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NimbleGen Systems announces partnership with Affymetrix to commercialize custom microarrays

New NimbleExpress(TM) Arrays for Flexible Photolithographic Custom Array Design Compatible with Affymetrix GeneChip® System

22 Jun 2004 - Madison. NimbleGen® Systems Inc. (NimbleGen) announced today that it has entered into a commercial agreement with Affymetrix under which Affymetrix will commercialize new, customized NimbleExpress(TM) Arrays manufactured by NimbleGen.
 
This relationship combines the flexibility of NimbleGen's photolithographic Maskless Array Synthesis (MAS) technology with the reproducibility and ease of use of Affymetrix GeneChip® system, including reagents, instrumentation, and analysis software. Through the agreement, Affymetrix will commercialize made-to-order NimbleExpress Arrays for use on Affymetrix GeneChip instrument systems.
 
The new NimbleExpress Arrays enable the analysis of up to 282,000 unique oligos on a single array and can be used for gene expression, genome tiling, and other experiments, as well as for new applications development. For gene expression studies, these probes can interrogate up to 12,000 transcripts.
 
With minimum orders of only 10 arrays, the NimbleExpress Arrays are ideally suited for custom experiments or pilot studies. Affymetrix will offer a four-week lead time for these custom arrays, which are individually produced and quality tested to ensure that they meet both companies' high standards for quality and reproducibility.
 
Stanley Rose, Ph.D., NimbleGen President and CEO, commented, "We're thrilled to enter into this partnership with the leading company in the microarray marketplace. This relationship will provide customers who use the Affymetrix GeneChip platform with the ability to conduct novel experiments of their own design, rapidly iterate designs, and invent entirely new applications. By combining NimbleGen technology with the now standard Affymetrix instrumentation platform, NimbleExpress arrays will make custom microarrays available to all scientists, encompassing the full diversity of biological research."