Human 1M and Human 450S BeadChips Provide Unmatched Access to Common Genetic Variations
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 10, 2007--Illumina, Inc.(NASDAQ:ILMN) today announced that the next BeadChip in itsInfinium(R) product family will profile over one million diversegenetic variants. The new Human 1M BeadChip combines an unprecedentedlevel of content for both whole-genome (WG) and copy number variation(CNV) analysis, along with additional unique, high-value genomicregions of interest - all on a single microarray chip. Illumina alsoannounced that it plans to introduce the Human 450S BeadChip, whichwill enable customers using Illumina's HumanHap550 BeadChip, tofurther extend their genetic studies to include the one millioncontent level. The Human 1M and Human 450S BeadChips will be poweredby Illumina's revolutionary Infinium Assay, providing industry-leadingdata quality, genomic coverage, and intelligent probe selection. Bothproducts are expected to enter the market by the close of the secondquarter, 2007.
"The Human 1M BeadChip represents the dawn of a new era for thegenetic research community. It combines even higher tagSNP coveragethan our HumanHap650Y BeadChip, adds several hundred thousand,individually-selected SNPs in genes and functional areas, and providesnovel content for copy number variant analysis not currently availablein public databases," said Sarah Shaw Murray, Ph.D., staff geneticistat Illumina. "As a complete DNA analysis solution that addressesapplications beyond just traditional whole-genome association studies,this BeadChip will set the new standard as being the mostcomprehensive and most powerful tool available for genetic analysis."
"With Illumina's unique ability to target any specific regions inthe genome, we continue to be impressed by the level of coverage,performance, and speed the Infinium technology offers the industry. Weare pleased to have collaborated with Illumina's research anddevelopment team on content selection for the Human 1M and Human 450SBeadChips. This capability enables us to speed the discovery of theunderlying causes of disease," said Jeffrey Gulcher, Chief ScientificOfficer of deCode Genetics.
The Human 1M and Human 450S BeadChips will provide high densitycoverage in greater than 99 percent of known genes. The BeadChips willutilize SNP and non-SNP content to provide uniform spacing for theanalysis of both known and novel copy number variants. The newBeadChips will also include additional tagSNPs selected from allpopulations studied by the International HapMap Project. In additionto an unprecedented level of content for both WG and CNV analyses, theHuman 1M and Human 450S BeadChips will offer the same level ofperformance customers have experienced with all of Illumina's DNAanalysis products, including the industry's highest call rates andoverall data quality.
"During 2006 Illumina launched eight new products in the Infiniumfamily. The upcoming commercialization of the Human 1M, a single-chipsolution, will be a major milestone for the Company. It will moreimportantly provide the genetic research community with yet anotheradvance in their ability to perform whole-genome DNA analysis," saidJay Flatley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Illumina.
About Infinium Genotyping
Infinium Genotyping utilizes a novel assay together withIllumina's BeadArray(TM) technology to deliver industry-leadingperformance, genome-wide access and scalable solutions for SNPgenotyping and the analysis of CNV. The revolutionary Infinium Assaysand corresponding BeadChips allow large-scale interrogation ofvariation in the human genome, accelerating the ability of researchersto cost-effectively unlock the genetic basis of disease. For moreinformation on Infinium technology and products, visit www.illumina.com/infinium.
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) arrays-- including HumanHap BeadChips -- and Oligator(R) oligonucleotides,and other factors detailed in the Company's filings with theSecurities and Exchange Commission including its recent filings onForms 10-K and 10-Q or in information disclosed in public conferencecalls, the date and time of which are released beforehand. Illuminadisclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-lookingstatements beyond the date of this release.
CONTACT: Illumina, Inc.
Jay Flatley
President & CEO
858-202-4501
jflatley@illumina.com
or
Maurissa Bornstein
Manager, Public Relations
858-332-4055
mbornstein@illumina.com
SOURCE: Illumina, Inc.