Sequenom Laboratories Presents New Data on the Enhanced Sequencing Series for the MaterniT21™ Plus Laboratory-Developed Test At 18th International Conference on Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy

SAN DIEGO, July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM), a life sciences company providing innovative genetic analysis solutions, today announced its wholly owned subsidiary, Sequenom Laboratories, will soon begin reporting on the presence of three additional clinically relevant subchromosomal microdeletions as part of the Enhanced Sequencing Series (ESS) for its MaterniT21™ PLUS laboratory-developed test. The microdeletions added include 11q deletion (Jacobsen syndrome), 8q deletion (Langer-Giedion syndrome), and 4p deletion (Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome) and will be reported as an additional finding when a positive result is detected. New study data on the Enhanced Sequencing Series was presented at the 18^th International Conference on Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy (ISPD) in Brisbane Australia.

"The MaterniT21 PLUS test has helped change how we treat our prenatal patients, and its ability to screen for several microdeletions exemplifies the growth and potential of this technology," said Jeff Chapa, MD, Head of the Section of Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "With the Enhanced Sequencing Series, I can provide my patients with this clinically relevant information as early as 10 weeks into a pregnancy."

These microdeletions are associated with various clinical conditions that can result in physical and developmental issues. Jacobsen syndrome, which is caused by a deletion on the long arm of chromosome 11, is characterized by growth restriction, developmental delay, distinctive facial features, and a bleeding disorder called Paris-Trousseau syndrome. Langer-Giedion syndrome, caused by a deletion on the long arm of chromosome 8, is characterized by bone abnormalities and may be associated with developmental delays. Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome is caused by a deletion on the short arm of chromosome 4 and is characterized by distinctive craniofacial anomalies, growth restriction, developmental delay, hearing loss and seizures.

This expansion complements the MaterniT21 PLUS test original Enhanced Sequencing Series of clinically relevant microdeletions which Sequenom Laboratories began reporting in October 2013. Included were 22q11.2 deletion (DiGeorge syndrome), 5p minus (Cri-du-chat syndrome), 15q deletion (Prader-Willi/Angelman syndromes), 1p36 deletion syndrome, as well as two additional trisomies, (trisomy 16 and 22).

"Leveraging our advanced, whole genome technology, we are able to offer more comprehensive prenatal information to health care providers and their patients," said Dirk van den Boom, PhD, Chief Scientific and Strategy Officer at Sequenom, Inc. "We have received very positive response to the Enhanced Sequencing Series. This set of microdeletions added to our MaterniT21 PLUS test is the next extension of the Enhanced Sequencing Series and continues our path towards the vision of a noninvasive fetal karyotype."

Sequenom Laboratories first pioneered the use of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in 2011. With this expansion, the MaterniT21 PLUS test is the first-of-its-kind NIPT to provide these comprehensive results from a maternal blood draw. The MaterniT21 PLUS test was developed, validated and is performed exclusively by Sequenom Laboratories.

About Sequenom
Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM) is a life sciences company committed to improving healthcare through revolutionary genomic and genetic analysis solutions. Sequenom develops innovative technology, products and diagnostic tests that target and serve molecular diagnostic markets. Website: www.sequenom.com. 

About Sequenom Laboratories
Sequenom Laboratories, a CAP accredited and CLIA-certified molecular diagnostics laboratory, has developed a broad range of laboratory tests, with a focus on prenatal and ophthalmological diseases and conditions. Branded under the name HerediT™, MaterniT21™ PLUS, RetnaGene™, SensiGene™ and VisibiliT™, these molecular genetic laboratory-developed tests provide early patient management information for obstetricians, geneticists, maternal fetal medicine specialists and ophthalmologists. Sequenom Laboratories is changing the landscape in genetic disorder diagnostics using proprietary cutting edge technologies. 

SEQUENOM®, HerediT™, MaterniT21™ PLUS, RetnaGene™, SensiGene™ and VisibiliT™, are trademarks of Sequenom, Inc.  All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding Sequenom's expected launch of Sequenom Laboratories' Enhanced Sequencing Series for its MaterniT21 PLUS test, the impact and benefits of the Enhanced Sequencing Series on patients and health care providers, Sequenom's vision of a noninvasive fetal karyotype, Sequenom's commitment to improving healthcare through revolutionary genomic and genetic analysis solutions, and Sequenom Laboratories' changing the landscape in genetic disorder diagnostics, 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 Sequenom's ability to develop and commercialize new technologies and products, particularly new technologies such as prenatal and other diagnostics and laboratory developed tests, Sequenom'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 patent litigation, and other risks detailed from time to time in Sequenom, Inc.'s most recent Quarterly and Annual Reports on Securities and Exchange Commission Forms 10-Q and 10-K, respectively, 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 Sequenom 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.