Axon to Supply Scanners for Affymetrix High-Throughput GeneChip(R) Platform

13-Apr-2004

Axon Instruments, Inc., a leading drug discovery instrumentation maker, announced that it has signed a multiyear private-label resale agreement with global genomics leader Affymetrix, Inc., to supply scanners for Affymetrix' ground-breaking GeneChip(R) HighThroughputArray (HTA) gene-scanning technology.

Affymetrix Inc. is a world leader in microarray technology, supplying an extensive range of instrumentation, software, and other materials to support its comprehensive library of GeneChip brand microarrays. Starting with the Human Genome U133A array, its new HTA format miniaturizes 96 arrays to fit in the space of a standard 96-well compound plate. The new format allows gene expression in 96 biological samples to be tested at once, delivering vastly higher throughput than previously, coupled with much reduced cost per test. This combination will be of benefit for both pharmaceutical R&D and downstream development applications like compound profiling, toxicology and clinical trials. Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. and Aventis Pharmaceuticals are already using the technology under special agreements with Affymetrix.

The scanners to be supplied to Affymetrix under the private-label supply agreement are customized versions of Axon's ImageXpress(R) 5000A automated cellular imaging and analysis system. First developed as a high quality automated fluorescent microscope with database and automated analysis for cell image screening, the modified ImageXpress systems incorporate a range of hardware and software enhancements developed in close collaboration with the Affymetrix team. The new scanners and software integrate tightly into the Affymetrix automated HTA platform, which will permit a level of throughput unmatched by current approaches.

Under the terms of the agreement Affymetrix will purchase an agreed upon minimum number of modified ImageXpress scanners and software from Axon for inclusion as part of a complete GeneChip HTA system.

John Sowatsky, Vice President, Systems Business Unit at Affymetrix said, "When we investigated the options for a scanning platform ImageXpress stood out. Our collaboration over the past year has been successful and we now stand ready to provide customers with a complete solution for the industrialization of microarray-based experimentation."

Alan Finkel, CEO at Axon stated, "As part of our overall strategy to enter into mutually beneficial collaborations when the opportunity arises, we are very happy to have established this strong and productive relationship with Affymetrix, one of the proven leaders in the field of microarray technology. This collaboration has the added advantage of bringing our product to a completely new market sector-genomic microarray scanning-beyond the cellular imaging market for which ImageXpress was originally developed."

Andrew Olson, Product Line Manager Cellular Imaging at Axon said, "Such was the quality, robustness and versatility of the ImageXpress that we were able to build on its existing technology and with relative ease adapt it for genomic scanning. This fits perfectly into Axon's drive to provide quality, automated, high-throughput solutions enabling drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry."

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