Overview

Lynx Therapeutics Inc. develops and applies novel technologies for the discovery of gene expression patterns and genomic variations for use in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agricultural industries. Lynx’s work is based on its proprietary cloning procedure, Megaclone technology, for use in high-resolution gene expression analysis and in the discovery and characterization of genetic variations.

Using the Megaclone technology, Lynx developed a suite of applications for genomic and genetics research programs. The applications are the Massively Parallel Signature Sequencing technology used for generating sequence information, which identifies a sample’s DNA molecules without the need for individual sequencing reactions; Megasort technology used to enable researchers to focus on potential target genes; and Megatype technology, when fully developed, used to enable a single experiment to yield directly, without individual genotyping, those disease- or trait-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms that differentiate large populations of genomes.

Lynx plans to provide high-resolution gene expression information for use in databases and for the specific programs of others, and to grow its genomic discovery services and applications for its technology to other areas, such as proteomics.

Lynx’s wholly owned subsidiary, Lynx GmbH, is based in Heidelberg, Germany. It uses Lynx’s suite of technologies to discover gene targets in immune disorders. Lynx formed in 1996 a joint venture company with BASF called BASF-LYNX Bioscience AG. It employs Lynx’s technologies to discover and validate novel gene targets for central nervous system disorders.

Partners

Identification of genes: AniGenics Inc., GenoMar ASA and Phytera Inc.

Discovery of SNPs associated with asthma: AstraZeneca plc.

Integration of sets of high-resolution gene expression data into Celera’s database products and to perform additional gene expression analyses: Celera Genomics Inc.

Discovery of differentially expressed genes associated with prostate cancer, benign prostatic hypertrophy, renal carcinoma and bladder cancer: UroGène SA.

Other partners for gene discovery include the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Hybrigenics SA and Molecular Engines Laboratories SA; for licensing, include Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd.; and for SNPs, Genomics Collaborative Inc. and Oxagen Ltd.

Academic institutions include the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas Southwestern, Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Mechanisms in Disease at the University of Cambridge, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Helen Hayes Hospital of the New York State Department of Health and Columbia University.

Customers include BASF, the DuPont Agricultural Enterprise unit and Aventis Pharmaceuticals.