Roche Launches the Genome Sequencer FLX System, the second generation of the 454 sequencing technology

Roche Applied Science, a business area of Roche Diagnostics, and 454 Life Sciences Corporation, a majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corporation’s, announce the world wide launch of the Genome Sequencer FLX System.

“As the market leader in next generation sequencing technologies with a global installed base and more than 50 peer reviewed publications, including the cover page of five different journals, Roche Diagnostics is proud to introduce its second generation instrument.,” stated Manfred Baier, Head of Roche Applied Science. “GS 20 systems already in use can be upgraded easily to the Genome Sequencer FLX on-site”.

The first Genome Sequencer FLX systems were delivered to evaluation sites in November 2006, including major genome centers. Roche will present the system and supporting applications data at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) Annual Meeting, which is set for Feb. 7-10 in Marco Island, Florida.

Developed by 454 Life Sciences, in cooperation with Roche Diagnostics, the system builds on the companies’ joint commitment to innovation in high-throughput sequencing through the provision of longer read lengths and enhanced throughput. Researchers have maximum flexibility in the number and types of applications they can address; such as, EST sequencing, identification of small RNAs and transcription factor binding sites, whole genome sequencing, and metagenomics.

Christopher McLeod, president and CEO of 454 Life Sciences, added: “We are pleased to offer customers a flexible platform that will meet the needs of researchers across a broad array of disciplines, ranging from cancer research and resequencing for medical research, to transcriptome analyses to microbial genomics: the Genome Sequencer FLX represents one of the most flexible high throughput sequencers for research needs.”

The new Genome Sequencer FLX provides:

• Average read lengths between 200 – 300 bases, depending on the
  application and the organism
• Greater than 400,000 reads per run on average
• Single read accuracy greater than 99.5% over 200 bases
• Consensus accuracy exceeding 99.99%
• Yield per run of approximately 100 MB in less than eight hours

The enhanced read lengths and improved accuracy enable an even broader range of applications at exceedingly higher data quality, based on improved mapping and assembly.