• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

WaferGen to Present Data on SmartChip(TM) Real-Time PCR System at Cambridge Healthtech Institute's Quantitative PCR Conference

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 March 2009, 06:30 CDT

FREMONT, Calif., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: WGBS), a leading developer of state-of-the-art genetic analysis systems, today announced that Kumar Kastury, Ph.D., WaferGen's vice president of research and technical operations, will present data on the company's SmartChip(TM) Real-Time PCR System at the Cambridge Healthtech Institute's 5th Anniversary Quantitative PCR Conference. The conference will be held March 16-17 at the Hilton San Diego Resort in San Diego, CA.

WaferGen's SmartChip system is currently the focus of ongoing gene expression research collaborations with scientific teams at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the University of Texas, Southwestern. These programs are designed to leverage the SmartChip's innovative capabilities to identify and validate therapeutically-relevant gene expression biomarkers in areas including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), lung cancer and wound healing. WaferGen believes this research may lead to the discovery of specific genes responsible for causing these diseases and conditions. In turn, this critical genetic information may ultimately provide physicians with new tools for determining accurate disease prognosis in patients, while also potentially providing drug developers with information necessary for the creation of targeted therapeutics.

About WaferGen

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. is a leader in the development, manufacture and sale of state-of-the-art systems for genetic analysis for the life science and pharmaceutical industries. The company is actively developing its SmartChip(TM) product for the gene expression and genotyping markets. SmartChip is being developed as the first whole genome, high throughput gene expression real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) platform. This innovative system, combined with next-generation chemistry and optimized assays being developed by WaferGen, promises to deliver significant speed and cost advantages to researchers in the gene expression and genotyping markets. Based on collaborations established with leading research institutions, WaferGen believes that the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System is positioned as the platform of choice for biomarker discovery and validation. WaferGen currently markets its SmartSlide(TM) family of products to companies and organizations involved in stem cell and cell biology research. SmartSlide represents the first fluidics integrated micro-incubators enabling cell biology and stem cell research.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements". Such statements include statements relating to the company's goals, plans and projections, anticipated results of research, performance, reliability and cost-effectiveness of the company's SmartChip and other systems, and other statements that are not historical facts, including statements which may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the company. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include the risks that: (i) the company may be unsuccessful in commercially developing its products or in achieving market acceptance of new and relatively unproven technologies; (ii) the company will need to raise additional capital to meet its business requirements in the future and the company may not be able to do so on reasonable terms or at all; (iii) the company's proprietary intellectual property rights may not adequately protect its products and technologies; and (iv) the company expects intense competition in its target markets, including from companies that have much greater resources than the company, and there can be no assurance that the company will be able to compete effectively. More detailed information about the company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read this document free of charge on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. The company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact: Vida Communication (Media) The Trout Group (Investors) Tim Brons Peter Rahmer 415-675-7400 646-378-2973 tbrons@vidacommunication.com San Francisco, CA or Christine Yang 646-378-2929 New York, NY

SOURCE WaferGen Biosystems, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category