Oxford, UK, September 1, 2009 – Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) and SciGene announced today at the annual meeting of the British Society for Human Genetics (BSHG), an agreement for OGT to supply SciGene’s lines of microarray sample processing equipment to cytogenetics and research laboratories throughout the European Union, excluding Germany.

SciGene’s automated instruments improve test reproducibility and lower costs, while saving hours of valuable hands-on time. The range of instruments provides cytogeneticists with a powerful way to automate their entire microarray workflow, from DNA labelling and purification, through hybridisation, to array washing and drying.

Mike Evans, OGT’s CEO, said: “SciGene products are uniquely positioned to provide automated solutions for previously labour-intensive protocols. This agreement allows OGT to broaden its comprehensive product offering of microarray-based tools for cytogenetics laboratories.”

Alongside its CytoSure family of high resolution oligonucleotide arrays, OGT now offers: ArrayPrep® Target Preparation Systems – for automating DNA labelling, purification and array loading for aCGH-based tests; and ArrayPrep® aCGH Genomic Labelling Systems – packaged ready-to-use kits for labelling genomic DNA; Mai Tai® Hybridization Systems – for batch hybridising four slides at a time; Little Dipper® Processors – for producing clean slides ready for scanning or imaging; NoZone® Workspaces – for providing an ozone-safe environment for array processing and scanning;

Jim Stanchfield, Ph.D., President and CEO of SciGene, added: “OGT is an obvious choice as a partner for us in Europe. The products from both companies are highly complementary and when used together offer cytogenetics customers a complete solution for their microarray-based methods. We look forward to working closely with OGT’s knowledgeable and highly skilled team.”

About Oxford Gene Technology

Founded in 1995 by the pioneer of Southern Blotting and microarray technologies, Professor Sir Edwin Southern, OGT is based near Oxford, UK.

The key focus areas of OGT include:

1. High Throughput Microarray Services and biomarker discovery. With a processing capacity of over 1,000 samples per week applications available include aCGH, CNV, methylation studies and miRNA.

2. Cytogenetics products and services for high resolution detection of chromosomal abnormalities. OGT offers a range of high resolution oligonucleotide arrays, labelling kits and analysis software that together provide a unique, comprehensive solution for cytogenetics.

3. Digital microarrays/ Single Cell analysis. OGT’s innovative, patent-protected technology development programme is aimed at analysing genomic events at the single cell level for major applications such as stem cell and cancer biology.

4. Licensing. OGT operates an open licensing policy which has successfully provided access for a number of companies to OGT’s fundamental intellectual property, particularly in the area of microarrays.

For further information on OGT products and services please visit https://www.ogt.co.uk/

About SciGene

SciGene (www.scigene.com) is a privately held company founded in 2003 that develops instruments that automate workflows used with microarray-based procedures in research and clinical diagnostic laboratories. SciGene instruments use automation and protocol optimisation to enhance the quality of FISH and microarray-based diagnostic tests.