WaferGen Appoints World-Renowned Clinical Genomics Cancer Researcher Dr. Arul M. Chinnaiyan to Scientific Advisory Board

FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: WGBS), a leading developer of state-of-the-art genomic analysis systems, today announced that it has appointed world-renowned clinical genomics cancer researcher Arul M. Chinnaiyan, M.D., Ph.D., to its Scientific Advisory Board.  

Dr. Chinnaiyan is a recognized leader in the use of biomarkers in the clinic to choose appropriate therapies for cancer patients.  Biomarkers are characteristics that are measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention.  Dr. Chinnaiyan has led the characterization of a number of biomarkers of prostate cancer including AMACR, EZH2, hepsin, and sarcosine. His laboratory identified recurrent ETS gene fusions in prostate cancer, potentially redefining the molecular basis of prostate cancer as well as other common epithelial cancers.  His laboratory also developed Oncomine (www.oncomine.org), a popular cancer profiling bioinformatics resource.

Biomarker expertise is important to WaferGen as the WaferGen SmartChip system, with its 5000+ nano-well format, is designed to provide faster, more cost-effective biomarker identification and validation for multiple samples and patients.

"WaferGen understands what is needed for high-throughput biomarker profiling in order to complement targeted therapies.  I am eager to share my clinical knowledge to help build even better genomic analysis products," said Dr. Chinnaiyan.

"Dr. Chinnaiyan's insight into the use of biomarkers in the clinic will be invaluable to support WaferGen's development of impactful products for genomics analysis including current product selection as well as future molecular diagnostics programs," said Alnoor Shivji, WaferGen chairman and CEO.  "We are extremely fortunate to have attracted someone of Dr. Chinnaiyan's caliber to WaferGen."

Arul M. Chinnaiyan M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pathology and Urology, serves as Director of the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology. He co-founded Compendia Bioscience, Inc. in February 2006.  He is an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and S.P. Hicks endowed professor of pathology and leads a recognized research team in the field of cancer research at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Chinnaiyan has received numerous awards, including the Paul Marks Prize in Cancer Research and the AACR Outstanding Investigator Award, authored more than 200 publications, holds several U.S. patents and is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, and the Department of Defense.  He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science and serves on the National Cancer Institute's Board of Scientific Advisors.

He received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan and is board certified in pathology.

About WaferGen and the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. is a leader in the development, manufacture and sale of state-of-the-art systems for genomic analysis for the life science and pharmaceutical industries.  The company currently offers the breakthrough SmartChip Real-Time PCR system, the next-generation Real-Time PCR system for discovery and validation of biomarkers, or gene expression patterns, on a single platform. The company believes that the SmartChip system is ideal for researchers seeking to confirm discoveries made with the growing use of next-generation sequencing.  In addition, the high throughput capabilities of the SmartChip system enable scientists to extend their research across large panels of genes, and hundreds of samples, at a very reasonable cost.

Combined with next-generation chemistry and optimized assays being developed by WaferGen under the guidance of David Gelfand, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and one of the pioneers of PCR, the SmartChip system is designed to provide accurate, highly sensitive and high-throughput gene expression profiling capabilities to researchers, clinicians and pharmaceutical companies.

In addition, the company offers an innovative fee-based service for gene-expression profiling using the SmartChip system.  For additional information, please see http://www.wafergen.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements".  Such statements include statements relating to the expected benefits to the company and its development of products as a result of Dr. Chinnaiyan's membership on the company's Scientific Advisory Board, statements relating to the expected benefits and advantages of the SmartChip service for gene-expression and cancer research, statements relating to the expected benefits and advantages of the SmartChip technology to other applications, and other statements relating to future events 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, 2009 and the most recent Form 10-Q.  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.

SOURCE WaferGen Biosystems, Inc.