Affymetrix to Introduce 1 Million-SNP Product in Early 2007 and Single 500K Array before End of 2006; Affymetrix and Broad Inst
19 July 2006 - 6:30AM
Business Wire
Affymetrix Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX) announced today that it plans to
introduce a 1 million-SNP product by the first quarter of 2007 and
that the U.S. list price of its current two-chip 500K SNP
genotyping set will be reduced to $250, effective immediately.
Additionally, the 500K set will be offered as a single array by the
end of the year, increasing throughput and enabling scientists to
devote their resources toward performing larger experiments. These
advances in array technology stem from an ongoing collaboration
between Affymetrix and scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and
Harvard and other researchers to refine genotyping algorithms.
These improved algorithms allow researchers to extract more
information from each array without any manufacturing or assay
changes. "We have been delighted to work with our colleagues at
Affymetrix to help their technology reach even greater utility for
the entire scientific community," said David Altshuler, M.D.,
Ph.D., director, The Broad Institute's Program in Medical and
Population Genetics. "These new tools will enable us to perform
more studies than we could have before. We should be able to
quickly add to the pool of genotyping data we all need to
understand the genetic contributions to many human diseases." The
reduced price of the Affymetrix 500K array will enable scientists
to run more samples, and thereby increase the power of their
genetic association studies. For example, thousands of samples are
needed to find genes with subtle effects in complex diseases like
diabetes. "It is a tribute to the innovation and drive of the
scientists at Affymetrix that the performance of human genotyping
technology continues to grow by leaps and bounds," said Eric
Lander, Ph.D., director, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
"It will propel rapid progress in medical genetics." "Our business
strategy over the past decade has been to use our manufacturing
leverage and technical innovations to give customers more data per
dollar each passing year," said Stephen P.A. Fodor, Ph.D., founder,
chairman and CEO of Affymetrix. "That strategy was instrumental in
growing the gene expression market and we believe that reducing the
price per SNP will significantly increase the overall genotyping
market opportunity, particularly where large sample populations are
required." The 1 million-SNP product, which is scheduled to be
available to a limited number of customers in the first quarter of
2007, is expected to sell for around $500. Both the 1 million-SNP
product and the single 500K chip will be based on the proven, Whole
Genome Sampling Assay (WGSA). This same technology is being used by
more than 200 laboratories and has generated data for nearly 100
peer-reviewed scientific publications. Affymetrix offers a
comprehensive solution on a single platform for the entire
association study workflow, including whole-genome scans,
replication, and fine mapping and functional testing: -- Affymetrix
Targeted Genotyping assays and services enable researchers to
genotype up to 50,000 SNPs to confirm associations and do fine
mapping -- Affymetrix CustomSeq 300 kb Arrays enable researchers to
do detailed sequence analysis of large genomic regions to discover
SNPs and pinpoint causal variants -- Affymetrix Gene Expression
Arrays, including its tiling and exon arrays, can be used to verify
the association between the causal variant that's been discovered
and the phenotypic effects -- Affymetrix Mapping Arrays combine
high-resolution copy number and genotype information in a single,
proven assay to provide researchers with more power to discover and
define chromosomal copy number changes The full GeneChip system
includes: -- GeneChip Human Mapping Arrays -- Optimized and
validated reagents based on the proven WGSA -- Affymetrix GeneChip
DNA Analysis Software (GTYPE), which uses a new automated
genotype-calling algorithm, BRLMM, that provides a confidence score
for each individual genotype -- Controls Database that will feature
more than 12,000 publicly-available samples to help reduce the
number of controls required to complete a study or as an addition
to ongoing studies -- Affymetrix open software architecture for
easy integration with downstream analysis software and LIMS,
including various third-party providers and in-house systems --
Affymetrix instruments, including the GCS3000 7G Scanner, fluidics
station and hybridization oven About Affymetrix Affymetrix
scientists invented the world's first high-density microarray in
1989 and began selling the first commercial microarray in 1994.
Since then, Affymetrix GeneChip(R) technology has become the
industry standard in molecular biology research. Affymetrix
technology is used by the world's top pharmaceutical, diagnostic
and biotechnology companies as well as leading academic, government
and not-for-profit research institutes. More than 1,400 systems
have been installed around the world and nearly 4,000 peer-reviewed
papers have been published using the technology. Affymetrix'
patented photolithographic manufacturing process provides the most
information capacity available today on an array, enabling
researchers to use a whole-genome approach to analyzing the
relationship between genetics and health. Affymetrix is
headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., with manufacturing facilities
in Sacramento, Calif., and Bedford, Mass. The company maintains
important sales and marketing operations in Europe and Asia and has
about 1,100 employees worldwide. For more information about
Affymetrix, please visit the company's website at
www.affymetrix.com. All statements in this press release that are
not historical are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act as amended, including
statements regarding Affymetrix' "expectations," "beliefs,"
"hopes," "intentions," "strategies," or the like. Such statements
are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially for Affymetrix from those projected,
including, but not limited to: uncertainties relating to the
Company's ability to offer the 500K Array Set on a single chip
before the end of 2006 and to introduce a new 1 million-SNP array
by the first quarter of 2007; risks of the Company's ability to
achieve and sustain higher levels of revenue, higher gross margins,
reduced operating expenses (including financial risks and
uncertainties associated with the Company's decision to reduce the
list price of its current two-chip 500K SNP genotyping set
discussed in this press release); uncertainties relating to
technological approaches, manufacturing (including risks related to
the Company's ability to achieve hoped-for manufacturing yields for
certain array products, including the ability to identify and
resolve manufacturing problems), product development; personnel
retention; uncertainties related to cost and pricing of Affymetrix
products; dependence on collaborative partners; uncertainties
relating to sole source suppliers; uncertainties relating to FDA
and other regulatory approvals; competition; risks relating to
intellectual property of others and the uncertainties of patent
protection and litigation. These and other risk factors are
discussed in Affymetrix' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2005, and other SEC reports, including its Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q for subsequent quarterly periods. Affymetrix expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained
herein to reflect any change in Affymetrix' expectations with
regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances
on which any such statements are based. NOTE: Affymetrix, the
Affymetrix logo, and GeneChip are registered trademarks owned or
used by Affymetrix Inc.
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