Affymetrix and PathWork Informatics Forge Collaboration to Develop New Cancer Diagnostics
November 01 2005 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Affymetrix Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFX) and PathWork Informatics Inc.
announced today that Affymetrix has granted PathWork long-term
non-exclusive access to its microarray technology to develop and
market in-vitro diagnostic tests for cancer. Under the agreement,
PathWork has the right to use Affymetrix microarray technology for
the development of tests for cancer of unknown primary, as well as
the option to develop other cancer tests. The resulting microarray
products would enable clinicians to provide more efficient and
complete methods to diagnose, classify and manage cancer. The
collaboration, reached under the Powered by Affymetrix(TM) program,
allows PathWork to incorporate Affymetrix' patented arrays into
PathWork Oncology Suites, the company's diagnostic kits currently
under development. PathWork is creating next-generation cancer
diagnostics that help oncologists make accurate diagnoses, informed
prognoses, and optimal treatment decisions for their patients. The
company's first three product candidates focus on metastatic
tumors, as well as prostate cancer and colon cancer. "This
agreement marks an important milestone for PathWork, allowing us to
focus on leveraging our proprietary technology for discovering
high-performance, gene expression-based diagnostic tests," said
Glenda Anderson, CEO of PathWork Informatics. "Affymetrix'
technology provides a proven microarray platform for our kits, and
its widespread use makes this collaboration a natural choice for
PathWork." "Microarray-based tools and applications are
accelerating the discovery and implementation of clinical oncology
diagnostics in this era of molecular medicine," said Robert
Lipshutz, Ph.D., Senior Vice President Molecular Diagnostics and
Emerging Markets at Affymetrix. "We are pleased that PathWork chose
Affymetrix technology and believe that the growing Powered by
Affymetrix program continues to demonstrate that the innovators in
the diagnostic field are adopting our proven technology platform."
Under the Powered by Affymetrix program, companies license
technology from Affymetrix to develop innovative microarray
products. This includes the GeneChip(R) System 3000Dx (GCS3000Dx),
the first microarray instrumentation system for molecular
diagnostic laboratories. The GCS3000Dx has been granted regulatory
clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is CE marked
in the European Union for in-vitro diagnostic use. The
custom-designed technology is being used in many applications,
including clinical diagnostics, forensics, animal, industrial and
food testing. About Affymetrix: Affymetrix scientists invented the
world's first high-density 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 1,300 systems have been installed 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 analyzing 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 1,000 employees
worldwide. For more information about Affymetrix, please visit the
company's website at www.Affymetrix.com. About PathWork
Informatics: PathWork Informatics has developed proprietary systems
for high-throughput discovery of genomic diagnostics. PathWork
technologies have shown promise in identifying cancer site of
origin, classifying leukemia and predicting breast cancer
recurrence. PathWork is now working to obtain FDA clearance of its
first product. The company will continue to expand its product
pipeline through partnerships with researchers and cancer centers
worldwide. PathWork is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. For more
information about PathWork, please visit the company's website at
www.pathworkinfo.com. 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 (including risks related to the Company's
ability to achieve hoped-for manufacturing yields for certain array
products, including the ability to identify and resolve
manufacturing problems), product development (including
uncertainties relating to commercial and technological success of
the strategic alliance between PathWork Informatics and Affymetrix
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.
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