Press Releases

VisiGen Enters into Strategic Partnership with SeqWright

Houston, TX — November 7, 2004 — VisiGen Biotechnologies, Inc., developer of single molecule DNA sequencing technologies, announced today a strategic alliance with SeqWright, Inc., a provider of DNA sequencing and other molecular biology services. The alliance involves transfer of VisiGen stock and an undisclosed cash payment from SeqWright. The move comes as VisiGen demonstrates proof of principle of its proprietary methods.

VisiGen founder, Dr. Susan Hardin, commented, “Partnering with SeqWright is an important step for our company in completing the transition from research to product — then from product to market. We are very excited about the contributions SeqWright and its scientists will make in developing and commercializing our ultra-rapid sequencing technology — a technology with the potential to enable the $1000 genome.”

Among SeqWright’s scientists to be intimately involved with the development of VisiGen's technology applications is Dr. Richard Gibbs, SeqWright founder and current Director of the Baylor College of Medicine HGSC, who will join VisiGen as a member of its Board of Directors.

CEO of SeqWright, Dr. Fei Lu, offered, “VisiGen promises to revolutionize whole genome sequencing. SeqWright will be able to validate the technology in a high throughput sequencing environment and ultimately use the methods for routine sequencing. The relationship is a natural fit.”

Both VisiGen and SeqWright are housed in the Wilbury Biotechnology Center, in Houston’s growing biotechnology corridor.

About VisiGen

VisiGen is developing a radically new method of sequencing DNA that is projected to completely sequence a human genome in a day for the long-coveted target mark of $1000. Its technology is distinguished from other next generation sequencing technologies in that it exploits the natural process of DNA replication in a way that enhances accuracy without drastically impacting efficiency. VisiGen’s approach involves engineering both polymerase and nucleotide triphosphates to act together as direct molecular sensors of DNA base identity in real-time. The massively parallel nature of this technology enables sequence acquisition at rates approaching 1 million bases per second per machine.

About SeqWright

SeqWright is a contract research organization with over ten years of experience specializing in DNA discovery products and customized services. This addition to SeqWright's portfolio represents the continuing implementation of state of the art sequencing technology. In 2001, SeqWright formed Wilbury Partners which owns & operates the Wilbury Biotechnology Center (Houston, TX).

Contact Information

Susan Hardin
Founder & Chief Scientific Officer
VisiGen Biotechnologies, Inc.
shardin@visigenbio.com

Fei Lu
Chief Executive Officer
SeqWright, Inc
feilu@seqwright.com

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