RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., and PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-
FirstCall/ -- Paradigm Genetics Inc. (Nasdaq: PDGM), a biotechnology company,
and Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that Paradigm is the
first company to be certified under Agilent's new certified microarray service
provider program.
The certification validates Paradigm's ability to provide high-quality
microarray processing and data analysis services using Agilent microarrays and
expands on the long-standing relationship between the two companies. Since
launching its microarray services business in February 2003, Paradigm has
offered research services, using Agilent custom and catalog microarrays, to
biotechnology, pharmaceutical and agrochemical companies. Earlier, the
company was awarded a $32.2 million contract with the National Institutes of
Environmental Health Sciences based in part on their demonstrated expertise in
using the Agilent technology platform.
Certification for the Agilent program is granted once laboratory personnel
complete a training program and the laboratory, as a whole, passes a rigorous
set of assessments. To be eligible, a service laboratory must analyze Agilent
60-mer microarrays on the complete Agilent gene expression platform, which
consists of a microarray scanner, hybridization and labeling kits, feature
extraction software, and one of the Rosetta gene expression data analysis
systems. By using this complete platform, laboratories maximize the quality,
reproducibility and reliability of results obtained from Agilent microarrays.
"This certification constitutes a formal endorsement from Agilent that we
can and continue to provide reliable microarray results that researchers can
count on from sample to sample, study to study," said Heinrich Gugger, Ph.D.,
president and CEO of Paradigm. "We offer the highest quality microarray
service to a research community eager to make use of Agilent's highly
sensitive 60-mer oligonucleotide format."
"By becoming an Agilent Certified Services Provider, Paradigm ensures
optimal operation of Agilent microarrays, and provides customers with added
confidence in the quality of its service," said Barney Saunders, vice
president and general manager of Agilent's Bio-Research Solutions. "As a
longtime provider of quality research services using Agilent microarrays,
Paradigm was a natural partner with whom to initiate this program."
About Agilent Microarrays
Independent studies(1) have shown Agilent 60-mer oligo microarray systems
provide the highest precision, accuracy and sensitivity of commercial gene
expression solutions. Agilent's catalog microarrays are fully compatible with
most commercial 1" x 3" glass slide microarray scanners. Probe sequences are
developed using algorithms and then validated empirically through iterative
wet lab testing procedures to assure the best results. Full sequence and
annotation information for included genes is made available to microarray
customers at no charge. The result is a high quality microarray comprised of
functionally validated probes, with the most up-to-date and comprehensive
genome information commercially available.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology leader in
communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The
company's 30,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries.
Agilent had net revenue of $6 billion in fiscal year 2002. Information about
Agilent is available on the Web at http://www.agilent.com.
About Paradigm Genetics
Paradigm is a biotechnology company that increases R&D productivity by
focusing its integrated suite of technologies on the product development
cycle, from target discovery to subsequent enhancement of the safety and
efficacy profiles of development candidates in agriculture and human health.
Paradigm uses a systems biology approach to understand gene function in the
context of biological pathways, to develop assays and biomarkers for molecular
diagnostic solutions tailored to the needs of our partners. Paradigm's
proprietary Gene to Cell to System(TM) approach has four major components:
gene expression profiling, biochemical profiling (also known as metabolomics),
phenotypic profiling and data integration and coherence. For more
information, visit http://www.paradigmgenetics.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding Paradigm's ability to increase R&D productivity by
focusing its integrated suite of technologies on the product development
cycle; and to use a systems biology approach to understand gene function in
the context of biological pathways, to develop assays and biomarkers for
molecular diagnostic solutions tailored to the needs of its partners. Such
forward-looking statements are based on Paradigm management's current
expectations and are subject to a number of risks, factors and uncertainties
that may cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially
from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. These risks,
factors and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, Paradigm's early
stage of development, history of net losses, technological and product
development uncertainties, reliance on research collaborations, uncertainty of
additional funding and ability to protect its patents and proprietary rights.
Certain of these and other risks are identified in Paradigm's quarterly report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Paradigm does not intend to update any of the
forward-looking statements after the date of this release to conform these
statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations, except as may
be required by law.
(1) An abstract about the study is available at
http://www.healthtech.com/2003/mda.
SOURCE Paradigm Genetics, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.paradigmgenetics.com
CONTACT:
Melissa Matson, Director, Corporate
Communications of Paradigm Genetics, Inc., +1-919-425-3000, or
Mark Vincent or Brian Ritchie of Noonan Russo Presence Euro RSCG,
+1-212-845-4200, for Paradigm Genetics, Inc., or Christina Maehr
of Agilent Technologies, +1-408-553-7205, or
christina_maehr@agilent.com
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