Invitrogen and the Genome Quebec and Montreal Heart Institute Pharmacogenomics Centre Announce Collaboration to Advance Pharmacogenomics Research

A scientific collaboration aimed at advancing pharmacogenomics research through the development of novel methodologies and advanced reagents for targeted medical resequencing was announced today by Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN), a provider of essential life science technologies for research, production and diagnostics, and the Génome Québec and Montreal Heart Institute Pharmacogenomics Centre, a provider of pharmacogenomics research, content, and services. The potential impact of pharmacogenomics, the study of how genetic variations impact a patient’s response to drug treatments, continues to grow as understanding of the genome evolves, but much remains unknown. Invitrogen scientists will support research programs at the Pharmacogenomics Centre to improve the efficiency and speed with which researchers can identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), differences in single base pairs that typically occur in more than one percent of the population. "Pharmacogenomics holds the promise that drugs might one day be tailor-made for the individual,” said Michael Phillips, PhD, Associate Professor at the Université de Montréal and Director of Pharmacogenomics at the Montreal Heart Institute and Génome Québec. "We hope this collaboration enables us to make great strides in improving the tools and techniques available to researchers in this important field of study.” "Integrating pharmacogenomics and biomarkers in a more personalized approach to healthcare holds great potential to improve the safety and efficacy of commonly used medications,” said Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif, Professor of Medicine at the Université de Montréal and Director of the Research Center at the Montreal Heart Institute. Researchers at the Pharmacogenomics Centre are seeking to identify new SNPs within approximately 200 specific ADME/Tox-related genes that effect how a drug is metabolized by an individual. To identify these SNPs, researchers must analyze the ADME/Tox genes of a population of people through targeted medical resequencing. The collaboration focuses on ways to accelerate this process, thereby speeding the research. "This collaboration offers Invitrogen the opportunity to work closely with thought leaders in the field of pharmacogenomics and to better understand this emerging area of research,” said Rob Bennett, Invitrogen’s Vice President of Advanced Sequencing Applications. "We are excited about combining our technologies and enzymology know-how with the Pharmacogenomics Centre’s knowledge of ADME/Tox genes.” About Invitrogen Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN) provides products and services that support academic and government research institutions and pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide in their efforts to improve the human condition. The company provides essential life science technologies for disease research, drug discovery, and commercial bioproduction. Invitrogen’s own research and development efforts are focused on breakthrough innovation in all major areas of biological discovery including functional genomics, proteomics, stem cells, cell therapy and cell biology -- placing Invitrogen’s products in nearly every major laboratory in the world. Founded in 1987, Invitrogen is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and conducts business in more than 70 countries around the world. The company employs approximately 4,700 scientists and other professionals and had revenues of approximately $1.3 billion in 2007. For more information, visit www.invitrogen.com. About the Génome Québec and Montreal Heart Institute Pharmacogenomics Centre The Pharmacogenomics Centre is a non-profit joint venture between Génome Québec and the Montreal Heart Institute. The Pharmacogenomics Centre’s mission is to become a world leader in pharmacogenomics and in the advancement of personalised healthcare, offering specialised pharmacogenomics services and technologically advanced tools to clinical, industrial and academic projects. The Pharmacogenomics Centre aims to improve the quality of healthcare by identifying opportunities where genomic technologies can be integrated into clinical trials, the physician’s office, and the drug development lifecycle. To find out more about the Pharmacogenomics Centre, visit its website at www.pharmacogenomics.ca/pgx/. About the Montreal Heart Institute Founded in 1954 by Dr. Paul David, the Montreal Heart Institute constantly aims for the highest standards of excellence in the cardiovascular field through its leadership in prevention, ultra-specialized care, training of professionals, clinical and fundamental research, and assessment of new technologies. It is affiliated with the Université de Montréal and its clinical outcomes are among the best in the world. The MHI Research Centre officially came into existence in 1976 and has made enormous strides since its creation. Today, there are approximately 500 employees, students and researchers at the MHI Research Centre. The MHI’s outstanding feature is the balance it achieves between basic research, clinical research and clinical care. Its prime focus areas of research are vascular diseases, myocardial function and electrophysiology. MHI researchers also contribute to the advancement of knowledge and medical applications in the fields of genomics (in particular in disease gene discovery and pharmacogenomics), biomarkers and preventive cardiology. To learn more about the Institute, please visit our website at www.icm-mhi.org. About the Université de Montréal Deeply rooted in Montréal and dedicated to its international mission, the Université de Montréal is one of the top universities in the world, particularly in the French-speaking world. Founded in 1878, the Université de Montréal today has 13 faculties and together with its two affiliated schools, HEC Montréal and École Polytechnique, constitutes the largest centre of higher education and research in Québec, the second largest in Canada, and one of the major centres in North America. It brings together 2,500 professors and researchers, accommodates more than 55,000 students, offers some 650 programs at all academic levels, and awards about 3,000 masters and doctorate diplomas each year. About Génome Québec Génome Québec is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to reinforce Québec’s innovation system in genomics by financing major genomics research initiatives. The investments of more than 400 million dollars since 2001 have contributed to accelerate the discovery of new applications, such as screening tests, therapeutic tools in human health or new environmental procedures in agriculture and forestry. The funds invested by Génome Québec come from the ministère du Développement économique, de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation of Québec, the Government of Canada through Génome Canada and from private partners. To find out more about Génome Québec and genomics, visit its Web site at www.genomequebec.com. Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements contained in this press release are considered "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is Invitrogen’s intent that such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to; 1) Invitrogen scientists will support research programs at the Pharmacogenomics Centre to improve the efficiency and speed with which researchers can identify single nucleotide polymorphisms. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the risks that the market will not accept the company’s products and services, or that the companies will be unsuccessful in their efforts to develop new products and services, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Invitrogen’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.