Washington, DC 6/2/10; San Diego, CA 6/2/10—The SEC has charged Elizabeth A. Dragon, former senior vice president of R&D at Sequenom, with making false statements to investors. The statements were in connection with the genetic test that Sequenom was developing for noninvasive prenatal detection of Down’s syndrome (see IBO 9/30/09). The SEC charges that she lied during at least three public presentations when she claimed the test could predict Down’s syndrome with almost 100% accuracy. The complaint also alleged that she lied when she described the results as obtained on a blinded basis. Dr. Dragon has not admitted or denied the charged, but has consented to the entry of a judgment barring her from serving on an officer or director of a public company. The court will determine a financial penalty.