WaferGen Names Gary P. Schroth, Ph.D., as New SVP, Genomics Research and Applications

FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: WGBS), a leading developer of state-of-the-art genomic analysis systems, today announced that Gary P. Schroth, Ph.D., who helped to pioneer the use of next generation sequencing for gene expression at Illumina, Inc., has joined the company as Senior Vice President, Genomics Research and Applications, a new position created to build on the company's technology leadership in Real-Time PCR.  

Dr. Schroth joins WaferGen from Illumina where he was serving as Senior Director, Research and Development.  He will oversee the company's biology and chemistry research, the development of new genomic applications, and the SmartChip Gene-Expression Profiling Services offered by WaferGen scientists at the company's headquarters facility in Fremont, Calif.  He will report directly to Mona Chadha, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President.

"The WaferGen SmartChip Real-Time PCR platform addresses the growing need for validation of vast quantities of information being discovered through the use of next-generation sequencing," said Alnoor Shivji, chairman and CEO.  "Gary will be an enormous asset to expand the further development and adoption of our platform into discovery and validation markets.  He brings more than 15 years of genomic research and leadership experience to WaferGen.  In addition to his accomplishments as an R&D leader in a variety of roles at successful life sciences companies, he championed the development of gene expression applications using DNA sequencing.  His research in the field of gene expression analysis using microarrays, PCR and next-generation sequencing resulted in numerous publications and patents that span the field of genomic analysis."

"I am very excited to join the WaferGen team and help develop novel applications to drive the adoption of the SmartChip platform by researchers around the world who are looking to create improved and more targeted therapeutics," said Dr. Schroth.  "Next-generation sequencing has proven to be a powerful discovery platform across basic, applied and clinical research.  Since WaferGen's SmartChip System is the most advanced quantitative analysis and validation platform available today, I believe it is going to be widely utilized by researchers seeking to confirm discoveries made with next-generation sequencing.  In addition, the high throughput capabilities of the SmartChip system enable researchers to extend their research across large panels of genes, and hundreds of samples, at a very reasonable cost."

Gary P. Schroth, Ph.D., was most recently Senior Director, Research and Development at Illumina, Inc. (and previously Solexa, Inc., which was acquired by Illumina, Inc. in 2007) where he was responsible for expression applications R&D.  Prior to Illumina, he held various research and management roles at Applied Biosystems (now part of Life Technologies), Genelabs Technologies, and Gen-Probe.  His main research interests are in the areas of gene expression analysis, epigenetics, cancer genomics, and technology development.  In his own published research he has used a variety of genomic tools including next-generation DNA sequencing, microarrays, and Real-Time PCR to analyze and study RNA expression and gene regulation.  Dr. Schroth is a co-holder of 16 U.S. patents and has co-authored more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific articles on genomic research, including more than 20 papers that use next generation sequencing.  He has a BS and Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California at Davis.  

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. 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 next generation sequencing, statements relating to the expected benefits and advantages of the SmartChip service for gene-expression research, statements relating to the expected benefits and advantages of the SmartChip technology to other applications, statements relating to the expected throughput levels of the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System, statements relating to the expected benefits to the company of Dr. Schroth's appointment as SVP, Genomics Research and Applications of the company, 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.