Affymetrix

Affymetrix, Inc.
Subsidiary
Industry Biotechnology
Founded 1992
Headquarters Santa Clara, California, U.S.
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK
Tokyo, Japan
Shanghai, China
Number of locations
 11
Key people
 Stephen Fodor Frank Witney (CEO)
Revenue Increase US$327 Million (FY 2009)[1]
Decrease US$-30.6 Million (FY 2009)[1]
Decrease US$-23.9 Million (FY 2009)[1]
Total assets Decrease US$612 Million (FY 2009)[2]
Total equity Decrease US$288 Million (FY 2009)[2]
Number of employees
 1,141[3]
Parent Thermo Fisher Scientific
Website www.affymetrix.com

Affymetrix, Inc. was an American company that manufactured DNA microarrays; it was based in Santa Clara, California, United States. The company was acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific in March 2016.[4]

The company was founded by Dr. Stephen Fodor in 1992. It began as a unit in Affymax N.V. in 1991 by Fodor's group, which had in the late 1980s developed methods for fabricating DNA microarrays, called "GeneChip" according to the Affymetrix trademark, using semiconductor manufacturing techniques. The company's first product, an HIV genotyping GeneChip, was introduced in 1994 and the company went public in 1996. As a result of its pioneering work and the ensuing popularity of microarray products, Affymetrix derived significant benefit from its patent portfolio in this area.

Affymetrix acquired Genetic MicroSystems for slide-based microarrays and scanners,[5] Neomorphic for bioinformatics,[6] ParAllele Bioscience for custom SNP genotyping, USB/Anatrace for biochemical reagents,[7] eBioscience for flow cytometry,[8] and Panomics and True Materials to expand its offering of low to mid-plex applications.[9][10][11][12] In 2000, Perlegen Sciences spun out from Affymetrix to focus on wafer-scale genomics for massive data creation and collection required for characterizing population variance of genomic markers and expression for the drug discovery process.

On January 8, 2016, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced the acquisition of Affymetrix for approximately $1.3 billion.[13][14] The acquisition closed on March 31, 2016.[4]

Description of product

Example of two Affymetrix chips

Affymetrix makes quartz chips for analysis of DNA Microarrays called GeneChip arrays. Affymetrix's GeneChip arrays assist researchers in quickly scanning for the presence of particular genes in a biological sample. Within this area, Affymetrix is focused on oligonucleotide microarrays. These microarrays are used to determine which genes exist in a sample by detecting specific pieces of mRNA. A single chip can be used to analyze thousands of genes in one assay. Chips can be used only once.

Affymetrix sells both mass-produced GeneChip arrays intended to match scientifically important parts of human and other animal genomes. Affymetrix manufactures its GeneChip arrays using photolithography. The company also manufactures machinery for high speed analysis of biological samples.

Affymetrix GeneChip Operating Software is a software system for managing Affymetrix microarray data.

Competitors in the DNA Microarray business include Illumina, GE Healthcare, Applied Biosystems, Beckman Coulter, Eppendorf Biochip Systems,[15] and Agilent. There are also various inexpensive plastic-based technologies under development in small companies and laboratories around the world. It has been widely speculated that mass-produced plastic chips can be produced at lower prices than Affymetrix's quartz chips.

FDA approval

The Food and Drug Administration in January 2014 cleared a first-of-a-kind whole-genome postnatal blood test that can aid physicians in identifying the underlying genetic cause of developmental delay, intellectual disability, congenital anomalies, or dysmorphic features in children. This test, known as CytoScan Dx Assay, is designed to diagnose these disabilities earlier to expedite appropriate care and support. "About 2 to 3 percent of U.S. children have some sort of intellectual disability, according to the National Institutes of Health."[16]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Affymetrix (AFFX) annual SEC income statement filing via Wikinvest
  2. 1 2 Affymetrix (AFFX) annual SEC balance sheet filing via Wikinvest
  3. ↑ "Company Profile for Affymetrix Inc (AFFX)". Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  4. 1 2 Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Thermo Fisher Scientific Completes Acquisition of Affymetrix"
  5. ↑ "Affymetrix Acquires Genetic MicroSystems". Bioresearch Online. 1999-09-14. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  6. ↑ "Affymetrix Announces Definitive Merger Agreement With Neomorphic, Inc". Affymetrix. October 2000. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  7. ↑ "Affymetrix Acquisition of USB — Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). Affymetrix. 2008-01-31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  8. ↑ "Affymetrix and eBioscience Amend Definitive Merger Agreement". Affymetrix. May 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2015-01-24.
  9. ↑ "Affymetrix to acquire Panomics" (PDF). Affymetrix. 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  10. ↑ "Affymetrix acquires bead-based technology". BNET. 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  11. ↑ "Affymetrix and Singapore-based Start-up PathGEN Dx Sign Partnership for Diagnostic Test Development for Pathogen Detection". Reuters. 2012-08-24.
  12. ↑ "Singapore scientists develop chip that can identify 70,000 viruses".
  13. ↑ "Thermo Fisher Scientific to Acquire Affymetrix" (Press release). Affymetrix. 8 January 2016 – via BusinessWire.
  14. ↑ Armental, Maria (8 January 2016). "Thermo Fisher Scientific to Buy Affymetrix in $1.3 Billion Cash Deal". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ Matthew Perrone (January 17, 2014). "FDA OKs Mental Disability Blood Test for Infants" – via Washington Times.
  • "Affymetrix - Corporate History". Affymetrix. Archived from the original on 2006-11-07. Retrieved 2006-11-20. Note: reference includes all child pages and documents of this page, inclusive. There is some contradiction in specific details of the founding of Affymetrix among documents found here.
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