Fluidigm Introduces Four New Integrated Fluidic Circuits for Production Genomics

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluidigm Corporation (NASDAQ:FLDM) today introduced four new integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs) designed to meet the challenges associated with production genomics. These new offerings are expected to make substantial contributions to laboratories performing high sample throughput digital PCR, genotyping, and targeted panel testing.

“Today, we unveil four innovative devices, each responding to unmet needs in production genomics. To deliver ultra-low cost per sample and exquisite accuracy in digital PCR, we introduce the qdPCR™ 37K IFC. To minimize sample re-work and ambiguous results in high-throughput genotyping, we now offer the High-Precision 96.96 Genotyping IFC. To enable high sample throughput for gene expression applications, we announce the 192.24 Gene Expression IFC. Finally, in response to many requests for greater sample and assay flexibility during target selection, we present the FLEXsix™ Gene Expression IFC, first of a family of flexible, configurable IFCs,” said Gajus Worthington, Fluidigm President and Chief Executive Officer.

With these new IFCs, the BioMark™ HD system now supports the entire span of activity from target selection through production scale-up, eliminating the need for technology-bridging studies.

The Fluidigm qdPCR 37K IFC

The qdPCR 37K IFC combines both digital and quantitative real-time PCR. Real-time analysis of digital PCR reactions minimizes false positives. The qdPCR 37K IFC also provides high amplification success rate with the lowest cost-per-sample available in the market today, as low as $2 per sample.

Droplet and spotted-array based digital methods often experience high “drop-out” rates that can adversely impact their ability to detect target sequences. The qdPCR 37K IFC performs at a 99.9% success rate, providing ultra-high precision and throughput without the concern of false positives. This is especially critical in high-sensitivity applications, such as rare mutation detection, GMO testing, and aneuploidy detection.

With the qdPCR 37K IFC, researchers can enjoy a nearly 80% savings per sample when their applications require four-plex tests per sample. Other products on the market only provide a two-plex solution, meaning each sample would have to be run multiple times, adding cost and decreasing throughput.

The High-Precision 96.96 Genotyping IFC

The High-Precision 96.96 Genotyping IFC is the highest quality genotyping product available today exhibiting a minimum call rate of 99.9%. This precision is vital to production and human genomics laboratories where every SNP for every sample matters.

Some other platforms claim a 95% call rate. If a production genotyping lab is running 96 SNPs per sample, this implies, statistically, that there is only a one-percent chance that all of their 96 SNPs will be “called” on a particular sample. This can lead to extensive re-work, uncertain results, and low overall sample yield. In contrast, when using Fluidigm’s new High-Precision 96.96 Genotyping IFC, the likelihood that all 96 SNPs are “called” climbs to 91%.

The High-Precision 96.96 Genotyping IFC and BioMark HD system deliver standard-setting performance while also enabling high-sample throughput with an easy workflow—one operator can easily deliver more than 36,000 data points in a day.

192.24 Gene Expression IFC

The Fluidigm 192.24 Gene Expression IFC meets the needs of production users who have narrowed their gene panel and require high sample throughput. Together with the BioMark HD system, this IFC enables throughput of 576 samples across 24 genes in an 8-hour day, with minimal hands-on time. The 192.24 Gene Expression IFC can be particularly useful in clinical research and production environment, where users will benefit from the low-cost per sample, high reliability and simple workflow of the new 192.24 Gene Expression IFC.

FLEXsix Gene Expression IFC

The Fluidigm FLEXsix Gene Expression IFC addresses the requirement for substantial variation in sample and assay numbers during target selection while allowing complete use of the IFC. It utilizes a completely new architecture which incorporates six 12 X 12 partitions that can be organized in any configuration, in up to six separate experimental runs. For example, a single IFC could initially run a 12-sample by 48-gene experiment, followed by a 24-sample by 12-gene experiment, followed by two separate 12-sample by 12-gene experiments. This new IFC adjusts to customers’ experimental needs during target selection and largely eliminates the need for microplate-based experiments.

The initial version of the FLEXsix IFC supports gene expression studies, but the architecture will ultimately support genotyping as well.

Production laboratories have a critical need to scale from target selection to production as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. Other platforms require technology-bridging studies as the lab’s volume scales up. This adds time, cost and substantial risk. Fluidigm provides a complete range of IFC products that eliminates the challenges faced in production genomics by supplying a single technology platform—integrated fluidic circuits—that scales from target selection to production.

Availability

The qdPCR 37K IFC and the High-Precision 96.96 Genotyping IFC are available now. Fluidigm will be profiling these products in detail at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) Annual Meeting in San Francisco starting November 6, 2012. Fluidigm will host an ASHG workshop from 12:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m., in the Moscone Center, Room 307, Esplanade Level South on Friday, November 9, 2012.

The Fluidigm 192.24 Gene Expression IFC is expected to be available in December 2012. The Fluidigm FLEXsix IFC is expected to be available in January 2013.

Use of Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to our new integrated fluidic circuits and our plans, objectives, expectations and strategies relating to such new products. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from currently anticipated results. Factors that could materially affect future results include, but are not limited to, challenges inherent in developing, manufacturing, and launching new products and the other risk factors contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. These forward- looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Fluidigm Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

About Fluidigm

Fluidigm (NASDAQ:FLDM) develops, manufactures and markets microfluidic systems for growth markets in the life science and agricultural biotechnology, or Ag-Bio, industries. Fluidigm’s proprietary microfluidic systems consist of instruments and consumables, including chips, assays and other reagents. These systems are designed to significantly simplify experimental workflow, increase throughput and reduce costs, while providing the excellent data quality demanded by customers. Fluidigm actively markets four microfluidic systems, including 13 different commercial chips, to leading academic institutions, diagnostic laboratories, and pharmaceutical, biotechnology and Ag-Bio companies. Fluidigm products are marketed for research purposes only (not for diagnostic use).

For more information, please visit www.fluidigm.com.

Fluidigm, the Fluidigm logo, qdPCR, FLEXsix and BioMark are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fluidigm Corporation.