LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., February 18, 2010 – RainDance Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of innovative microdroplet-based solutions for human health and disease research, and Applied Biosystems, part of Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE), announced today they have entered into a strategic agreement to co-market the first solution that combines microdroplet PCR-based sequence enrichment with next-generation sequencing.
Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will co-market RainDance’s RDT 1000 Sequence Enrichment Solution with Applied Biosystems SOLiD™ System, a next-generation high-throughput DNA analysis platform. The integration of the two technologies will enable researchers to perform highly efficient, large-scale targeted sequencing studies with the superior quality and accuracy of results associated with PCR-based DNA amplification. In addition, the companies will continue to collaborate on the application of RainDance products in the SOLiD System sequencing workflow.
“PCR is the gold standard for sequence enrichment and we’re pleased to provide a microdroplet PCR-based solution that works seamlessly with the SOLiD System,” said Christopher McNary, Chief Commercial Officer, RainDance Technologies. “Now researchers can perform high-resolution analysis of genetic variation by combining the high degree of sample uniformity and reduced selection bias of PCR-based enrichment with the greater accuracy, efficiency, and throughput of the SOLiD platform. Using RainDance Technologies, researchers will be able to detect substantially higher numbers of variants in the targeted sequences than have been demonstrated with alternative approaches using less precise capture methods,” McNary said.
“By partnering with RainDance Technologies, we can provide scientists with a sequence enrichment solution that leverages the quality and accuracy of PCR, enabling studies of hundreds to thousands of samples — with the high degree of accuracy associated with SOLiD System technology,” said Shaf Yousaf, President, Genomic Analysis, Life Technologies.
TGEN Validates RainDance-SOLiD Solution
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGEN) of Phoenix, Arizona, was among the first to couple the RainDance Sequence Enrichment Solution with ABI’s SOLiD sequencing technology. TGEN utilized the integrated workflow to identify root cause mutations in disease candidate genes and pathways.
“The RainDance and SOLiD technology worked smoothly and offered superb coverage and accuracy,” said John Carpten, Ph.D., Senior Investigator and Director, Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, TGEN. Dr. Carpten’s work is focused in search of germline variants associated with cancer risk, and somatic mutations occurring in both solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
“We have successfully interrogated specific regions of the genome and identified novel somatic mutations in normal/tumor pairs within a relatively short period of time. We are looking forward to expanding our use of both the RainDance and SOLiD platforms to other large-scale resequencing projects,” said Dr. Carpten. “Our hope is that these tools will allow us to efficiently interrogate specific regions of the cancer genome, which in turn will ultimately lead to an increased understanding of cancer development. Our ultimate hope is translation of these findings for improved patient care.”
About RainDance Technologies, Inc.
RainDance’s proprietary technology platform delivers exquisite sensitivity and data quality that inspires scientists, researchers and clinicians to rethink the way they design experiments, approach discovery, or conduct clinical diagnostics. The core RainStorm™ technology empowers customers to conduct de novo science in an ultra-high throughput, simple, flexible, and low-cost manner. RainDance’s commercial products include instruments and high-value consumables and reagents for sequence enrichment for next-generation sequencing, ultra-deep sequencing, and methylation analysis. RainDance sells directly in the U.S. and in Europe, and is building distribution networks in Europe and Asia-Pacific. RainDance Technologies has approximately 70 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.raindancetech.com.
RainStorm is a trademark of RainDance Technologies, Inc.
About Life Technologies
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc. For more information on how we are making a difference please visit our website: www.lifetechnologies.com. Follow Life Technologies on Twitter @LIFECorporation and on Facebook.
Life Technologies’ Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements about Life Technologies’ anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies’ plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words “believe,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “target,” “estimate,” “expect” and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions (“will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Copyright 2009. Life Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved. AB (Design), and Applied Biosystems are registered trademarks and SOLiD are trademarks of Life Technologies or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or certain other countries
Investigator in TGen’s Genetic Basis of Human Disease Division, said one of the initial applications of the RainDance solution would focus on resequencing regions of the human genome identified as part of genome-wide association studies.
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