SAIC-Frederick and Roche Enter into a Research Collaboration on Technology Advancements
for Cancer Gene Sequencing
FREDERICK, Md., Sept. 29, 2009 — National Cancer Institute contractor SAIC-Frederick,
Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Science Applications International Corporation
(NYSE: SAI), and Roche Applied Science, a division of Roche Diagnostics Corporation
(SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), have signed a collaboration agreement to assess Roche’s
advanced technologies to sequence the genomes of cancer research samples.
These technologies include targeted enrichment with NimbleGen Sequence Capture and
ultra-deep sequencing using the Genome Sequencer FLX from 454 Life Sciences, a Roche
Company. With these technologies, Roche Applied Science provides a complete solution
for targeted re-sequencing of the human genome to further our understanding of disease
associated regions.
Under the recently-signed agreement, SAIC-Frederick’s Core Genotyping Facility will
assess the ability of a new solution-based sequence capture technology from Roche
NimbleGen, the SeqCap EZ System, to capture specific regions of the genome of a
cancer research sample. The captured DNA will then be sequenced on the ultra high-throughput
Genome Sequencer FLX System. Implementation of this technology could accelerate
the identification of genetic variants, such as DNA polymorphisms, that contribute
to cancer outcomes.
The agreement was formed under the National Cancer Institute’s Advanced Technology
Partnerships Initiative (ATPI). SAIC-Frederick aims to further NCI’s mission by
rapidly translating the results of basic research into new preventive measures,
diagnostic tests, and effective, patient-specific treatments for cancer patients.
As a prime contractor at the National Cancer Institute at Frederick, SAIC-Frederick
is facilitating ATPI partnerships for the government.
“Our ability to understand the impact of particular regions of the human genome
with cancer phenotypes is rapidly advancing with the advent of next-generation sequencing
technologies,” said Joseph Boland, Dedicated Scientific Operations Manager of the
Core Genotyping Facility at SAIC-Frederick. “Our intent is to implement Roche NimbleGen’s
solution-based sequence capture technology, SeqCap EZ, to rapidly advance our next-generation
sequencing projects and in turn, increase our knowledge of cancer genetics.”
“Roche Applied Science is very pleased to work with the NCI to develop high-throughput
methods of targeting large regions of the genome for next generation sequencing
of research samples on cancer. Initial proof-of-principle studies show our solution-phase
sequence capture technology, NimbleGen SeqCap EZ, is a robust and cost-effective
alternative to long-range PCR and an ideal complementary technology for next-gen
sequencing,” said Gerd Maass, CEO of Roche NimbleGen.
This collaboration is an exemplar study of the latest trend of using targeted re-sequencing
as follow-up to genome-wide association studies (GWAS). For the past few years,
cancer researchers have identified many genomic regions that are associated with
cancer using GWAS. A daunting next step is to identify the mutations within these
regions that are directly related to cancer outcomes. The new technology being developed
and tested by Roche Applied Science and SAIC-Frederick holds great potential to
simplify and streamline this important step in disease research studies.
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare
with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world’s
largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology,
inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics,
tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche’s personalized
healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable
tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In
2008, Roche had over 80,000 employees worldwide and invested almost 9 billion Swiss
francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 45.6 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United
States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake
in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com. For more information
on the technologies go to www.nimblegen.com and www.454.com. All products are sold
for life science research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. 454, 454
SEQUENCING, 454 LIFE SCIENCES, GS FLX TITANIUM, and NIMBLEGEN are trademarks of
Roche.
About SAIC-Frederick
SAIC-Frederick, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Science Applications International
Corporation (SAIC), a Fortune 500® company (NYSE: SAI), is the operations and technical
support contractor for the National Cancer Institute’s research and development
center in Frederick, Md. This is a national laboratory dedicated to rapidly translating
basic research into new technologies for diagnosing, treating, and preventing cancer
and AIDS. SAIC-Frederick maintains a full suite of advanced technologies in areas
such as nanotechnology, genomics and imaging; operates the federal government’s
two drug and vaccine manufacturing facilities; operates the high-performance Advanced
Biomedical Computing Center; and supports more than 300 clinical trials for patients
in the United States and around the world.
Information about the NCI’s Advanced Technology Partnerships Initiative can be found
at the ATPI Home Page
For further information please contact:
Roche Diagnostics
Dr. Burkhard Ziebolz
Phone: +49 8856 604830
Email: burkhard.ziebolz@roche.com
Roche NimbleGen
Kary Staples Phone: +1 608 218 7623
Email: kary.staples@roche.com
SAIC-Frederick Inc.
Frank Blanchard
Phone: +1 301 846 1893
Email: blanchardf@mail.nih.gov