Gen-Probe and Life Technologies to Co-Distribute SeCore® HLA Sequence-Based Typing Products

SAN DIEGO and CARLSBAD, Calif., July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Gen-Probe Incorporated (NASDAQ: GPRO) and Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) today announced they have signed a distribution agreement for SeCore^® HLA Sequence-Based Typing (SBT) kits for use with Life Technologies' 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzer. 

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Under the terms of the agreement, Gen-Probe's LIFECODES unit will have co-exclusive rights to sell SeCore SBT products into the transplant market alongside Life Technologies' dedicated HLA sales force in the United States.  LIFECODES will initiate sales of the SeCore HLA SBT line this month.  Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We are excited to work with the Life Technologies team to bring to market testing products that can help improve transplant science," said Shawn Marcell, General Manager of LIFECODES.  "With the growing importance of sequencing in transplant diagnostics, the SeCore HLA SBT product line will play a significant role in future growth by rounding out our product portfolio with one of the highest resolution offerings in molecular typing."

"This relationship was established to offer customers greater flexibility and access to high-resolution typing solutions with efficient workflows.  SeCore forms the basis for 100% resolution in molecular typing for HLA today," said Todd Laird, General Manager of Life Technologies' transplant diagnostics business.

The distribution agreement follows a supply and collaboration agreement between the companies announced in May 2011.

SeCore HLA SBT kits are Life Technologies' latest line of high-resolution human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing products based on sequence-based typing, the 'gold standard' of allele identification.  SeCore HLA SBT kits are designed for ease of use and yield high quality results.  

These products are available as Research Use Only. They are not cleared for diagnostic use.

About Gen-Probe

Gen-Probe is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of rapid, accurate and cost-effective molecular diagnostic products and services that are used primarily to diagnose human diseases, screen donated human blood, and ensure transplant compatibility. Gen-Probe is headquartered in San Diego and employs approximately 1,400 people. For more information, go to http://www.gen-probe.com.

About LIFECODES

LIFECODES is a wholly owned business of Gen-Probe and a leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of cutting edge assays to facilitate the process of matching organ donations with patients requiring organ transplants. LIFECODES is based in Stamford, CT and Waukesha, WI and does business in over 75 countries throughout the world.

About Life Technologies
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology company with customers in more than 160 countries using its innovative solutions to solve some of today's most difficult scientific challenges. Quality and innovation are accessible to every lab with its reliable and easy-to-use solutions spanning the biological spectrum with more than 50,000 products for agricultural biotechnology, translational research, molecular medicine and diagnostics, stem cell-based therapies, forensics, food safety and animal health. Its systems, reagents and consumables represent some of the most cited brands in scientific research including: Ion Torrent™, Applied Biosystems^®, Invitrogen™, GIBCO^®, Ambion^®, Molecular Probes^®, Novex^®, and TaqMan^®. Life Technologies employs approximately 10,400 people and upholds its ongoing commitment to innovation with more than 4,000 patents and exclusive licenses. LIFE had sales of $3.7 billion in 2011. Visit us at our website: http://www.lifetechnologies.com.

Life Technologies' Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements about Life Technologies' anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies' plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words "believe," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," "expect" and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions ("will," "may," "could," "should," etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Gen-Probe Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this news release about Gen-Probe's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance of Gen-Probe are forward-looking statements.  These statements are often made through the use of words or phrases such as believe, will, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan and would.  For example, statements concerning possible or expected results of operations, regulatory approvals, the development and commercialization of new products, future sales and product menu offerings, growth opportunities, and plans of management are all forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance.  They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied.  Some of these risks include: (i) the risk that the distribution agreement will not result in significant SeCore HLA SBT product sales; (ii) the risk that the companies may not succeed in achieving the goals they each anticipate in connection with the distribution agreement, and (iii) the risk that Gen-Probe may not be able to compete effectively in the transplant diagnostics market.  This list includes some, but not all, of the factors that could affect the ability of Gen-Probe to achieve results described in any forward-looking statements.  For additional information about risks and uncertainties Gen-Probe faces and a discussion of financial statements and related footnotes, see documents Gen-Probe files with the SEC.  Gen-Probe assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of subsequent events.

SOURCE Gen-Probe Incorporated