Woburn, MA (March 23, 2004) – U.S. Genomics today announced its Trilogy™ platform for direct detection and quantitation of individual molecules of DNA, RNA and proteins without the need for amplification. The first applications will enable direct measurement of microRNA and siRNA, allowing researchers to screen their samples rapidly against a panel of all known small RNAs as well as perform validation and characterization of specific microRNAs and siRNAs of interest.
The platform includes an instrument and associated reagents to support a variety of assays in a 96-well format. Currently, U.S. Genomics has over 20 collaborations in place with leading academic institutions and with diagnostic, pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The Trilogy™ early access program will now be expanded with instruments available for sale in the third quarter of 2004.

“MicroRNA analysis is especially exciting because of the crucial role this new class of small RNAs is believed to play in drug and disease pathways,” said Stephen P. DeFalco, Chairman and CEO of U.S. Genomics. “The Trilogy™ platform is the first technology to provide direct quantitation and exquisite sensitivity for detecting these important molecules.”

U.S. Genomics is the pioneer of Single Molecule Biology instruments and assays. Most traditional detection techniques rely on amplification of a target molecule, an approach that increases assay cost and complexity and can undermine the researcher’s ability to quantitate accurately. The Trilogy™ platform offers a unique integration of high-acuity optics, fluorescence detection, and nanofluidics to detect individual target molecules directly. The Company’s direct detection approach is especially valuable to researchers for molecules that are difficult or impossible to amplify, such as microRNAs, siRNAs, and proteins.

“MicroRNAs are key factors in the regulation of animal development and in human disease, but these small RNAs can be difficult to study and directly quantitate," said Dr. Victor Ambros, Professor of Genetics at Dartmouth College and a discoverer of microRNAs. "The Trilogy™ platform is a powerful new technology that allows biologists to perform a large number of very sensitive microRNA assays quickly and efficiently.”



Why RNA and small RNAs?
While DNA is the “blueprint” that carries the genetic information (30,000 genes in humans) of every individual, it is RNA that functions as the working copies of these genes and is responsible for executing the instructions of the DNA. Although every cell in an individual has the same DNA, each cell has different RNA, depending upon the function of the cell. Understanding the function of RNA molecules is key to unlocking the pathways of disease and biology.

Several tools offer well-established methods for studying some classes of RNA. However, traditional analytic tools have not proven particularly effective with small RNA, a subgroup of RNA that has recently become of great interest to researchers. Small RNAs, such as microRNAs and siRNAs, play an important role in cell development and disease by controlling the levels and activities of other RNAs and proteins in the cell. Because of a lack of tools available to them, researchers have not been able to date to study this RNA subgroup in depth; however, these molecules are of increasing interest in a wide array of fields, from cancer to human development. An understanding of small RNA offers a promising new avenue for therapeutic intervention.
About U.S. Genomics, Inc.
U.S. Genomics is a leading marketer and developer of technologies that allow genetics, functional genomics, and diagnostics to be performed at the single molecule level. The company’s technology platform can directly analyze individual molecules of DNA, RNA, and proteins without the need for amplification and combines advances in nanofluidics, optical engineering, and novel labeling strategies. The technology has life sciences applications in the areas of research, drug discovery and development, and diagnostics, and longer-term it will provide a platform to advance our understanding of diseases for individualized drug development. Founded in 1997, U.S. Genomics is located in Woburn, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.usgenomics.com.