SAN DIEGO, July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sequenom, Inc.
(NASDAQ: SQNM), a life sciences company providing innovative
genetic analysis solutions, today announced its wholly owned
subsidiary, Sequenom Laboratories, will soon begin reporting on the
presence of three additional clinically relevant subchromosomal
microdeletions as part of the Enhanced Sequencing Series (ESS) for
its MaterniT21™ PLUS laboratory-developed test. The microdeletions
added include 11q deletion (Jacobsen syndrome), 8q deletion
(Langer-Giedion syndrome), and 4p deletion (Wolf-Hirschhorn
syndrome) and will be reported as an additional finding when a
positive result is detected. New study data on the Enhanced
Sequencing Series was presented at the 18th
International Conference on Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy (ISPD)
in Brisbane Australia.
![SEQUENOM logo. SEQUENOM logo.](http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20040415/SQNMLOGO)
"The MaterniT21 PLUS test has helped change how we treat our
prenatal patients, and its ability to screen for several
microdeletions exemplifies the growth and potential of this
technology," said Jeff Chapa, MD,
Head of the Section of Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Cleveland Clinic
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "With the Enhanced
Sequencing Series, I can provide my patients with this clinically
relevant information as early as 10 weeks into a pregnancy."
These microdeletions are associated with various clinical
conditions that can result in physical and developmental issues.
Jacobsen syndrome, which is caused by a deletion on the long arm of
chromosome 11, is characterized by growth restriction,
developmental delay, distinctive facial features, and a bleeding
disorder called Paris-Trousseau syndrome. Langer-Giedion syndrome,
caused by a deletion on the long arm of chromosome 8, is
characterized by bone abnormalities and may be associated with
developmental delays. Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome is caused by a
deletion on the short arm of chromosome 4 and is characterized by
distinctive craniofacial anomalies, growth restriction,
developmental delay, hearing loss and seizures.
This expansion complements the MaterniT21 PLUS test original
Enhanced Sequencing Series of clinically relevant microdeletions
which Sequenom Laboratories began reporting in October 2013. Included were 22q11.2 deletion
(DiGeorge syndrome), 5p minus (Cri-du-chat syndrome), 15q deletion
(Prader-Willi/Angelman syndromes), 1p36 deletion syndrome, as well
as two additional trisomies, (trisomy 16 and 22).
"Leveraging our advanced, whole genome technology, we are able
to offer more comprehensive prenatal information to health care
providers and their patients," said Dirk
van den Boom, PhD, Chief Scientific and Strategy Officer at
Sequenom, Inc. "We have received very positive response to the
Enhanced Sequencing Series. This set of microdeletions added to our
MaterniT21 PLUS test is the next extension of the Enhanced
Sequencing Series and continues our path towards the vision of a
noninvasive fetal karyotype."
Sequenom Laboratories first pioneered the use of noninvasive
prenatal testing (NIPT) in 2011. With this expansion, the
MaterniT21 PLUS test is the first-of-its-kind NIPT to provide these
comprehensive results from a maternal blood draw. The MaterniT21
PLUS test was developed, validated and is performed exclusively by
Sequenom Laboratories.
About Sequenom
Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM) is a
life sciences company committed to improving healthcare through
revolutionary genomic and genetic analysis solutions. Sequenom
develops innovative technology, products and diagnostic tests that
target and serve molecular diagnostic markets. Website:
www.sequenom.com.
About Sequenom Laboratories
Sequenom Laboratories, a
CAP accredited and CLIA-certified molecular diagnostics laboratory,
has developed a broad range of laboratory tests, with a focus on
prenatal and ophthalmological diseases and conditions. Branded
under the name HerediT™, MaterniT21™ PLUS, RetnaGene™, SensiGene™
and VisibiliT™, these molecular genetic laboratory-developed tests
provide early patient management information for obstetricians,
geneticists, maternal fetal medicine specialists and
ophthalmologists. Sequenom Laboratories is changing the landscape
in genetic disorder diagnostics using proprietary cutting edge
technologies.
SEQUENOM®, HerediT™, MaterniT21™ PLUS, RetnaGene™, SensiGene™
and VisibiliT™, are trademarks of Sequenom, Inc. All other
trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective
owners.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical
information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press
release, including statements regarding Sequenom's expected launch
of Sequenom Laboratories' Enhanced Sequencing Series for its
MaterniT21 PLUS test, the impact and benefits of the Enhanced
Sequencing Series on patients and health care providers, Sequenom's
vision of a noninvasive fetal karyotype, Sequenom's commitment to
improving healthcare through revolutionary genomic and genetic
analysis solutions, and Sequenom Laboratories' changing the
landscape in genetic disorder diagnostics, are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the
risks and uncertainties associated with Sequenom's ability to
develop and commercialize new technologies and products,
particularly new technologies such as prenatal and other
diagnostics and laboratory developed tests, Sequenom's ability to
manage its existing cash resources or raise additional cash
resources, competition, intellectual property protection and
intellectual property rights of others, government regulation
particularly with respect to diagnostic products and laboratory
developed tests, obtaining or maintaining regulatory approvals,
ongoing patent litigation, and other risks detailed from time to
time in Sequenom, Inc.'s most recent Quarterly and Annual Reports
on Securities and Exchange Commission Forms 10-Q and 10-K,
respectively, and other documents subsequently filed with or
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. These
forward-looking statements are based on current information that
may change and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date
of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified
in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Sequenom
undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking
statement to reflect events or circumstances after the issuance of
this press release.
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SOURCE Sequenom, Inc.