Leading U.S. Healthcare Providers Ordering Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine's MaterniT21 LDT

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM), a life sciences company providing innovative genetic analysis solutions, today announced that numerous leading healthcare providers across the United States, including Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Florida Hospital in Orlando have begun ordering the Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine's (Sequenom CMM) MaterniT21 laboratory-developed test (LDT) for their patients. The MaterniT21 LDT provides direct assessment of fetal chromosomal status by examining circulating cell-free DNA in a maternal blood sample.

Women & Infants Hospital participated in the validation study of the MaterniT21 LDT that detects a genetic chromosomal anomaly known as Trisomy 21, the most common cause of Down syndrome.  The results of this international, multicenter study were published online on October 17, 2011 in the journal Genetics in Medicine.

"Based on our participation in the validation study and review of the results, we acknowledge the test has an important place in the plan of care for women who are at high risk for carrying a child with Down syndrome. As with other areas of innovation, we believe the test will help ensure our patients have access to the most advanced options to make informed decisions about their pregnancies," said Barbara O'Brien, MD, maternal-fetal medicine specialist and director of Perinatal Genetics at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, and a professor at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is a comprehensive healthcare facility dedicated to patient care, research, and biomedical education. Its reputation for excellence in each of these areas has made Vanderbilt a major patient referral center for the Mid-South. Vanderbilt's mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

"As part of our mission to provide the best possible medical care to patients visiting our facility, we are pleased to provide patients with access to Sequenom CMM's MaterniT21 LDT as an opportunity to gain valuable information early in a woman's pregnancy," said Frank Boehm, MD, Vice Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Vanderbilt Center for Women's Health. "We believe the availability of this test will help our specialists further educate and effectively counsel their patients."

The MaterniT21 LDT is also now available to order through Sequenom CMM at the facilities associated with Florida Hospital in Orlando. Florida Hospital has a medical staff of about 2,000 physicians located in eight facilities throughout Central Florida who are leading the way in patient treatments and outcomes.

"My staff and I are committed to offering the best care to our pregnant mothers.  This includes offering up-to-date and innovative tests for screening and diagnosis such as the MaterniT21 test to the women we are honored to serve," said Rachel Humphrey, M.D., Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Florida Hospital. "By combining the latest in technology with a caring approach, we can develop a plan for the pregnancy and delivery that will optimize the patient's and baby's health."

The MaterniT21 LDT is performed exclusively by Sequenom CMM.

About Sequenom

Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM) is a life sciences company committed to improving healthcare through revolutionary genetic analysis solutions. Sequenom develops innovative technology, products and diagnostic tests that target and serve discovery and clinical research, and molecular diagnostics markets. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California. Sequenom maintains a Web site at http://www.sequenom.com to which Sequenom regularly posts copies of its press releases as well as additional information about Sequenom. Interested persons can subscribe on the Sequenom Web site to email alerts or RSS feeds that are sent automatically when Sequenom issues press releases, files its reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission or posts certain other information to the Web site.

About Sequenom CMM, LLC

Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine® (Sequenom CMM), a CAP accredited and CLIA-certified molecular diagnostics laboratory, is developing a broad range of diagnostics with a focus on prenatal diseases and conditions. Branded under the name MaterniT21™ and SensiGene™, these genetic tests provide advantageous patient management alternatives for obstetricians, geneticists and maternal fetal medicine specialists. Sequenom CMM is changing the landscape in genetic disorder diagnostics using proprietary cutting edge technologies.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding plans and expectations regarding the acceptance, use, performance, and impact and benefits of the MaterniT21 laboratory developed test on patient healthcare, planning, and patient education, counseling and decision-making, improving healthcare through revolutionary genetic analysis solutions, developing a broad range of diagnostics, and changing the landscape in genetic disorder diagnostics using proprietary cutting edge technologies, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the risks and uncertainties associated with market demand for and acceptance and use by customers of new products such as the MaterniT21 laboratory developed test, reliance upon the collaborative efforts of other parties such as healthcare providers, the Company's financial position, its ability to position itself for product launches and growth and develop and commercialize new technologies and products, particularly new technologies such as noninvasive prenatal diagnostics, laboratory developed tests, and genetic analysis platforms, the Company's ability to manage its existing cash resources or raise additional cash resources, competition, intellectual property protection and intellectual property rights of others, government regulation particularly with respect to diagnostic products and laboratory developed tests, obtaining or maintaining regulatory approvals, ongoing litigation involving the Company, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, and other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that may change and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the issuance of this press release.

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SOURCE Sequenom, Inc.