Affymetrix and Korean genomics-based biotechnology company DNA Link have signed Powered by Affymetrix (PbA) Program agreement for developing new molecular diagnostic tests for personalized healthcare.
Under the agreement, DNA Link gained licensing rights to leverage Affymetrix' microarray technology and the KFDA-cleared GeneChip System 3000Dx v.2 to develop and commercialize a forensic test AccuIDChip, which genotypes hundreds of SNP markers for comprehensive human identification.
In addition, DNA Link has also gained rights to develop other diagnostic tests utilizing Affymetrix's technologies.
DNA Link CEO Jong-Eun Lee said SNP markers possess lower mutation rate than STR markers, thus are more stable in terms of inheritance whichcould aid parentage testing, kinship analysis, ethnicity, or predicting phenotypic characteristics.
"This novel forensic test, AccuIDChip, can be used complementarily with existing STR tests and to build a more comprehensive forensic database," Lee added.
"We are pleased to join the ranks of other PbA Program partners, such as Roche Diagnostics and Pathwork Diagnostics in adopting the Affymetrix technology."
Affmetrix clinical applications marketing vice president Dara Wright said, "DNA Link being our first partner in Korea will also provide our other PbA partners access to the Korean personalized genomics market."
