WaferGen Bio-systems and Takara Bio Inc. Announce Exclusive Distribution Agreement for Japan

FREMONT, Calif. and KUSASTSU, Japan, June 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc. WGBS, a publicly held genomics technology company ("WaferGen"), announced that it has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement in Japan with Takara Bio Inc. ("Takara", TSE: 4974), a leading Japanese and global biotechnology and life science reagents company.  The agreement is for promotion and technical support of the ICELL8™ Single-Cell System, SmartChip™ Real-Time PCR, SmartChip™ Target Enrichment and Apollo 324™ products.  WaferGen and Takara recently announced a merger agreement which is expected to close in March of 2017. 

"The Asia-Pacific genomic analysis market is large and growing and WaferGen has been experiencing rapid uptake of our clinical research product line in the region," said Rollie Carlson, President and CEO of WaferGen.  "We are excited to have a strong partnership with Takara which who has a leadership position in genomic research and single cell analysis, and believe that our combined solutions have the potential to rapidly accelerate adoption our clinical research products and now the ICELL8 Single-Cell System in Japan."

The agreement includes the full Wafergen single-cell analysis and clinical research product lines.  The ICELL8 Single-Cell System is a revolutionary system for single-cell analysis.  It offers the unique ability to isolate thousands of single cells, automatically identify cells of interest, and prepare single-cells for NGS analysis.  The system enables groundbreaking research in the areas of cancer, neuroscience, stem cell research and immunology.  The SmartChip Real-Time PCR and SmartChip Target Enrichment systems are high throughput platforms used for clinical research applications, such as fast and efficient identification of variants associated with complex disease.  The Apollo 324 system is a compact, highly flexible system for automated sample preparation for NGS.

About WaferGen

WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc. is a biotechnology company that offers innovative genomic technology solutions for single-cell analysis and clinical research. The ICELL8™ Single-Cell System is a first of its kind system that can isolate thousands of single cells and processes specific cells for analysis, including Next Generation Sequencing. The system has demonstrated unbiased isolation of single cells from solid tumors, brain cells, pulmonary airway cells, and multiple cell lines. The SmartChip™ platform can be used for profiling and validating molecular biomarkers, and can perform massively-parallel singleplex PCR for one-step target enrichment and library preparation for clinical NGS. The Apollo 324™ system can be used to process DNA and RNA from clinical samples to next generation sequencing ready libraries. These technologies offer a powerful set of tools for biological analysis at the molecular and single-cell level in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, and clinical laboratory industries.

About Takara Bio Inc.

Takara Bio Inc. operates as a biotechnology company in Japan, the United States, Asia, Europe, and internationally.  It operates in three segments: Bio Industry, Gene Therapy, and AgriBio.  The company develops research reagents and scientific instruments, such as restriction enzymes, PCR reagents, antibodies, cell culture media and gas-permeable bags, real-time PCR equipment, mass spectrometry systems, etc.  It also provides research and contract manufacturing services comprising genome analysis, DNA chip analysis, IPS cell contract production services, cell processing and preparation, vector production, safety testing, technical support services for cancer immunotherapy, etc.  In addition, the company engages in the development of various gene therapies across a range of indications including oncology and immune deficiencies all in various stages of clinical development.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" created by those sections.  Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seek," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate" or other comparable terms.  Forward-looking statements in this press release may address the following subjects among others: statements regarding the anticipated closing of the Takara Bio merger agreement, sufficiency of our capital resources, expected operating losses, expected revenues, expected expenses, expected cash usage, our expectations regarding our development of future products including single cell analysis technologies and our expectations concerning our competitive position and business strategy.  Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.  We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements.  We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

WaferGen intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a proxy statement, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed merger agreement.  The definitive proxy statement will be sent or given to the stockholders of WaferGen and will contain important information about the merger agreement, its related transactions and other related matters.  This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval.  INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.  Copies of documents filed by WaferGen with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.  In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement from WaferGen by going to WaferGen's Investors page on its corporate website at www.wafergen.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

WaferGen and its directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed merger agreement.  Information regarding WaferGen's directors and executive officers is available in WaferGen's Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on April 12, 2016.  Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.

INVESTOR CONTACT:

WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc.
Rollie Carlson
Rollie.Carlson@wafergen.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wafergen-bio-systems-and-takara-bio-inc-announce-exclusive-distribution-agreement-for-japan-300280289.html

SOURCE WaferGen Biosystems, Inc.