Sequenom, CombiMatrix Announce Deal to Market Chromosomal Microarray Analysis for Prenatal Testing

Sequenom, Inc.

, a life sciences company providing innovative diagnostic testing and genetic analysis solutions, and CombiMatrix Corporation

, a molecular diagnostics laboratory performing DNA-based testing services for developmental disorders and cancer, today jointly announced that the Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine LLC (Sequenom CMM) and CombiMatrix have entered into a collaboration agreement to market chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) testing services to broaden and confirm the results of noninvasive, prenatal testing (NIPT) to physicians and their patients. Under the agreement, the two laboratories will collaboratively use their respective marketing channels and sales forces to promote the use of NIPT and CMA and work together to provide technical training to physicians and counseling, education and support services to physicians and their patients. The two companies plan to provide, when clinically appropriate, a comprehensive test result report for ordering physicians. Sequenom is a global leader in the NIPT market, and Sequenom CMM, its wholly owned subsidiary laboratory, developed the MaterniT21^TM PLUS laboratory-developed test (LDT), a widely-ordered, noninvasive prenatal testing service for fetal chromosomal abnormalities. CombiMatrix is one of the few independent laboratories that specialize in CMA, the primary genetic test to evaluate newborns with birth defects that is now being more widely used for prenatal testing.