Affymetrix Announces New Cost-effective Product for Standardizing Drug Metabolism Studies
November 11 2008 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Affymetrix, Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFX) today announced the DMET� Plus
Premier Pack, the most comprehensive method for standardizing drug
metabolism studies. The DMET (Drug Metabolism Enzymes and
Transporters) Plus Panel features the most biologically relevant
content identified by key opinion leaders from industry and
academia in a cost-effective format. The DMET Plus Panel contains
markers in all FDA-validated genes1 and covers more than 90 percent
of the current ADME Core markers as defined by the PharmaADME
group. It offers 1,936 high-value drug metabolism and transporter
markers. Researchers in the pharmacology of cancer therapies are
already using the DMET Panel to better understand the toxicity of
and response to chemotherapeutic agents. The comprehensive DMET
Panel enabled John Deeken, M.D., from the Lombardi Comprehensive
Cancer Center at Georgetown University, to find numerous genes
potentially involved in cancer treatment decisions, in
collaboration with Affymetrix. �The DMET Panel allowed us to
characterize the pharmacogenetics of the chemotherapeutic agents
docetaxel and thalidomide in patients treated for prostate cancer
in a Phase II clinical trial, demonstrating that the DMET Panel can
be readily incorporated into cancer clinical trials,� said Dr.
Deeken. �The breadth and depth of the DMET Panel provides a unique
approach to determining genetic variations� relevance across a
drug's metabolic pathway.� �Affymetrix is the first company to
deliver a comprehensive drug metabolism solution,� said Kevin King,
president of Affymetrix. �In the U.S. alone, adverse drug reactions
are the fourth most common cause of death, costing $100 billion.2
With the DMET Plus Premier Pack, we are enabling industry,
academic, and government researchers to identify the high-quality
biomarkers that will enable them to ask broader questions and make
better go-no-go clinical trial decisions.� A recent study using the
drug warfarin demonstrated the value of the unique DMET content.
Warfarin is one of the top 10 drugs known to cause severe adverse
events, including drug-related death. Researchers at the Marshfield
Clinic discovered a new variant in CYP4F2 which explained 8 percent
of dosing variability in select patient populations.3 This
biomarker is now being tested in a Phase III prospective trial. The
DMET Plus Premier Pack also offers software which enables customers
to look only at the markers they want to genotype, or those that
are allowed by patient consent.�Data is automatically interpreted
into the commonly used star allele format which can be easily
integrated into clinical trial workflows. Using a translation table
cuts the time needed for analysis from days to minutes. For more
information on the DMET Plus Premier Pack, please visit:
www.affymetrix.com/dmet 1Frueh, F.W., et al. Pharmacogenomic
biomarker information in drug labels approved by the United States
food and drug administration: prevalence of related drug use.
Pharmacotherapy 28(8):992�998 2 Pharmacogenomics Public Healthcare
2008 (market research report) 3 Caldwell, M. D., et al. CYP4F2
genetic variant alters required warfarin dose. Blood 111(8):4106-12
(2008) About Affymetrix Affymetrix GeneChip� microarray technology
is the industry-standard tool for analyzing complex genetic
information. After inventing microarray technology in the late
1980s, Affymetrix scientists have been dedicated to developing
innovative products that provide researchers with a more complete
view of the genome. These products continue to accelerate genetic
research and enable scientists to develop diagnostics and tailor
treatments for individual patients by identifying and measuring the
genetic information associated with complex diseases. Today,
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 1,800 systems have been shipped around the world and more than
14,000 peer-reviewed papers have been published using the
technology. Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., and
has manufacturing facilities in Sacramento, Calif., Cleveland,
Ohio, and Singapore. The company has about 1,100 employees
worldwide and maintains sales and distribution operations across
Europe and Asia. For more information about Affymetrix, please
visit the company�s website at www.affymetrix.com. Forward-looking
Statements 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 and uncertainties relating to
commercial success of the DMET Plus Premier Pack discussed in this
press release; risks of the company�s ability to achieve and
sustain higher levels of revenue, higher gross margins and reduced
operating expenses; uncertainties related to technological
approaches, manufacturing and product development; personnel
retention; uncertainties related to cost and pricing of Affymetrix
products; dependence on collaborative partners; uncertainties
related to sole-source suppliers; risks associated with past and
future acquisitions; 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, 2007, 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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