Invitrogen Completes Worldwide Distribution Agreement with The Institute for Genomic Research
Invitrogen to Distribute TIGR's Gene Libraries
March 19, 2001
San Diego, CA — Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ: IVGN) and The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) today announced the completion of a Master Distribution Agreement for the distribution of genes. Under the agreement, Invitrogen will have worldwide rights to distribute gene clones and clone sets derived from TIGR's gene libraries, as well as those developed by TIGR in the future, through Invitrogen's Research Genetics (ResGenTM) product line.
"This agreement further strengthens Invitrogen's position as a leading gene supplier worldwide," said Lyle Turner, Chairman and CEO of Invitrogen. "The TIGR clones are significant additions to the existing ResGenTM collection of more than 7 million unique human and non-human gene clones available to researchers."
The agreement establishes Invitrogen as a worldwide distributor for TIGR's libraries of Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) cDNA, microbial, and parasite genomic clones. In total, TIGR's library consists of about 300,000 cDNA and genomic clones, which includes 70,000 human ESTs, 10,000 rat clones, and 70,000 genomic clones from microbial organisms. Clone sets representing an organism's entire genome will be generated and distributed for organisms sequenced at TIGR. Non-human genes are studied because many are similar to human genes. Experiments in which specific genes are "knocked-out" or are "over-expressed" in model organisms such as rodents, fruit flies, worms and yeast aid in the understanding of the human counterparts of these genes.
ResGenTM products and services include DNA content for microarrays, cellular material for tissue arrays, and customized antibody development for proteomic analysis. The ResGenTM large-scale genomic and full-length cDNA libraries complement the ResGenTM collection of commercially available sequence-validated clones for microarray production, which is one of the world's largest. In addition, the ResGenTM PathwaysTM 3 software can perform comprehensive analyses of microarray data.
Commenting on the importance of the agreement for Invitrogen, Mr. Turner stated, "In addition to significantly expanding the ResGenTM offering of genes, it also gives us important leverage for other parts of Invitrogen's business. Researchers buying these genes may also purchase our molecular biology test kits and other products to facilitate their scientific studies. As such, this agreement is a good example of how Invitrogen uses intellectual property developed and proven by others in a way that provides benefits across our entire product line, in addition to benefiting our licensing partner."
Shipments of clones from TIGR have begun and will take approximately two months to complete. The TIGR genes ultimately will be included in the proprietary ResGenTM cMinerTM on-line software and database for cataloging and locating large numbers of different gene clones. Researchers may use the ResGenTM web site (www.resgen.com) to conduct searches and order research quantities for full- or partial-length genes.
About TIGR
The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) is a not-for-profit research institute founded in 1992 with interests in structural, functional and comparative analysis of genomes and gene products from a wide variety of organisms including viruses, eubacteria (both pathogens and non-pathogens), archaea (the so-called third domain of life), and eukaryotes (plants, animals, fungi and protists such as the malarial parasite). The first two complete genome sequences of free-living organisms (the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae and Mycoplasma genitalium) were determined at TIGR in 1995, as was the first complete genome sequence of an Archaea (Methanococcus jannaschii, in 1996). TIGR recently completed the sequencing of its 21st microbial genome. TIGR also is the only institute to complete the first sequence of a chromosome from the malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and from the model plant species, Arabidopsis thaliana. Additional information about TIGR is available at www.tigr.org.
About Invitrogen
Invitrogen Corporation develops, manufactures and markets research tools in kit form and provides other research products and services to biotechnology and biopharmaceutical researchers and companies worldwide. The company manufactures and markets thousands of products and services that simplify and improve gene cloning, gene expression, and gene analysis techniques for corporate, academic and government entities. The company also engages in technology licensing, research services, large-scale production, and life science technical expertise and support. Founded in 1987, Invitrogen is headquartered in San Diego, California and has operations in more than 20 countries and distributor relationships in 40 more. The company employs approximately 3,000 people at its worldwide locations.
For more information about Invitrogen Corporation, please visit the web site at www.invitrogen.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements contained in this press release are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is Invitrogen's intent that such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to 1) Invitrogen maintaining its leadership as a leading gene supplier; and 2) The likelihood of users of the gene collection described herein to buy molecular biology test kits or other Invitrogen products. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, a) Invitrogen's ability to remain competitive with other suppliers; b) the competitiveness of Invitrogen's test kits and other products and the demand for them as determined by the direction of scientific research taken by researchers using the public data base and Invitrogen's gene collection, in addition to competition and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.