Austin, Texas – Date: October 24, 2012 – Asuragen, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostic technologies, will present at the upcoming Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) Annual Meeting on Genomic Medicine, October 24-27, 2012 in Long Beach, CA. Asuragen’s scientific contributions will represent its broad expertise and development efforts in the areas of oncology, genetic testing, microRNA and next generation sequencing. Asuragen’s technologies will be featured in more than 10 presentations throughout the conference and the following studies will be reported by Asuragen and its collaborators:

• “Fragile X Syndrome Phenotype Assessments using Methylation PCR and X-Chromosome Activation Analysis” (abstract G31). This study, in collaboration with Dr. Elizabeth M. Berry-Kravis (Rush University Medical center, Chicago, IL), will describe the quantification of X-activation ratio using Asuragen’s AmplideX® mPCR reagents* relative to Southern blot analysis. Case studies linking the FMR1 methylation fraction to cognitive phenotype will also be presented.
• “Correlation of FMR1 Southern Blot Analysis and AmplideX® mPCR for Detection of Size and Methylation Mosaicism in Fragile X Full Mutation Alleles” (abstract G33). This poster presentation will describe a comparative research study between AmplideX® mPCR reagents* and Southern blot analysis performed in collaboration with Dr. Thomas W. Prior (Ohio State University, Colombus, OH). The results were 100% concordant across all full mutation alleles, and mPCR demonstrated improved sensitivity, workflow and interpretation compared to Southern blot analysis.
• “Validation of a Multiplex Assay for the Detection of BRAF Mutations in Colorectal and Thyroid tissues” (abstract ST51). This poster will summarize the development and validation of the Signature® BRAF Mutations assay. Data describing the precision, analytical sensitivity and concordance relative to independent molecular reference methods for 1,549 representative specimens will be presented.
• “Cross-Platform, Targeted Cancer Gene Panels for the Rapid and Sensitive Detection and Confirmation of Clinically Actionable Mutations in FFPE and FNA Tumor Biopsies” (abstract TT05). This poster presentation will describe case studies that highlight accurate detection of low abundance cancer mutations from limited quantities of residual clinical samples using Asuragen’s SuraSeq™ gene enrichment panels coupled with multiple next generation sequencing platforms. A novel bioinformatic pipeline optimized for variant calling in FFPE DNA will also be presented.

In addition, Asuragen will sponsor a two-hour session on the development and validation of miRNA signatures for diagnostic applications in clinical oncology. As regulators of key developmental and cellular processes, miRNA have emerged as promising biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and patient stratification in many cancers and other diseases. Using specific examples, the key elements required for the successful development and validation of miRNA-based tests will be highlighted by a panel of experts consisting of Dr. Randall Brand from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Dr. Thomas Giordano from the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Michael Ochs from Johns Hopkins University, Dr. C. Max Schmidt from Indiana University School of Medicine, and Dr. Gregory J. Tsongalis from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Recent advances leading to the clinical adoption of novel oncology tests for improved patient care will be further presented and discussed by the panel of experts.