Perlegen and Johns Hopkins Awarded Grant for Comprehensive Mutational

Perlegen and Johns Hopkins Awarded Grant for Comprehensive Mutational Analysis of the Cancer Genome

    Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers
    BIOWIRE2K

    MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2005--

Collaborators to Identify Tumor-Specific Genetic Variants in Colorectal Cancer
    Perlegen Sciences, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to study tumor-specific DNA mutations involved in colorectal cancer in collaboration with the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. The research could lead to a better understanding of the disease, improved tools for cancer detection and diagnosis, new targets for therapeutic and preventive intervention, and opportunities for more individualized treatment.
    In an effort to identify and characterize cancer genes, the team will analyze at single-base resolution the DNA sequences of thousands of genes in colorectal tumor tissue as well as in normal tissue from the same patients. This effort is expected to lead to the identification of a significant number of tumor-specific mutations, providing insight into the cause of disease.
    "The large-scale identification and characterization of genes mutated in cancer will advance our understanding of the mechanisms by which malignant cells arise from their normal progenitors," stated Andrew Sparks, PhD, Director of Association Studies at Perlegen Sciences and Principle Investigator of the study. "We are excited to be working on this important issue with the distinguished cancer investigators at Johns Hopkins."

    About Perlegen Sciences

    Perlegen Sciences, Inc. is working to provide safe and effective medicines to the world. The company quickly and cost effectively analyzes millions of unique genetic variations in DNA samples obtained from clinical trial participants. This information is used to explain and predict the efficacy and adverse effect profiles of prescription drugs. Perlegen also applies this expertise to discovering genetic variants associated with disease for potential new therapeutics and diagnostics. For years, scientists and drug manufacturers have been eager to comprehensively examine entire genomes; through Perlegen, this is now possible. Perlegen is able to bring pharmaceutical products to the market wherein clinical development could have been otherwise discontinued.
    Based in Mountain View, California, Perlegen was formed in late 2000 as a spin-off from Affymetrix, Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFX). For more information about the company and its technologies, visit Perlegen's website at www.perlegen.com. Perlegen Sciences, Perlegen, and the Perlegen logo are trademarks of Perlegen Sciences, Inc.

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CONTACT: Alliance Management for Perlegen Sciences, Inc. Paul Cusenza, 650-625-4500

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA MARYLAND INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PHARMACEUTICAL MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Perlegen Sciences, Inc.

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