SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 2007--Illumina, Inc.(NASDAQ:ILMN) today introduced a 12-sample Infinium DNA MethylationBeadChip for use in epigenetic research. With this new high-densitysolution, researchers can assay approximately 27,000 CpG sites persample, covering more than 14,000 well-annotated genes with single CpGresolution. Content for this panel was derived from genes described inthe National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) ConsensusCoding Sequence (CCDS) Database, and features a core set ofprotein-coding regions that are consistently annotated and of highquality. In addition, the new array includes more than 1,000cancer-related genes and 200 CpG sites located within CpG islandsfound in promoter regions of microRNA (miRNA) genes. Full commercialshipments of Illumina's Infinium DNA Methylation Panel are expectedfor Q1 2008.
"DNA methylation plays a critical role in the regulation of geneexpression, and is known to be an essential mechanism for guidingnormal cellular development and maintaining tissue identities," saidTodd Dickinson, Ph.D., Director of Product Marketing for Illumina. "Wehave developed a panel that contains content unmatched by any otherproduct currently available. Using our robust Infinium Assay, thispanel will provide researchers with the ability to quickly determinegenome-wide methylation signatures. This innovation is expected torapidly advance the current state of methylation research in areassuch as cancer and human embryonic stem cells, and should ultimatelylead to the development of powerful tools for the diagnosis,prognosis, and treatment of these diseases."
Earlier this year Illumina also introduced the GoldenGate(R)Methylation products for standard and custom panels. These solutionsrepresented the industry's first array-based tools, combininghigh-sample throughput, high multiplexing, and single-site CpGresolution for DNA methylation profiling.
About DNA Methylation Profiling
Methylation is a form of epigenetic modification that does notaffect the primary structure of the genetic code, but rather affectssecondary interactions that play a critical role in the regulation ofgene expression. DNA methylation profiling is gaining momentum as anepigenetic approach for basic research and clinical applications.Since aberrant DNA methylation is known to be associated with avariety of human diseases including cancer, diabetes, and certainneurological disorders, methylation patterns can help identify andvalidate biomarkers or support clinical diagnostics.
Quantitative methylation measurement at the single CpG site leveloffers the highest resolution. CpG sites are regions of DNA where acytosine nucleotide is located adjacent to a guanine nucleotide, thenucleotides linked together by a phosphate. The attachment of a methylgroup (termed methylation) to the cytosine nucleotide at the CpG siteoccurs throughout genes; abnormal methylation of these CpG sites hasbeen shown to affect expression levels, which ultimately can play asignificant role in the development and progression of diseases. Anincreasing number of researchers are seeking more cost-effectivetechnology platforms to conduct medium to high throughput DNAmethylation profiling with high resolution.
For more information about Illumina's DNA methylation profilingsolutions, please visit www.illumina.com/methylation.
About Illumina
Illumina (www.illumina.com) is a leading developer, manufacturer,and marketer of next-generation life-science tools and integratedsystems for the large-scale analysis of genetic variation andbiological function. Using our proprietary technologies, we provide acomprehensive line of products and services that currently serve thesequencing, genotyping, and gene expression markets, and we expect toenter the market for molecular diagnostics. Our customers includeleading genomic research centers, pharmaceutical companies, academicinstitutions, clinical research organizations, and biotechnologycompanies. Our tools provide researchers around the world with theperformance, throughput, cost effectiveness, and flexibility necessaryto perform the billions of genetic tests needed to extract valuablemedical information from advances in genomics and proteomics. Webelieve this information will enable researchers to correlate geneticvariation and biological function, which will enhance drug discoveryand clinical research, allow diseases to be detected earlier, andpermit better choices of drugs for individual patients.
"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 and our ability (i) to integrateeffectively our recent acquisition of Solexa, Inc., (ii) to developand commercialize further our BeadArray(TM), VeraCode(TM) andSolexa(R) technologies and to deploy new gene expression andgenotyping products and applications for our technology platforms,(iii) to manufacture robust micro arrays and Oligator(R)oligonucleotides, (iv) to integrate and scale our VeraCode technology,(v) to scale further oligo synthesis output and technology to satisfymarket demand derived from our collaboration with Invitrogen, togetherwith other factors detailed in our filings with the Securities andExchange Commission including our recent filings on Forms 10-K and10-Q or in information disclosed in public conference calls, the dateand time of which are released beforehand. We disclaim any intent orobligation to update these forward-looking statements beyond the dateof this release.
CONTACT: Media Contact:
Illumina, Inc.
Maurissa Bornstein
Public Relations Manager
858-332-4055
mbornstein@illumina.com
or
Investor Contact:
Peter J. Fromen
Sr. Director, Investor Relations
858-202-4507
pfromen@illumina.com
SOURCE: Illumina, Inc.