SAN DIEGO, Nov 08, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) announced today that ithas signed a multi-phase genotyping services agreement to supportcolorectal cancer researchers funded by Cancer Research UK, theworld's leading independent charity dedicated to cancer research. Themulti-million dollar agreement extends over several years and includestwo major phases. In the first phase of the project, Illumina'sservice group will conduct dense, whole-genome genotyping (greaterthan 500,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, per sample) forat least 4,000 well-classified colorectal patients and controls. Inthe second phase, Illumina will genotype over 10,000 samples using acustom, multi-sample BeadChip that will enable analysis of 20,000 SNPsper sample. Both phases will use Illumina's Sentrix(R) Arrays andInfinium(TM) Assay with the option to employ related assay methods.
Illumina's genotyping services group will support work beingdriven scientifically by a collaboration comprising two major CancerResearch UK-funded research groupings in the UK investigating thegenetic basis of colorectal cancer. One of the research groups inEdinburgh is led by Professor Malcolm Dunlop and Professor HarryCampbell of the Edinburgh University Colon Cancer Genetics Group andis based in the MRC Human Genetics Unit. The London research groupcomprises teams led by Professors Richard Houlston and Ian Tomlinson,at the Molecular and Population Genetics Team of the Institute ofCancer Research and the Molecular and Population Genetics Laboratoryat the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, respectively. Theaim of the work is to investigate the role of common genetic variationin the etiology of large bowel cancer. From the work, it is hoped thatit will be possible in the future to design and validate biomarkersassociated with colorectal cancer susceptibility and diseaseprogression, as well as to facilitate development of improvedtherapeutic approaches.
Cancer of the large bowel and rectum (colorectal cancer) is themost common cause of cancer-related early death among non-smokingmales and females. Yet when detected early, the disease can be treatedeffectively 90% of the time. Almost every patient who developscolorectal cancer requires surgery as part of the treatment. So thereis significant incentive to understand the genetic basis of thedisease with the aim of developing improved preventive strategies inaddition to more enlightened treatments for optimized clinicaloutcomes.
Harpal Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of Cancer Research UK,describes the study as "fully consistent with our organizationalobjective of conducting world-class research into the biology andcauses of cancer.
"We're very keen to work with Illumina on this project and webelieve that the results will help Cancer Research UK pave the way forbetter understanding of cancer and improved quality of life for cancerpatients," Kumar stated.
Phase I of the project will include at least 4,000 well-classifiedcolorectal patients and controls. Each sample will be genotyped withthe Sentrix HumanHap-1 BeadChip and the Sentrix HumanHap-1S BeadChipusing Illumina's Infinium assay. SNP content for the two BeadChips isderived largely from high-value TagSNPs identified in the recentlycompleted HapMap Project. Together, the two BeadChips will enablegenotyping of over 500,000 SNPs per sample, with comprehensive genomiccoverage and industry-leading data quality. Phase I will focuspredominantly on: 1) finding candidate genes that may confersusceptibility to colorectal cancer; 2) charting the prevalence ofgenetic mutations and associated risk factors in these genes; and 3)understanding how these factors affect the epidemiology, orprogression, of the disease.
Following analysis of Phase I data, Illumina will develop acustom, multi-sample BeadChip that enables the study of 20,000 SNPsper sample using the Infinium assay. Research teams will analyze datafrom over 10,000 samples genotyped on the custom BeadChip with thegoal of identifying low-prevalence, high-effect markers andfunctionally important SNPs exhibiting unequivocal association tocolorectal cancer and disease predisposition.
"We're very pleased to be working with Cancer Research UK to helptheir research teams gain insight into the genetic basis of colorectalcancer," said Jay Flatley, Illumina President and CEO. "To ourknowledge, this will be the largest and most informative genotypingstudy of its kind ever conducted. The study design is made possible bythe HapMap-derived tools that will allow Illumina to perform veryefficient whole-genome genotyping, providing the Edinburgh and LondonResearch teams the statistical power for significant cancerdiscovery."
About CR-UK
Cancer Research UK (www.cancerresearchuk.org/), is theworld's leading independent charity dedicated to research on thecauses, treatment and prevention of cancer. Cancer Research UK'svision is to conquer cancer through world-class research, aiming tocontrol the disease within two generations. With an annual scientificbudget of nearly $380 million, which is raised almost entirely throughpublic donations, Cancer Research UK supports the work of over 3,400scientists, doctors and nurses working across the UK. Initiativesfunded by Cancer Research UK include cancer epidemiology studiesconducted at The Institute of Cancer Research(http://www.icr.ac.uk/index.html), a College at the University ofLondon.
About Illumina
Illumina (www.illumina.com) develops and markets next-generationtools for the large-scale analysis of genetic variation and function.The Company's proprietary BeadArray technology -- used in leadinggenomics centers around the world -- provides the throughput, costeffectiveness and flexibility necessary to enable researchers in thelife sciences and pharmaceutical industries to perform the billions oftests necessary to extract medically valuable information fromadvances in genomics and proteomics. This information will help pavethe way to personalized medicine by correlating genetic variation andgene function with particular disease states, enhancing drugdiscovery, allowing diseases to be detected earlier and morespecifically, and permitting better choices of drugs for individualpatients.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities LitigationReform Act of 1995: this release may contain forward-lookingstatements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the importantfactors that could cause actual results to differ materially fromthose in any forward-looking statements are the costs and outcome ofIllumina's litigation with Affymetrix, the Company's ability to scaleand integrate CyVera technology, the ability to further scale oligosynthesis output and technology to satisfy market demand deriving fromthe Company's collaboration with Invitrogen, Illumina's ability tofurther develop and commercialize its BeadArray technologies and todeploy new gene expression and genotyping products and applicationsfor its platform technology, to manufacture robust Sentrix(R) arraysand Oligator(R) oligonucleotides, and other factors detailed in theCompany's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commissionincluding its recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q or in informationdisclosed in public conference calls, the date and time of which arereleased beforehand. Illumina disclaims any intent or obligation toupdate these forward-looking statements beyond the date of thisrelease.
Note: How Illumina Is Helping Scientists Understand the GeneticBasis of Cancer
Illumina markets a broad portfolio of integrated array-basedsolutions for understanding the genetic basis of cancer. In additionto the breakthrough Infinium assay, Illumina has also developed theDASL(R) assay, which enables cancer researchers to generatereproducible gene expression profiles from degraded RNAs such as thosefound in paraffin-embedded samples. Over 500 million such samples areestimated to exist globally for cancer alone. Illumina is alsodeveloping novel assay technologies to help scientists identify andanalyze molecular mechanisms -- including DNA methylation and loss ofheterozygosity -- that affect gene regulation and epigenetic activityassociated with cancer phenotypes and disease progression. InSeptember 2005, Illumina installed a production-scale BeadLab at theNational Cancer Institute (NCI) for large-scale, array-based researchinto the genetics of breast and prostate cancer.
SOURCE: Illumina, Inc.
Illumina, Inc.
Jay Flatley, 1-858-202-4501
jflatley@illumina.com
William Craumer, 1-858-202-4667
bcraumer@illumina.com