SEQUENOM and USDA-ARS Expand Relationship to Include Swine Identity Panel

20-Jul-2004

Sequenom, Inc. announced a funded collaboration with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the United States Department of agriculture (USDA) to develop and validate a genetic marker panel for swine identification.

The agreement also includes a SEQUENOM MassARRAY Compact system placement, as well as further development of a beef carcass quality panel assay. This expands an ongoing multiyear relationship between the two organizations for the identification and screening of disease susceptibility markers in cattle livestock and favorable breeding traits in future generations. The new collaboration will allow the USDA-ARS to further develop genomic resources for the livestock industry.

Earlier this year, SEQUENOM announced the company's proprietary MassARRAY system was used on behalf of the USDA to determine the origin of the recent mad cow disease case in the United States. Two SEQUENOM customers independently screened samples of DNA, applying a set of bovine genetic assays developed by the USDA for the MassARRAY platform.

"The USDA is committed to promoting animal genetics research for the well-being of the general population, and SEQUENOM is pleased to be expanding its long-standing relationship with the organization," said Mike Terry, SEQUENOM's Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. "Our collaboration will allow the USDA to use SEQUENOM's high-performance genetic testing technology, the MassARRAY system, to develop livestock identity panels of the highest quality."

This agreement strengthens SEQUENOM's position as a leading provider of genetic analysis technology in the agriculture industry. The company also recently sold systems to the Animal Research Genome Division of the Society for Technology-Innovation of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (STAFF) Institute in Japan, a leading agricultural research organization carrying out swine and rice genomic studies, and an undisclosed private company specializing in livestock diagnostic services. Other customers who have selected the MassARRAY system for their animal genetics research and commercial services include Genaissance, GeneSeek, LGC and AgResearch.

"As concern about food safety grows, supply chain management in the food industry will drive increased demand for genetic identification and tracking of whole animals and their derivative products," said Toni Schuh, Ph.D., SEQUENOM's President and Chief Executive Officer. "SEQUENOM plans to be at the forefront of this demand, and we see this industry as an area of great opportunity and growth for the company."

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