WaferGen Signs Exclusive Distribution Agreement for SmartSlide(TM) Micro-Incubation System in United Kingdom and France
FREMONT, Calif., March 25 — WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: WGBS), a leading developer of state-of-the-art gene expression, genotyping, cell biology and stem cell research systems, today announced the signing of an exclusive distribution agreement for the company’s SmartSlide(TM) Micro-Incubation System with Labtech International Limited in the United Kingdom and Labtech France in France. The distributor agreement covers WaferGen’s entire family of SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System products. Labtech International Limited is a leading provider of innovative scientific products to researchers in the life science markets in the United Kingdom, while its sister company, Labtech France, coordinates distribution of the same products in France. WaferGen’s SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System is a first-of-its-kind family of integrated fluidics exchange micro-incubation products that work seamlessly with inverted microscopes. This breakthrough technology is enabling cell biology and stem cell researchers to conduct complex time lapse imaging studies to characterize, differentiate and proliferate cells, as well as grow stem, primary and other difficult to cultivate cells in consistently optimal physiological conditions. These innovative capabilities will allow researchers to pursue cutting-edge research topics that are not addressable with existing technology. “The signing of this important distributor agreement is just the latest in a number of recent key milestones related to our SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System. In just the past six weeks, we have signed distribution agreements covering five critical overseas markets, launched our new SmartSlide 200 Micro-Incubation System, and announced our first SmartSlide 200 customer adoption,” said Alnoor Shivji, WaferGen’s chairman and chief executive officer. “This impressive momentum is playing a major role in our ongoing efforts to grow our SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System business and we expect to continue to achieve important program milestones throughout the remainder of 2008.” “As a company that prides itself on providing our customers with the most sophisticated life science instruments available, we are excited to add WaferGen’s SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System to the broad menu of products that we offer,” stated Brian Page, Ph.D., Labtech’s chief executive officer. “With more than 25 years of personal experience in the cell culture market, I am particularly impressed with the SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System and the innovative research activities the platform enables.” About the SmartSlide(TM) Micro-Incubation System WaferGen has developed and is currently marketing the SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System, a first-of-its-kind family of integrated fluidics exchange micro-incubation products that work seamlessly with inverted microscopes. This breakthrough technology is enabling cell biology and stem cell researchers to conduct complex time lapse imaging studies to characterize, differentiate and proliferate cells, as well as grow stem, primary and other difficult to cultivate cells in consistently optimal physiological conditions. These innovative capabilities will allow researchers to pursue cutting-edge research topics that are not addressable with existing technology. The core element of the SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System is the compact, sterile and disposable SmartSlide-6 Micro-Incubator which is designed to maintain cells at specific physiological conditions for prolonged cell or tissue imaging. The SmartSlide-6 Micro-Incubator allows for programmable fluidics exchanging, enabling the delivery of up to six nutrient media and gas into each of its six individual wells in both intermittent and continuous perfusion modes. WaferGen has developed a family of SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System products built upon the SmartSlide-6 Micro-Incubator that offers cell biology and stem cell researchers varying levels of control over specific environmental conditions such as nutrient flow, temperature, humidity, gas and pH. Each of these SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System products incorporates easy-to-use graphical interface software that allows for complete walk-away automation. The SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System family of products consists of four currently marketed products: SmartSlide 50 Micro-Incubation System(TM), SmartSlide 100 Micro-Incubation System(TM), SmartSlide 150 Micro-Incubation System(TM), and SmartSlide 200 Micro-Incubation System(TM). Since the launch of its SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System in late 2006, WaferGen has seen a positive response from many leading research institutions and organizations. The company’s current SmartSlide(TM) Micro-Incubation System customers include Harvard University, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Abbott Labs, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and several leading pharmaceutical companies. About WaferGen WaferGen Biosystems Inc. is a leader in the development, manufacture and sale of state-of-the-art systems for gene expression, genotyping, cell biology and stem cell research for the life science and pharmaceutical industries. The company is actively developing its SmartChip(TM) product for the gene expression and genotyping markets. SmartChip(TM) is being developed as the first whole genome, high throughput gene expression real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) platform and promises to deliver significant speed and cost advantages to researchers in the gene expression and genotyping markets. WaferGen currently markets its SmartSlide(TM) family of products to companies and organizations involved in stem cell and cell biology research. SmartSlide(TM), which was launched in 2006, represents the first fluidics integrated micro-incubators enabling cell biology and stem cell research. Representative SmartSlide(TM) customers include Harvard University, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Abbott Labs, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).