Acquisition of Navigenics Expands Life Technologies' Capabilities in Diagnostics

CARLSBAD, Calif., July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) today announced the acquisition of Navigenics, Inc. This acquisition represents Life Technologies' first step in executing against a strategy to build out its molecular diagnostics business through internal development, partnerships and select acquisitions.

"Genetic analysis is becoming increasingly accessible, cost-effective and a critical part of patient clinical management," said David Agus, M.D. co-founder of Navigenics, professor of Medicine and Engineering at the University of Southern California, and author of The End of Illness.  "As a result, physicians have more complete and accurate information about the patient than ever before, which is translating into more effective, individualized care programs for patients."

"The advent of personalized medicine will require a combination of technologies and informatics focused on delivering relevant information to the treating physician," said Ronnie Andrews, president of Medical Sciences at Life Technologies. "Navigenics has pioneered the synthesis and communication of complex genomic information, and we will now pivot the company's effort to date and focus on becoming a comprehensive provider of technology and informatics to pathologists and oncologists worldwide."

Navigenics' multidisciplinary expertise, including its technology infrastructure, user interfaces, online platforms, genomic support services, and an experienced team, will play a central role in the delivery of Life Technologies' molecular diagnostic model. The company's established CLIA-certified laboratory, licensed throughout the United States, will be employed for design and validation of new diagnostics assays.  Life Technologies plans to develop and offer lab-developed tests as well as commercialized assays that have been approved by FDA and other regulatory authorities. Life will also continue to build partnerships with pharmaceutical companies for companion diagnostic development, including participating in clinical trials, which is enabled by the CLIA lab acquisition.

Navigenics' extensive clinical program provides Life Technologies with a leadership position in clinician and patient education and support, which will be leveraged by Life Technologies in building its diagnostics business.  The platform includes a network of oncologists, pathologists, and genetic counselors, who will be available to support community-based physicians in the adoption of genetic medicine and assist them in understanding these innovative types of medical information.

"Since our founding in 2006, Navigenics has blazed a pioneering trail in bringing genomics to the everyday reality of physicians, patients, and health plans," said Vance Vanier, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Navigenics. "Life Technologies' entry into the clinical diagnostics market, coupled with the scope of their clinical vision, signals that personalized medicine is no longer a distant future promise, but today's reality. We are thrilled to be at the center of their powerful initiative, which will improve countless lives."

"Complex diseases like cancer require physicians to receive and interpret data from the genome, transcriptome and proteome. Life Technologies is the only company in the industry today with the breadth of technology to span the full continuum of diagnostic information necessary to effectively manage such diseases," said Gregory T. Lucier, chairman and chief executive officer of Life Technologies. "The Navigenics informatics platform allows us to now transform the data from our instrument systems into actionable information and deliver it in real time to physicians around the world."

As Life Technologies expands its molecular diagnostics business, its philosophical focus on clinically relevant, medically endorsed applications aligns with that of Navigenics. In compliance with existing policies and informed consent, all customer information will be protected and handled according to regulatory guidelines, in alignment with Navigenics' founding principle of protecting the privacy and security of its customers' genetic information. The Navigenics Health Compass set of genetic analysis services will honor existing commitments but not take in new business.

Life Technologies is also currently developing diagnostic tests across multiple platforms. In October 2011, Life Technologies announced a partnership to develop a companion diagnostic for GlaxoSmithKline's MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapy. Life Technologies also has an assay development partnership with Gen-Probe, and recently announced collaborations with Boston Children's Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto to develop the company's next generation sequencers for clinical research in pediatric diseases.

About Life Technologies
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology company with customers in more than 160 countries using its innovative solutions to solve some of today's most difficult scientific challenges. Quality and innovation are accessible to every lab with its reliable and easy-to-use solutions spanning the biological spectrum with more than 50,000 products for agricultural biotechnology, translational research, molecular medicine and diagnostics, stem cell-based therapies, forensics, food safety and animal health. Its systems, reagents and consumables represent some of the most cited brands in scientific research including: Ion Torrent™, Applied Biosystems®,  Invitrogen™, GIBCO®, Ambion®, Molecular Probes®, Novex®, and TaqMan®. Life Technologies employs approximately 10,400 people and upholds its ongoing commitment to innovation with more than 4,000 patents and exclusive licenses. LIFE had sales of $3.7 billion in 2011. Visit us at our website: http://www.lifetechnologies.com.

Life Technologies' Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements about Life Technologies' anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies' plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words "believe," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," "expect" and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions ("will," "may," "could," "should," etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

About Navigenics
Navigenics, Inc. develops and commercializes genetics-based products and services to improve individual health. Navigenics educates and empowers individuals and their physicians by providing clinically actionable, personalized genetic insights about disease risk and medication response to catalyze behavior change and inform clinical decision-making. The company was founded by leading scientists and clinicians, and continues to advance genomic knowledge and adoption of molecular medicine through studies with leading academic centers. Among Navigenics' investors are Kleiner Perkins Caulfield and Byers, Mohr Davidow Ventures, and The Procter & Gamble Company. For more information, visit www.navigenics.com.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110216/MM49339LOGO)

Life Technologies Contact:

Suzanne Clancy
760-717-8294 (mobile)
[email protected]

SOURCE Life Technologies Corporation

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