Process Would be First Major Advance in Nucleic Acid Synthesis in More Than 20 Years, Could Potentially Transform Access to Genetic Information
The two-step process would represent the first major breakthrough in the
synthesis of nucleic acids in 20 years. The current approach was developed by
Marvin Caruthers and his co-workers at the University of Colorado more than 20
years ago. Agilent expects the technology to provide significant reductions in
the complexity, time required, and cost to manufacture its DNA microarrays. More
broadly, for biomedical researchers and healthcare professionals, the speed and
simplicity of this new technology is expected to expand access to genetic
information for use in drug discovery and development, as well as prediction,
diagnosis and treatment of disease in the laboratory and in the field.
Nucleic acids such as DNA contain the blueprints for all living organisms. The
ability to chemically synthesize nucleic acids is fundamental to the wide range
of life science research efforts -- from nucleic acid amplification, to
sequencing and detection. The two-step process would simplify the chemistry used
to synthesize nucleic acids, reduce the number of synthesis steps from four to
two, eliminate most of the highly toxic reagents and solvents used in the
current process, and reduce chemical waste by 75 percent. Because the technology
is simpler than existing technology, it could be potentially faster, more
reliable, and more suitable for chip-sized miniaturization and highly parallel
batch processing.
A team led by principle investigator Doug Dellinger, Ph.D., of Agilent Labs will
perform the research in collaboration with Caruthers, a distinguished professor
with the University of Colorado's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. By
participating in the commercialization of DNA synthesis in the late 1970s and
early 1980s, Caruthers helped fuel the biotechnology revolution, and is
considered a pioneer and inventor of the chemistry used for automated DNA
synthesis.
"This agreement enables the Labs to pursue alternative solutions to a
technological problem which would accelerate the problem-solving process," said
Tom Saponas, senior vice president, chief technology officer and director of
Agilent Labs. "This agreement provides Agilent Labs with the additional funding
needed to develop this early-stage invention to the point that it can be
transferred to Agilent's life sciences business for incorporation into Agilent's
manufacturing processes and future products."
About DARPA
About Agilent Laboratories
Information about Agilent Laboratories can be found at www.labs.agilent.com.
About Agilent Technologies
This news release contains forward-looking statements (including, without
limitation, statements relating to the breakthrough nature of the process, the
expected benefits and potential of the technology to be developed under the
agreement and the transfer of the technology to Agilent's life sciences
business, manufacturing processes and future products) that involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause results of Agilent Technologies to differ
materially from management's current expectations. These risks are detailed in
Agilent's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2001.
CONTACT: Agilent Laboratories
Cynthia Smith, 650/485-6087
cynthia_smith@agilent.com
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