SAN DIEGO, Mar 11, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) today announced that it has sequenced the DNA of American actress Glenn Close, the first publicly named female to have her DNA sequenced to full coverage. The service was completed in Illumina's CLIA certified and CAP accredited laboratory utilizing Illumina's Genome Analyzer technology and following the established process shown at http://www.everygenome.com/. Ms. Close's DNA was sequenced to an average depth greater than 30 fold, providing information on SNP variation and allowing for the analysis of other structural characteristics of the genome such as insertions, deletions and rearrangements. Specifically, over 95% of the known genome was reported, including over 12 million genotype calls on previously documented SNPs. In addition, 379,000 SNPs previously not reported in any public database were found.
"We are very excited to work with Glenn Close to produce the first named female sequence," said Jay Flatley, president and CEO of Illumina. "We are entering a new era in genomic health where information from an individual's genome will increasingly inform lifestyle decisions and ultimately assist with health management. Ms. Close has been active in health issues, and her participation helps bring attention to the potential benefits of individuals gaining access to their genetic information. With this information, physicians will be able to make better healthcare decisions for their patients in the future."
Glenn Close joins a small group of individuals who have had their genomes sequenced. "There is bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in my family, illnesses that, like other medical conditions, are thought to have genetic underpinnings," said Ms. Close. "As human sequencing becomes increasingly routine, my hope is that researchers will unravel the genetic aspects of mental illnesses to bring greater awareness about the diseases, de-stigmatize them and pave the way for more effective treatments."
Glenn Close is a co-creator of a nonprofit organization called BringChange2Mind, which is raising awareness about mental illness and fighting the toxic stigma that surrounds it by empowering those living with mental illness and those whose loved ones suffer from it to speak out and connect. BC2M also provides support and information to the mentally ill and their families. She has spoken out about the legacy of mental illness in her own family.
Illumina intends to create a social community for the education and exchange of information among those who have had their genomes sequenced. As more information becomes available, participants will be in a position to mine their personal genome sequence data to understand their identity in ways that never have been possible.
In addition to the sequencing service, Illumina is establishing a protocol, infrastructure, and community to enable large-scale adoption of personal genome sequencing. This includes the creation of a network of partners to offer a variety of services. Data analysis partners, physicians and genetic counselors will play an important role in Illumina's Personal Genome Sequencing Service. A physician's network is being created since physicians will be critical to the service - to discuss the process with the consumer, order the sequencing service, collect DNA samples and deliver final sequencing data to the consumer.
For more information about Illumina's personal sequencing service, please visit http://www.everygenome.com/?utm_source=businesswire&utm_medium=press_release&utm_campaign=2010_cowen_healthcare_conference. For more information about BringChange2Mind please visit http://www.bringchange2mind.org.
About Illumina
Illumina (http://www.illumina.com) is the leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and biological function. Using our proprietary technologies, we provide a comprehensive line of products and services that currently serve the sequencing, genotyping, and gene expression markets, and we expect to enter the market for molecular diagnostics. Our customers include leading genomic research centers, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, clinical research organizations, and biotechnology companies. Our tools provide researchers around the world with the performance, throughput, cost effectiveness, and flexibility necessary to perform the billions of genetic tests needed to extract valuable medical information from advances in genomics and proteomics. We believe this information will enable researchers to correlate genetic variation and biological function, which will enhance drug discovery and clinical research, allow diseases to be detected earlier, and permit better choices of drugs for individual patients.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements are (i) our ability to develop and commercialize further our BeadArray(TM), VeraCode(R), and Solexa(R) technologies and to deploy new sequencing, gene expression, and genotyping products and applications for our technology platforms, (ii) our ability to manufacture robust instrumentation and reagents, and (iii) reductions in the funding levels to our primary customers, including as the result of timing and amount of funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, together with other factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, or in information disclosed in public conference calls, the date and time of which are released beforehand. We undertake no obligation, and do not intend, to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this release.
SOURCE: Illumina, Inc.
Illumina, Inc.
Investors:
Peter J. Fromen
Sr. Director, Investor Relations
858-202-4507
pfromen@illumina.com
or
Media:
Wilson Grabill
Public Relations
858-882-6822
wgrabill@illumina.com
