WaferGen Customers to Present Novel Applications of SmartChip System at 2011 ICHG/ASHG Customer Symposium

FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. (OTCBB:WGBS), the provider of next-generation genomic analysis systems, will demonstrate the success of its SmartChip Real-time PCR System in enabling new research applications at the premier human genetics meeting, the combined 12th International Congress of Human Genetics (ICHG) and the 61st American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) Annual Meeting, in Montreal, October 11-15, 2011.

WaferGen will host a Customer Symposium featuring researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the University of Ghent. They will highlight novel applications they have developed to accelerate their research in lung disease and in understanding the role of long non-coding RNAs in cancer using the SmartChip System.  Long non-coding RNAs are an emerging class of tumor transforming agents that are key components of epigenetic regulatory networks.

WaferGen will also discuss how its SmartChip System can be used for high throughput genotyping studies to validate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a large number of samples offering great flexibility and cost savings.  Biopharmaceutical researchers use SNP Genotyping to measure the genetic variation in individuals for disease mapping or functional SNP screening. SNP Genotyping is also an important scientific tool in agriculture biotechnology for trait mapping and population genetics, in addition to human disease uses. Genetic researchers will now be able to address their SNP screening needs using the SmartChip System's high throughput yet simple workflow, which will result in more rapid, cost-effective SNP studies.

"These applications offer scientists a unique opportunity to explore the potential of the SmartChip System to advance new genetic and genomic research in ways not previously possible.  Our panel of experts at the Customer Symposium will feature results of research advanced and novel methods developed using the SmartChip System.  The high-throughput capabilities combined with the simplified workflow of the SmartChip System enable researchers to extend their studies across large panels of targets and hundreds of samples, at a very reasonable cost," said David Gelfand, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, WaferGen.

"The WaferGen SmartChip Real-Time PCR system offers a more flexible, cost-effective, and easier-to-use solution for quantitative gene expression analysis," said Arul Chinnaiyan, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pathology and Urology, University of Michigan Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Director of Cancer Bioinformatics and member of WaferGen's Scientific Advisory Board. "We conducted a comparison of gene expression analysis data using three different technology platforms at the University of Michigan.* The SmartChip results were highly comparable to those obtained using the other two platforms, and the real-time PCR platforms were able to detect larger-fold changes than the microarray platform. These results further demonstrate that the SmartChip platform can be used for gene expression analysis in applications and samples currently run on the common platforms. This is important because the SmartChip platform offers significant advantages over the other platforms in flexibility, cost-effectiveness and ease of use."

WaferGen Customer Symposium

Thursday, October 13, 2011
12:30 - 2:00 p.m. (lunch included)

Palais des Congres de Montreal
Level 5, Room 525

Speakers include:

John Tedrow, M.D. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
High-Throughput Gene Expression Validation of Genes Differentially Expressed in Emphysema and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

Jo Vandesompele, Ph.D.; University of Ghent, and Biogazelle, Ghent, Belgium; Predicting non-coding RNA functions based on SmartChip high-throughput gene expression profiling

David Ginzinger, Ph.D., Vice President of Genomics Research and Applications, WaferGen Biosystems;
Accurate, High-Density, High-Throughput Quantitative Gene Expression & Genotyping for Biomarker Profiling and Validation

For more information at the meetings, visit WaferGen at Booth 522.

*Arul Chinnaiyan, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pathology and Urology, University of Michigan Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Professor of Pathology and Urology, Director of Cancer Bioinformatics, "WaferGen SmartChip Platform Produces Comparable Gene Expression Data to AB TaqMan® Microfluidic Card and Affymetrix GeneChip® Microarray," White Paper, WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. For a copy, go to www.wafergen.com.

About WaferGen and the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc., an emerging genomic analysis company in the early stage of commercialization, offers the transformative SmartChip Real-Time PCR System—a next-generation Real-Time PCR System for profiling and validation of gene expression patterns (biomarkers) on a single platform.  The SmartChip System provides a range of high-throughput capabilities including microRNA and mRNA gene expression profiling and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) genotyping.  WaferGen also offers Quick-Turnaround SmartChip Custom (User-Defined) Panels to enable validation studies of specific genes of interest through customization of high-throughput, real-time PCR SmartChip assay panels—all on a quick-turnaround basis.

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, including statements relating to the expected throughput levels of the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System, statements relating to the advancement of genomic-based therapeutic and diagnostic development through the use of the SmartChip System, 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 may 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, 2010 and the company's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2011.  Security holders are urged to read these documents 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.

WaferGen Contacts
510-651-4450

Don Huffman, CFO
[email protected]

Media:  Joyce Strand
[email protected]

Investors:  Tim Ryan
[email protected]
212-242-7777

SOURCE WaferGen Biosystems, Inc.