Affymetrix

Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Multiple issues Template:Infobox company Affymetrix is now Applied Biosystems, a brand of DNA microarray products sold by Thermo Fisher Scientific that originated with an American biotechnology research and development and manufacturing company of the same name.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Santa Clara, California-based Affymetrix, Inc. now a part of Thermo Fisher Scientific was co-founded by Alex Zaffaroni and Stephen Fodor. Stephen Fodor and his group, based on their earlier development of methods to fabricate DNA microarrays using semiconductor manufacturing techniques.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1994, the company's first product under the "GeneChip" Affymetrix trademark, an HIV genotyping chip was introduced,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the company went public in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After incorporation, Affymetrix grew in part by acquiring technologies from other companies, including Genetic MicroSystems (slide-based Microarrays and scanners)Template:Citation needed and Neomorphic (for bioinformatics) in 2000,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> ParAllele Bioscience (custom SNP genotyping),Template:Citation needed USB/Anatrace (biochemical reagents) in 2008,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Panomics (low to mid-plex applications) in 2008,Template:Citation needed and eBioscience (flow cytometry) in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Affymetrix spun off Perlegen Sciences in 2000,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as a discrete business focusing on wafer-scale genomics to characterize population-variance of genomic markers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In January 2014, the Food and Drug Administration approved Affymetrix's postnatal blood test, CytoScan Dx Assay, looking at whole-genome correlates of congenital abnormalities and other causes of childhood developmental delay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On January 8, 2016, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced its acquisition of Affymetrix for approximately $1.3 billion,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> which closed on March 31, 2016.<ref name="Merger">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Affymetrix, Inc. was spun-off from Affymax Research Institute by Alex Zaffaroni in 1993, and was eventually based in Santa Clara, California, United States.<ref name=FodorBio>Template:Cite web</ref> It began as a unit in Affymax N.V. in 1991 under Fodor and his group.<ref name=FodorBio/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the late 1980s, that group had developed methods for fabricating DNA microarrays, under the "GeneChip" Affymetrix trademark, using semiconductor manufacturing techniques.Template:Citation needed The company's first product, an HIV genotyping GeneChip, was introduced in 1994Template:Citation needed and the company went public in 1996.<ref name=sec>Template:Cite web</ref>

Acquisitions

Prior to its acquisition by Thermo Fisher, and its becoming a line of its products, Affymetrix, Inc. had acquired the technologies of a number of companies. It acquired Genetic MicroSystems for slide-based microarrays and scanners and Neomorphic for bioinformatics, both in 2000,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> ParAllele Bioscience for custom SNP genotyping,Template:WhenTemplate:Citation needed USB/Anatrace for biochemical reagents in 2008,Template:Verification needed<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> eBioscience for flow cytometry in 2012,Template:Verification needed<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Panomics in 2008Template:Verification needed<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and True MaterialsTemplate:When to expand its offering of low to mid-plex applications.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.Template:Citation needed

FDA test approval

In January 2014, the Food and Drug Administration 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, where it was noted that "[a]bout 2 to 3 percent of U.S. children have some sort of intellectual disability, according to the National Institutes of Health."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The test, known as CytoScan Dx Assay, was designed to diagnose these disabilities earlier to expedite appropriate care and support.

External links

• Template:Cite web Detailed, multi-document resource on the originating company's history, from its perspective, featuring a detailed timeline of acquisitions, photographs of early technology, etc.