Affymetrix and bioMerieux Extend Their Agreement on GeneChip(R) Technology to Breast Cancer Diagnostics
April 05 2005 - 3:01AM
PR Newswire (US)
Affymetrix and bioMerieux Extend Their Agreement on GeneChip(R)
Technology to Breast Cancer Diagnostics The Agreement Includes an
Option for bioMerieux to Use Affymetrix GeneChip(R) Technology in
Other Cancer Areas SANTA CLARA, Calif. and MARCY L'ETOILE, France,
April 5 /PRNewswire- FirstCall/ -- Affymetrix Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX)
and bioMerieux announced today that Affymetrix has granted
bioMerieux long-term and comprehensive access to its GeneChip(R)
technology to develop and market in vitro diagnostic tests for
breast cancer, as well as an option to expand the agreement into
other cancer areas. The agreement, made under the Powered by
Affymetrix(TM) program, gives bioMerieux non-exclusive rights to
Affymetrix' patented arrays, instrumentation systems and future
improvements to these key technologies. Financial terms of the
agreement were not disclosed. "Microarrays are on the path to
becoming a clinical reality in oncology, helping clinicians to
provide a more holistic understanding of disease and treatment,"
said Dr. Dirk Lammerts, M.D., Affymetrix' Vice President of
Molecular Diagnostics. "bioMerieux is at the cutting edge of
diagnostic technology and we are pleased that they have chosen the
Affymetrix platform for this project." Under the Powered by
Affymetrix(TM) program, Affymetrix provides technology and
expertise for products that are developed, branded and marketed by
diagnostic companies. This includes the GeneChip System 3000Dx,
which has been granted regulatory clearance by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration and CE marked in the European Union for
in-vitro diagnostic use. "bioMerieux provides a full range of
solutions for molecular diagnostics, from single to multiple and
complex genetic targets, requiring the use of microarrays. Our
extended agreement with Affymetrix broadens our rights beyond
infectious diseases, food and water testing. The potential for
microarrays in cancer application will be vast, ranging from
diagnosis to personalized treatment," explained Dr Christophe
Merieux, Vice President Research and Development - Medical Affairs.
About Affymetrix Affymetrix scientists invented the world's first
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 1,200
systems have been shipped around the world and nearly 3,000
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 analyze 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 900 employees worldwide. 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 risks of the Company's
ability to achieve and sustain higher levels of revenue, higher
gross margins, reduced operating expenses, uncertainties relating
to technological approaches, manufacturing, product development
(including uncertainties relating to the use of diagnostic arrays
and outcome of licensing agreements discussed in this press
release), 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, 2004 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 About
bioMerieux bioMerieux is a leading international diagnostics group
that specializes in the field of in vitro diagnostics for clinical
and industrial applications. bioMerieux designs, develops,
manufactures and markets systems (i.e. reagents, instruments and
software) used in: -- Clinical applications: the diagnosis of
infectious diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis and
respiratory illnesses, as well as pathologies such as
cardiovascular diseases and cancer, based on the analysis of
biological samples (such as blood, saliva or urine); and --
Industrial applications: the microbiological analysis of food,
environments (such as water and air), surfaces and pharmaceutical
and cosmetic products, based on the analysis of product or
environmental samples. In 2004, bioMerieux sales reached 931
million euros. The company is present in more than 130 countries
through 33 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors, which
positions the company well to benefit from the growth potential of
the in vitro diagnostics market. Some important drivers that
underpin this growth are aging populations and age-related illness,
illnesses related to life-style and eating habits, emerging new
pathogens, the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the
fight against bio-terrorism, the recognition of the importance of
the quality of food products. bioMerieux is listed on the Premier
Marche of Euronext, Paris (FR0010096479 - BIM). DATASOURCE:
Affymetrix, Inc. CONTACT: Wes Conard, Director, Public Relations of
Affymetrix, +1-408-731-5791; or Tiphaine Hecketsweiler of Image 7,
+ 33-1-53-70-74-59, or ; or investors, Doug Farrell, Vice
President, Investor Relations for bioMerieux, +1-408-731-5285, or
Dominique Takizawa, +33-4-78-87-22-37, or Web site:
http://www.affymetrix.com/
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