Affymetrix and Partners Healthcare extended their translational research collaboration (see IBO 12/15/06) with a contract array manufacturing supply agreement.

Affymetrix and IPSOGEN will collaborate to develop and market in vitro diagnostic tests.

Empire Genomics, a molecular karyotyping platform technology company, licensed a number of Affymetrix’s patents covering the manufacturing, use and sales of microarrays and related products and service for comparative genomics hybridization for research or diagnostics.

Dr. Thane Kreiner, senior vice president of Marketing and Services for Affymetrix, resigned in July.

In September, Affymetrix promoted Kevin M. King, president of the life sciences business (see IBO 1/31/07), to president.

In July, Agilent named five distributors for its genomics products for microarray analysis in India, Indonesia, South Korea, Hong Kong, China and Australia: Imperial Life-Sciences, Korea Biomics, LnC Bio, Pacific Laboratory Products and Research Biolabs. It also named two new Certified Service Providers in Asia Pacific: Shanghai Biochip and Genotypic Technology.

Expanding upon its existing agreement with Stratagene, which Agilent acquired (see IBO 4/15/07), Strand Life Sciences is helping to develop Agilent’s GeneSpring software in order to accelerate upgrades. The first version of GeneSpring GX is set to be released later this year.

InforSense joined the Affymetrix GeneChip-compatible Applications Program, and Affymetrix became a member of InforSense’s Open Workflow Partner Network.

Multilyte announced in August that in response to a reexamination requested by itself and Affymetrix ex parte, the US Patent Office issued an Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate to it for its basic microarray patents, finding that the claims are valid.

Illumina named South Korea’s SNP Genetics a Certified Service Provider for Infinium Genotyping, making it the first genetics service provider in Asia to receive certification.