Hyseq Announces DNA Sequencing Chip
Breakthrough; More than 3,000 Bases of Any Gene
Can Be Sequenced in a Single Reaction - Major Advance in SNP Detection
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyseq, Inc. (Nasdaq: HYSQ - news) announced today a major advance that
allows its DNA sequencing chip to sequence more than 3,000 bases of any gene in a single reaction. This read length is at least
three times longer than produced by traditional gel-based technologies, the only other technology capable of sequencing any
gene without using a specific reference gene or sequence. Because Hyseq's biochip reads every base, it is capable of detecting
all mutations in a single reaction. Other biochips in the market are designed for specific genes and are not able to detect every
possible single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).
Hyseq believes that this new advance makes its biochip a powerful tool for large-scale SNP and other polymorphism detection.
Hyseq biochips, including those with this advanced technology, can be used in off-the-shelf commercial readers.
``With this advance, we can use a single type of biochip to determine a sequence or to detect any polymorphism,' said Radoje
Drmanac, Hyseq's Chief Scientific Officer. ``We believe that our biochip's ability to detect any of the millions of human SNPs
will make it an important tool in pharmacogenomics and for diagnostic use in personalized medicine. Because our biochips can
sequence any gene in long reads, we believe our chip also will have great value in identifying specific microbial pathogens
associated with disease (such as E. coli) or with biological warfare,' added Dr. Drmanac.
``Biochip designs that require a reference sequence, including those that do SNP analysis, may need to secure rights in the
reference sequence. The advanced technology Hyseq uses to determine the sequence of any DNA sample may allow our
biochips to detect polymorphisms or mutations in patient samples without using gene sequences that may be owned by others,
thereby avoiding this pitfall,' said Lewis S. Gruber, Hyseq's President and Chief Executive Officer.
``With the gene race coming to an end, new biochips will be used to make use of this enormous amount of new information.
Hyseq alone has analyzed over 12 million human DNA samples, resulting in the filing of patent applications on over 840,000
partial and full gene sequences. Specifically for biopharmaceutical applications, Hyseq has identified over 35,000 genes
containing either secretory signal peptide segments or having significant homology to known genes, more than 5,000 of which
have been completely sequenced,' Mr. Gruber added. Hyseq intends to make available gene sequences and tissue expression
and homology data from its collection of proprietary genes through the GeneSolutions(TM) Portfolio of its wholly-owned
subsidiary, GeneSolutions Inc. GeneSolutions.com also offers Hyseq the opportunity to directly market its biochips and other
products online.
The proprietary advances announced today are versatile enough to be used with other products, such as microbead devices,
under development at Hyseq and elsewhere. Hyseq scientists pioneered Hyseq's high-throughput, SBH technology in the
1980s and the first patents covering the technology was issued in April 1993. Hyseq's scientists first reported their ability to
assemble DNA sequences, sometimes called ``de novo' sequencing, in a 1993 issue of Science (260:1649-52).
Hyseq is a biopharmaceutical company with a growing pipeline of therapeutic and diagnostic product candidates with a primary
focus on immunology, cardiovascular, and hemopoetic fields. Hyseq uses its proprietary technology with its partners for
therapeutic and diagnostic target discovery and pharmacogenomics and polymorphism analysis, and in its DNA analysis tools
such as the HyChip(TM) system. Information about Hyseq is available at www.hyseq.com or by phoning 408-524-8100.
Hyseq's wholly-owned subsidiary, GeneSolutions Inc., offers genomic resources to pharmaceutical and biomedical researchers
on the Internet at www.genesolutions.com.
Statements included in this press release which are not historical in nature, are intended to be, and are hereby identified as
``forward-looking statements' for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including ``anticipate,' ``believe' ``intends,' ``estimates,' ``expect'
and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation, those
relating to the Company's future business prospects are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those indicated in the forward- looking statements. For a discussion of factors that may cause results to
differ, see the Company's reports filed with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1998. Hyseq disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. |
