| Partners Will Co-Develop Genomic Complexity Reduction Methods for Crop Genomes Initial Study to Focus on Wheat Genome |   |
NEWTON, Mass. & BRANFORD, Conn. & CHAPPES, France — Clinical Data Inc.'s (NASDAQ:CLDA) Cogenics® subsidiary, a leading provider of value-based genomic solutions to the healthcare and life sciences industries; 454 Life Sciences, a Roche company; and Limagrain Verneuil Holding (LVH), a company of the Limagrain Group, today announced a collaborative agreement to develop solutions enabling large scale crop SNP discovery projects. Limagrain aims to improve certain feed crops through the selection and cross breeding of desirable characteristics that occur in natural variants of each species. Using next-generation sequencing technology, Cogenics and 454 Life Sciences will provide a solution for the discovery of genomic variations enabling the selection procedure. A first large-scale application will focus on wheat, with additional crop species to follow.
Cogenics will develop a genome complexity reduction assay, an experimental approach that selects the same gene-rich portion of a specific crop genome across multiple variants of the species. Cogenics will work in close concert with 454 Life Sciences to sequence a total of 2Gb of the wheat genome on the GS-FLXTM sequencing platform.
This is the first and key step of a two-stage process for identifying the molecular markers that correlate with the desired characteristics and will be conducted by Cogenics' unit in France. Cogenics believes that it will deploy this complexity reduction assay for other groups going forward as it becomes an important part of Cogenics' solution-oriented services portfolio. The second stage requires large scale genotyping and will be managed by Limagrain. With this approach, the combination of the desired characteristics into new variants can be significantly accelerated.
"Since Cogenics installed its 454 next-generation sequencing platform in the spring of 2007, it has worked with a large number of academic, biotech and industrial customers," said Paul Tomlin, Director of European Operations at Cogenics. "These customers rely on Cogenics for its value-based service offerings, particularly in combination with additional upstream and downstream processing capabilities. Cogenics has taken the 454 next-generation sequencing platform and in combination with its expertise in genomics services and informatics, completed enhanced bacterial genome, cDNA, BAC, small RNA, metagenomics & human mutation discovery projects. The project with Limagrain and 454 Life Sciences is a textbook example of the value our team delivers, and we look forward to helping advance the field of crop-related SNP discovery, which will enable complete genome analysis of important crop species."
"Limagrain has been working for several years now with leading technology providers to apply large scale genotyping as a core component of its selection process," said Jean-Pierre Martinant, head of the Riom, France-based genotyping facility of Limagrain Verneuil Holding. "We are excited to deploy next-generation sequencing with Cogenics, and believe that this approach will significantly enhance our ability to accelerate the large scale genotyping campaigns required to meet the goals of this project. This project will further the value we bring to our clients, and we work with Cogenics because of the expertise and commitment they bring to this area."
For more information about Cogenics' next generation sequenting capabilities and other genomics services, please call 1-877-226-4364 or email sales@cogenics.com.
About Cogenics®
Cogenics, a division of Clinical Data, offers nearly 20 years of experience as a trusted provider of the broadest range of pharmacogenomics and molecular biology services available globally. Cogenics provides integrated services for nucleic acid extraction, genotyping, sequencing, QPCR, and gene expression, as well as serving as a biorepository, for both research and regulated environments: GLP, cGMP and CLIA. Cogenics combines operations from the acquisitions of Genaissance Pharmaceuticals, Lark Technologies (US & UK), Icoria, and Genome Express (France). Cogenics most recently acquired Epidauros Biotechnologie AG, of Benried, Germany, adding Epidauros' expertise in genetic biomarker discovery and fast-growing pharmacogenomics services business to its portfolio. Cogenics' customers include some of the world's most respected pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, agencies of the US National Institutes of Health, leading government and academic researchers in the international life science community, and major agricultural companies and agencies. For more information, please visit www.cogenics.com.
About Clinical Data, Inc.
Clinical Data, Inc. is a global biotechnology company unlocking the potential of molecular discovery, From Targeted Science to Better HealthcareTM. Its PGxHealth® division focuses on proprietary biomarker and pharmacogenetic test development as well as targeted therapeutics to help predict drug safety and efficacy, thereby reducing health care costs and improving clinical outcomes. Its Cogenics® division provides genomics services to both research and regulated environments. Through these divisions, Clinical Data is leveraging advances in molecular discovery to provide tangible benefits for patients, doctors, scientists and health plans worldwide. Visit the company's website at www.clda.com for more information.
About Limagrain
Limagrain is a farmers-owned international group specializing in plant breeding and plant valorization. Based near Clermont-Ferrand, France, Limagrain, operating through subsidiaries in more than 30 countries, has revenue of more than EU 1 billion and spends annually more than EU 100 million on research and development. Through its subsidiary, Vilmorin & Cie, Limagrain is the 4th largest international seed group. Vilmorin is the European leader in field seed and a worldwide leader in vegetable seed. With Limagrain Cereal Ingredients, Limagrain is the European leader for functional cereal flours. With Jacquet, Limagrain is a leader in the French sliced bread market. Limagrain believes that partnership is an essential way to increase its long term development capabilities. For more information, please visit www.limagrain.com.
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As the world's biggest biotech company and an innovator of products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people's health and quality of life. Roche is the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, and is a market leader in virology. It is also active in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, inflammatory and metabolic disorders and diseases of the central nervous system. In 2007 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 36.8 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 9.3 billion francs. Roche has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai, and invested over 8 billion Swiss francs in R&D in 2007. Worldwide, the Group employs about 79,000 people. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.roche.com.
Source: Business Wire
