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Illumina Genome Analyzer Selected by Internationally Recognized Medical Center to Sequence 50 Human Genomes

^{Published on 2009-01-12 03:23:46, Last Modified on 2009-01-12 03:24:54 - Market Wire}
 

SAN DIEGO--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) today announced that researchers at Duke University Medical Center will utilize Illumina's Genome Analyzer to study the resistance to HIV infection among 50 individuals that were highly exposed to the virus, but who remain uninfected. Duke University researchers will sequence the complete genome of at least 50 individuals with the desired phenotype.

David B. Goldstein, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Human Genome Variation at Duke's Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy will lead the investigation to help explain why some people are able to fend off infection even when repeatedly exposed to HIV. "This study represents the first effort to search through the entire human genome for any variants, rare or common, that influence susceptibility to infection by HIV-1. Working with Illumina's next-generation sequencing technologies will allow us to rapidly and accurately screen the genomes of 50 individuals at very high coverage, amounting to the generation of as much data as was generated by the human genome project every two to three weeks. These studies will allow us to identify the most important genetic determinants of resistance to HIV-1 and may ultimately point the way toward new therapies to protect against HIV/AIDS," said Goldstein.

"The decision by Duke University Medical Center to use Genome Analyzers is additional validation that our sequencing platform is delivering leading performance with its unmatched rate of daily output, ease of use, and proven paired-end sequencing capabilities," said Joel McComb, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Illumina's Life Sciences Business Unit.

The Duke University research project is supported by a $3 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Designed for facilities of all sizes, the Illumina Genome Analyzer has been adopted across genome centers worldwide, plus individual research labs, core and service facilities, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Generating over 20Gb of sequence data on internal systems, the Genome Analyzer offers the highest rate of daily output and the simplest and most user-friendly workflow. The Genome Analyzer also offers the broadest set of supported applications, including those used to profile and discover novel transcripts, to create a high-resolution genome-wide map of DNA-protein binding sites and to sequence entire human genomes to greater than 30x coverage.

For more information about the Genome Analyzer and to read what customers are doing with Illumina's sequencing technology, please visit [ http://www.illumina.com/sequencing ].

About Illumina

Illumina ([ www.illumina.com ]) is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of next-generation life-science tools and integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and biological function. Using our proprietary technologies, we provide a comprehensive line of products and services that currently serve the sequencing, genotyping, and gene expression markets, and we expect to enter the market for molecular diagnostics. Our customers include leading genomic research centers, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, clinical research organizations, and biotechnology companies. Our tools provide researchers around the world with the performance, throughput, cost effectiveness, and flexibility necessary to perform the billions of genetic tests needed to extract valuable medical information from advances in genomics and proteomics. We believe this information will enable researchers to correlate genetic variation and biological function, which will enhance drug discovery and clinical research, allow diseases to be detected earlier, and permit better choices of drugs for individual patients.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: this release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements are Illumina's ability (i) to develop and commercialize further our BeadArray™, VeraCode®, and Solexa® technologies and to deploy new sequencing, gene expression, and genotyping products and applications for our technology platforms, (ii) to manufacture robust instrumentation and reagents technology, together with other factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including our recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q or in information disclosed in public conference calls, the date and time of which are released beforehand. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements beyond the date of this release.