Affymetrix Receives FDA Clearance of First-of-its-kind Postnatal Test for Developmental Delays and Intellectual Disabilities in Children

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Affymetrix, Inc. AFFX today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its CytoScan^® Dx Assay. This assay is intended for the postnatal detection of DNA copy number variants (CNV) in patients referred for chromosomal testing. CytoScan Dx Assay is designed to help physicians diagnose children's developmental and intellectual disabilities more comprehensively by enabling a high-resolution genome-wide analysis of genetic aberrations. High resolution analysis can reveal small aberrations not readily seen using traditional techniques.

“This clearance is first-of-its-kind, and represents a leap forward in molecular genetic testing. CytoScan Dx Assay is the first FDA-cleared test that analyzes the whole genome in a single assay at unprecedented resolution, which significantly improves diagnostic capability. Developing and clearing this assay establish Affymetrix as a leader in advancing molecular diagnostics by bringing high quality genomic tools into routine application in the clinic,” said Frank Witney, CEO and President of Affymetrix. “We expect to be making CytoScan Dx Assay available to laboratories within the US in the next few months. In addition, the clearance by the FDA is an important milestone for supporting adoption in other key countries around the world where they are now evaluating advanced tools and tests like this.”

"We are pleased to have been selected by Affymetrix to be part of the clinical trial for CytoScan Dx Assay and found the performance data of this assay very impressive. With two to three percent of children in the United States having some form of developmental delay or intellectual disabilities, finding a diagnosis for the patient and their family can become a lengthy odyssey. This assay represents the best option for accelerating an accurate diagnosis," said Alka Chaubey, PhD, Director of the Greenwood Genetic Center's Cytogenetics Laboratory.

For additional information on CytoScan Dx Assay, please email us at marketing@affymetrix.com

PLEASE NOTE: Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo, and CytoScan are the property of Affymetrix, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-looking statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act as amended, including statements regarding Affymetrix' "expectations," "beliefs," "hopes," "intentions," "strategies," or the like. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially for Affymetrix from those projected. These and other risk factors are discussed in Affymetrix' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and other SEC reports for subsequent quarterly periods.

About Affymetrix

Affymetrix technologies enable multiplex and simultaneous analysis of biological systems at the cell, protein, and gene level, facilitating the rapid translation of bench-top research into clinical and routine use for human health and wellness.

The Company provides leadership and support, partnering with customers in pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and biotechnology companies, as well as leading academic, government, and non-profit research institutes in their quest to use biology for a better world.

More than 2,300 microarray systems have been shipped around the world and more than 48,000 peer-reviewed papers have been published citing Affymetrix technologies. Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has manufacturing facilities in Cleveland, Ohio, San Diego, Vienna, and Singapore. The Company has about 1,100 employees worldwide and maintains sales and distribution operations across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. For more information about Affymetrix, please visit www.affymetrix.com.