High-Throughput Genotyping Of AML Patients For A Key Immune Receptor May Significantly Improve Treatment Outcome

Main Category: Lymphoma / Leukemia / Myeloma
Article Date: 20 Feb 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ:SQNM), a leading provider of genetic analysis solutions, announced results of a large, multicenter retrospective study from the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute and the University of Minnesota Cancer Center showing that donors with more stimulatory natural killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) haplotypes result in significantly improved treatment outcome in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) who received hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) therapy. The complete results from the study are published in Blood (Volume 113, Number 3), the journal of the American Society of Hematology.

Using Sequenom's high-throughput MassARRAY® genotyping system based on MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, the KIR genes of the donor cells were easily distinguished, and the haplotypes were identified as either group A (inhibitory) or B (stimulatory). Study results confirmed that unrelated donors with the KIR B haplotype confer a significant survival benefit to patients with AML, a deadly cancer of the blood, receiving T-replete hematopoietic cell transplantation therapy.

"In this study, we found approximately two-thirds of the HCT donors had at least one KIR B haplotype, suggesting that preferential selection of KIR B donors is feasible and provides a significant clinical benefit," said Elizabeth Trachtenberg, Ph.D., D(ABHI), Associate Research Scientist & Director, HLA/Immunogenetics and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories, Children's Hospital & Research Center, Oakland (CHRCO). "Although the mechanisms underlying the observed improved treatment outcome associated with the KIR B haplotype are currently unclear, further studies are underway to both analyze and validate the functional effects of KIR in HCT."

Sequenom's proprietary MassARRAY system is a high-performance DNA analysis platform that efficiently and precisely measures the amount of genetic target material and variations therein. The system is able to deliver reliable and specific data from complex biological samples and from genetic target material that is only available in trace amounts. The rapid and accurate MassARRAY-based genotyping protocol, based on the presence or absence of 16 KIR genes, was previously validated by a large-scale genotyping study (Houtchens et al, 2007,Immunogenetics, 59:525).

"Sequenom's innovative MassARRAY technology is one of the most robust methodologies available for DNA analysis, and its use in the genotyping process to analyze key immune receptors is indicative of the breadth of its applications," said Charles R. Cantor, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board, Sequenom. "The KIR immunogenetic typing research done by the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute and the University of Minnesota Cancer Center is impressive, and further exemplifies how our genetic analysis products can translate genomic science into superior solutions for biomedical research and early detection and treatment of serious, life-threatening diseases."

The study, entitled "Donors with Group B KIR Haplotypes Improve Relapse-Free Survival after Unrelated Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia," by S. Cooley et al, is available online at http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org.

About Sequenom

Sequenom is committed to providing the best genetic analysis products that translate the results of genomic science into solutions for noninvasive prenatal diagnostics, biomedical research, translational research and molecular medicine applications. The Company's proprietary MassARRAY system is a high-performance (in speed, accuracy and cost efficiency) nucleic acid analysis platform that quantitatively and precisely measures genetic target material and variations. The Company has exclusively licensed intellectual property rights for the development and commercialization of noninvasive prenatal genetic tests for use with the MassARRAY system and other platforms. For more information on Sequenom, please visit the Company's Web site at http://www.sequenom.com.

Sequenom® and MassARRAY® are trademarks of Sequenom, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding the future impact or benefits of KIR in HCT including clinical benefit and treatment outcome, further studies, and solutions for biomedical research and early detection and treatment of serious, life-threatening diseases, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's operating performance, demand for and market acceptance of the Company's products, services, and technologies, new technology and product development and commercialization particularly for new technologies such as molecular diagnostics, and particularly noninvasive prenatal diagnostics, reliance upon the collaborative efforts of other parties, research and development progress, competition, intellectual property protection, government regulation, obtaining or maintaining regulatory approvals, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) filings, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that may change and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the issuance of this press release.

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