Genizon BioSciences Converts to Illumina Genotyping Technology for Disease Association Research; Data from Illumina BeadChips and Infinium(TM) Assay to Accelerate Development of Genizon GeneMaps
6:10 AM EST January 12, 2006
Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) announced today that Genizon BioSciences is adopting Illumina's whole-genome genotyping technology for its disease association research program designed to understand the genetic basis of more than twenty common diseases. Using Illumina's Sentrix(R) HumanHap300 BeadChips and Infinium(TM) assay, Genizon expects to conduct whole-genome association studies on at least 16,000 case and control samples in 11 common diseases over the next 12-18 months, adding to the three such studies already completed. To accommodate this initiative, Genizon will build out its existing Illumina system infrastructure with six additional BeadArray Readers, extensive automation, LIMS (laboratory information management systems) to integrate data workflows and ensure accurate sample tracking, and new BeadStudio software.
According to John Hooper, Ph.D., Genizon President and CEO, "We've been using Illumina technology since 2004 to support our fine mapping programs that follow genome-wide disease association studies. Illumina data quality is, frankly, without peer in the industry, so we were eager to convert our disease association methods to Illumina technology. Illumina's Infinium assay and new tagSNP-centric BeadChips deliver the same, if not better data quality than their GoldenGate(R) fine-mapping technologies. By adopting a common platform for all genotyping and with our unique access to the Quebec Founder Population, we expect to accelerate our understanding of important diseases and enable faster development times for new, targeted therapeutics."
DNA samples for Genizon's programs are collected in collaboration with over 900 Quebec clinical investigators. The Quebec Founder Population, of French descent, is believed to be among the world's best for gene discovery in common diseases, based on its high levels of genetic homogeneity, extended linkage disequilibrium (genetic sharing), and large size (nearly 6 million people).
Genizon will use a custom version of Illumina's HumanHap300 BeadChip, tailored to genetic sharing in the Quebec founder population, to query over 350,000 SNP loci per sample. Case-control samples will represent common diseases that exhibit both high heritability and significant worldwide societal impact. Follow-on studies will map candidate gene regions associated with these diseases. The resulting information will be used to produce GeneMaps, comprised of multiple interacting genes that define biological pathways unequivocally associated with disease. GeneMaps will be used to drive the development of innovative therapeutics, diagnostics and pharmacogenomics services.
"We're thrilled to extend our relationship with Genizon," said Jay Flatley, Illumina President and CEO. "John Hooper and his colleagues are executing on a far-reaching and ambitious vision to use genetic information to treat the cause rather than the symptoms of common disease. We're very proud that Genizon is leveraging Illumina data quality and performance for competitive advantage."
Illumina began shipping Sentrix HumanHap300 BeadChips early in 2006. Enabled by the Company's revolutionary Infinium(TM) assay method, HumanHap300 content is derived principally from so-called "tagSNPs" identified and validated in the International HapMap Project, which was completed in October 2005. The HumanHap300 offers the most comprehensive genomic coverage (see Note) and highest data quality of any product currently available and is expected to become an important discovery tool for disease researchers. For more information about the new BeadChip, visit: illumina.com .
About Illumina
Illumina (www.illumina.com) develops and markets next-generation tools for the large-scale analysis of genetic variation and function. The Company's proprietary BeadArray technology -- used in leading genomics centers around the world -- provides the throughput, cost effectiveness and flexibility necessary to enable researchers in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries to perform the billions of tests necessary to extract medically valuable information from advances in genomics and proteomics. This information will help pave the way to personalized medicine by correlating genetic variation and gene function with particular disease states, enhancing drug discovery, allowing diseases to be detected earlier and more specifically, and permitting better choices of drugs for individual patients. |
