SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb 7, 2013–Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFFX) and DNA Link, Inc., a Korean genomics-based biotechnology company, today announced that they have signed a Powered by Affymetrix TM (PbA) Program agreement in which DNA Link, Inc. obtains a worldwide license to develop and commercialize a forensic test for comprehensive human identification and other diagnostic tests using Affymetrix’ microarray technology and the Korea FDA (KFDA) cleared GeneChip ® System 3000Dx v.2.
AccuID ® Chip is a novel SNP marker based array for personal identification which can be applied to a variety of forensic samples, including degraded DNA samples. This array utilizes DNA Link’s unique approach of combining Affymetrix’ target resequencing array technology and multiplexing PCR technology to genotype hundreds of SNP markers in a single experiment to obtain high quality data and a wide variety of information – all with high throughput and cost efficiency.
Dr. Jong-Eun Lee, CEO of DNA Link, said, “The advantage of using SNP markers is that they possess lower mutation rate than STR markers, thus are more stable in terms of inheritance which could aid parentage testing, kinship analysis, ethnicity, or predicting phenotypic characteristics. This novel forensic test, AccuID ® Chip, can be used complementarily with existing STR tests and to build a more comprehensive forensic database. We are pleased to join the ranks of other PbA Program partners, such as Roche Diagnostics and Pathwork Diagnostics in adopting the Affymetrix technology.” “We are very pleased to have DNA Link join our Powered by Affymetrix program in which we help partners to develop novel molecular diagnostic tests for personalized healthcare. DNA Link being our first partner in Korea will also provide our other PbA partners access to the Korean personalized genomics market,” said Dara Wright, Vice President, Clinical Applications Marketing at Affymetrix.
PLEASE NOTE: AccuID ® Chip is not available for in vitro diagnostic use in the United States.
Affymetrix ®, the Affymetrix logo, Powered by Affymetrix™, GeneChip ® and all other trademarks are the property of Affymetrix, Inc. AccuID ® Chip is trademark of DNA Link and all other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Affymetrix, Inc.
About DNA Link, Inc. DNA Link, Inc. (listed in KOSDAQ market), based in Korea, is a leading company in genomics, personalized medicine, molecular diagnostics, and forensics. As a genomics-based biotechnology company, DNA Link, Inc. has a complete genotyping solution and resources for large-scale clinical research projects. DNA Link put DNAGPS (Genomics Personalized Service), consumer genotyping service on the Korean market in 2010 and plans to enter the China market in collaboration with SK Chemicals. For further details about DNA Link, Inc., please visit www.dnalink.com.
About Affymetrix Affymetrix technologies are used by the world’s top pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and biotechnology companies as well as leading academic, government, and nonprofit research institutes. More than 48,000 peer-reviewed papers have been published citing the technologies. Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., and has manufacturing facilities in Santa Clara, San Diego, Cleveland, Ohio, Singapore, and Austria. The company has about 1,100 employees worldwide and maintains sales and distribution operations across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. For more information about Affymetrix, please visit www.affymetrix.com.
