEO Gajus Worthington.

The BioMark system has significant advantages in a clinical research setting over conventional microplates. Dynamic arrays are tailored for high-throughput multiplexed gene expression analyses, i.e., for the parallel testing of many samples against many genes. Thus, they are ideal for validating gene signatures across many patient samples. An array generates 2,304 PCR reactions, requiring orders of magnitude less reagent and liquid transfer steps than conventional formats.

While dynamic arrays combine components to create PCR assays, digital arrays have an architecture that partitions a sample into more than 700 parts. If a rare mutation is present, it is isolated in a chamber and detectable by PCR, even if it is present in very low copy numbers.

About Fluidigm Corporation

Fluidigm Corporation develops and distributes systems based on the unique properties of integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs) to precisely control fluids on a nanoliter volume scale. The Company's vision is to create and to lead a new industry in which IFCs bring unparalleled efficiencies to the life science and allied fields. Based in South San Francisco, California, the Company is privately held and backed by premier investors: Versant Ventures, Euclid SR Partners, InterWest Partners, Alloy Ventures, Lehman Brothers Healthcare Fund, Bio*One Capital, Bruce Burrows, Lilly BioVentures, the Invus Group, SightLine Partners, AllianceBernstein, Wasatch Advisors and its affiliate, Cross Creek Capital, and GE Equity.

About the Chinese University of Hong Kong

Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a forward looking comprehensive research university with a global vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. CUHK teachers and students hail from all corners of the world. In 2006, there are more than 2,500 staff members, approximately 10,000 undergraduate and 2,000 research postgraduate students. Of these students, some 2,500 are from 45 countries and regions outside Hong Kong. The University received research funding of US$45 million in the 2005-06 academic year from various local and overseas sources. The University has close collaboration with Mainland China and overseas institutions. A lot of research findings have been put into practical use through technology transfer and spin-off companies. Technology transfer at the CUHK is handled by the Technology Licensing Office headed by Ms Alice Ngan.