CARLSBAD, Calif., March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Technologies Corporation today announced that it is the first life science tools provider entering clinical trials to prove the safety and effectiveness of their DNA sequence-based typing (SBT) platform for analysis of the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system. Submission for 510(k) clearance of this SBT platform will follow completion of the clinical trials, which is anticipated this summer.
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Life Technologies has contracted a clinical research organization to oversee the clinical trials at independent, accredited HLA typing laboratories in the United States. The laboratories will evaluate six gene regions of the HLA system using the company's Applied Biosystems™ 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzer, SeCore kits, and uTYPE Dx Software.
HLA typing is one of the main determinants used in patient-donor compatibility selection for individuals diagnosed with leukemia and other blood cancers, where bone marrow transplantation can be a viable treatment option. Located on chromosome six, the HLA gene family is the most variable gene in the human genome. HLA typing is the process of precisely identifying these gene variations.
"As the observation of new HLA variants continues at a significant rate, using a robust SBT system is the most accurate method to keep pace with these rapid discoveries," said Todd Laird, Vice President and General Manager of Life Technologies Fragment and Sequence Genomics Division. "Sequence-based analysis enabled by the 3500 Dx system coupled with SeCore kits is the only available technique that identifies more than 5500 gene variants at the nucleotide level, resulting in the most accurate and unambiguous assay."
"Our intention is to complete clinical trials and pursue 510(k) clearance of the 3500 Dx system and SeCore kits to demonstrate the utility of capillary electrophoresis and sequence-based assays as powerful tools in the molecular diagnostic laboratory," Laird continued. "Life Technologies recognizes the increasingly important contribution of sequence-based analysis in the evolution of molecular medicine."
About Life Technologies Sequencing
Life Technologies is the world's leading provider of sequencing technologies, offering the industry's gold standard capillary electrophoresis technology with the Applied Biosystems™ 3500 Series Genetic Analyzers, next-generation sequencing technology with the Applied Biosystems™ 5500 Series SOLiD™ Sequencers, and semiconductor-based sequencing technology with the recently launched Ion Personal Genome Machine (PGM™) sequencer.
About Life Technologies
Life Technologies Corporation is a global biotechnology company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific and medical advancements that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance the fields of discovery and translational research, molecular medicine, stem cell-based therapies, food safety and animal health, and 21st century forensics. The company manufactures both molecular diagnostic and research use only products. Life Technologies' industry-leading brands are found in nearly every life sciences lab in the world and include innovative instrument systems under the Applied Biosystems and Ion Torrent names, as well as,
the broadest range of reagents with its Invitrogen, Gibco, Ambion, Molecular Probes and Taqman products. Life Technologies had sales of $3.6 billion in 2010, has a workforce of approximately 11,000 people, has a presence in approximately 160 countries, and possesses one of the largest intellectual property estates in the life sciences industry, with approximately 3,900 patents and exclusive licenses. For more information on how we are making a difference, please visit our website: http://www.lifetechnologies.com. Follow Life Technologies on Twitter @lifetech and on Facebook.
Life Technologies' SafeHarbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements about Life Technologies' anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies' plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words "believe," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," "expect" and the like, and/or future tense or conditional
constructions ("will," "may," "could," "should," etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
Life Technologies Contact
Patty Zamora
760-476-7818
patty.zamora@lifetech.com
SOURCE Life Technologies Corporation