Agilent Technologies to Expand Its Life Science Market Presence With Introduction of New DNA Micro-Array - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Dec 20, 1999

Agilent Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Hewlett-Packard Company, Tuesday announced its plan to expand its presence in the life science market through the introduction of a new DNA micro-array program that is intended to enable researchers to access genetic information faster and more cost effectively.

"We look forward to seeing our recent investments in this technology help Agilent play a leadership role in the burgeoning market for genetic analysis," said Edward W. (Ned) Barnholt, president and CEO of Agilent. "Agilent has been active in bringing genetic solutions to market, such as its recently announced LabChip-based DNA and RNA bioanalyzer, and it is our intention to become even more active in offering solutions to the array market which is expected to grow to approximately $632 million by 2005. Agilent Technologies has acquired a license to the DNA micro-array patents developed by Professor Edwin M. Southern and owned by Oxford Gene Technology. This important license gives us the intellectual-property we need to make our DNA micro-array program a reality."

Inkjet Technology

Agilent uses inkjet printing technology to manufacture its DNA micro-arrays. This technology enables a high degree of flexibility, speed and quality in DNA micro-array design and manufacturing and will enable Agilent to design and produce customized oligonucleotide arrays representing thousands of genes per array in a matter of days.

Agilent plans to commercialize a family of DNA micro-arrays including cDNA arrays and custom oligonucleotide arrays and offer a complete system, including automated scanning equipment, an enterprise-wide expression analysis informatics platform and the biological protocols required for gene expression profiling experiments.

Technology Access Program

Agilent's DNA micro-array program includes a technology access program that will allow selected customers early access to the DNA micro-array technology and the associated analysis suite. It is expected that the first of these customer agreements will be signed in the next few months. In addition, these select customers will have extended access to Agilent's technical experts and will provide feedback to be used in future developments of the technology. Agilent will initially focus on a few select customers, with the goal to make DNA micro-arrays more affordable and broadly available.

"With this new DNA micro-array technology, Agilent offers the pharmaceutics, biotechnology and agriculture industries an alternate and much more efficient and economical solution to current DNA micro-array technologies," said Richard D. (Rick) Kniss, senior vice president and general manager of Agilent's Chemical Analysis Group. "By providing this technology, we intend to expand the gene expression market and thereby increase the likelihood of new blockbuster drug and bio-agricultural developments. This move will not only enhance the capabilities of genomic discovery, but will ultimately improve the quality of all our lives."

DNA Micro-Array Technology

DNA micro-arrays are solid surfaces, with matrices of DNA representing genes arrayed at specific positions. DNA micro-arrays are used to identify which genes are turned on or off in a cell or tissue, and to evaluate the extent of a gene's presence under various conditions. This knowledge enables researchers to determine the impact of a drug on a cell or group of cells, and to consequently determine the drug's efficacy or toxicity. Knowledge of gene expression profiles can also help researchers to identify new drug targets.

Agilent Technologies, Inc. is a diversified technology company, resulting from Hewlett-Packard Company's plan to strategically realign itself into two fully independent companies. With 42,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent Technologies, as a subsidiary of HP, is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. The businesses comprising Agilent had net revenues of more than $8.3 billion in fiscal year 1999.

Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at http://www.agilent.com.