加利福尼亞州千橡市和英格蘭牛津——(2018年10月18日)——安進(jìn)公司(納斯達(dá)克：AMGN)和Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd今天宣布安進(jìn)對Oxford Nanopore進(jìn)行 5000萬英鎊(6600萬美元)的股權(quán)投資。Oxford Nanopore是一家設(shè)立在英國的私營企業(yè)，致力于推進(jìn)新一代便攜式實(shí)時基因測序技術(shù)。

Oxford Nanopore開發(fā)出了一款自有測序技術(shù)并已將其推向市場，該技術(shù)結(jié)合使用多個納米孔(由合成膜中包含的蛋白質(zhì)制成的納米級孔)以及電子學(xué)原理，對DNA和RNA進(jìn)行直接實(shí)時測序。這項(xiàng)技術(shù)所對應(yīng)的設(shè)備范圍包括從袖珍式到高通量臺式，可對非常長的DNA或RNA片段進(jìn)行測序，在基因組分析中具有諸多益處。

對Oxford Nanopore的投資符合安進(jìn)的戰(zhàn)略重點(diǎn)，即利用人類遺傳學(xué)向患者提供新藥。安進(jìn)的子公司deCODE Genetics是人類遺傳學(xué)領(lǐng)域的全球領(lǐng)軍者，它使用Oxford Nanopore的測序技術(shù)進(jìn)行基因組研究，其中包括發(fā)掘和驗(yàn)證新靶點(diǎn)。

deCODE Genetics的創(chuàng)始人Kári Stefánsson說：“人類遺傳學(xué)的研究不斷地揭示我們社會所面臨的疾病的深刻洞察。Oxford Nanopore的長讀長測序能力為我們一直以來都無法了解的基因組部分開創(chuàng)了一扇窗口，同時也為我們提供了一種更好的方法，對帶來多種疾病風(fēng)險(xiǎn)的結(jié)構(gòu)變異進(jìn)行分析。我們已經(jīng)用Oxford Nanopore技術(shù)測序了數(shù)百個人類基因組，并持續(xù)地看到這項(xiàng)新興技術(shù)的前景?！?/p>

Oxford Nanopore的首席執(zhí)行官戈登·桑格拉(Gordon Sanghera)說：“作為生物技術(shù)的先驅(qū)，安進(jìn)展示了通過創(chuàng)新和對遺傳學(xué)的深入理解可以為社會取得哪些成就。我們很高興歡迎他們成為股東?！?/p>

納米孔技術(shù)具有獨(dú)特的可擴(kuò)展性。MinIONTM是唯一的一款袖珍測序儀，可用于在任何地點(diǎn)進(jìn)行測序。此外，Oxford Nanopore公司開發(fā)了臺式、按需、高通量設(shè)備，如專為大型項(xiàng)目或大量樣本設(shè)計(jì)的PromethIONTM。

這項(xiàng)投資將通過購買Oxford Nanopore的5000萬英鎊(6600萬美元)普通股來實(shí)現(xiàn)，每股價格與2018年3月宣布的新股募資輪相同。

關(guān)于安進(jìn) (Amgen)

安進(jìn)致力于通過發(fā)掘、開發(fā)、制造和提供創(chuàng)新型的人類療法，為患有嚴(yán)重疾病的患者釋放生物學(xué)的潛力。這種方法始于使用先進(jìn)的人類遺傳學(xué)工具來揭示疾病的復(fù)雜性，并了解人類生物學(xué)的基本原理。

安進(jìn)專注于醫(yī)療需求未能夠滿足的領(lǐng)域，并利用其專業(yè)知識努力尋求改善健康結(jié)果和顯著改善人們生活的解決方案。作為自1980年以來的生物技術(shù)先驅(qū)，安進(jìn)已發(fā)展成為世界領(lǐng)先的獨(dú)立生物技術(shù)公司之一，已覆蓋全球數(shù)百萬患者，并正在開發(fā)具有突破潛力的藥物管道。

關(guān)于deCODE Genetics

deCODE總部位于冰島雷克雅未克，是分析和理解人類基因組的全球領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者。利用其獨(dú)特的專業(yè)知識和人口資源，deCODE發(fā)現(xiàn)了數(shù)十種常見疾病的遺傳風(fēng)險(xiǎn)因素。理解疾病遺傳學(xué)的目的，是利用該信息創(chuàng)造診斷、治療和預(yù)防疾病的新方法。 deCODE是安進(jìn)的全資子公司。

關(guān)于Oxford Nanopore

Oxford Nanopore Technologies旨在通過易于獲取和使用的高性能新型DNA/RNA測序技術(shù)來顛覆生物分析的模式。其目標(biāo)是讓任何人能在任何環(huán)境中對任何生物進(jìn)行基因分析。

Oxford Nanopore Technologies基于電子學(xué)的新型DNA/RNA測序技術(shù)正應(yīng)用于80多個國家的一系列生物研究中，其中包括大規(guī)模人類基因組學(xué)、癌癥研究、微生物學(xué)、植物科學(xué)和環(huán)境研究。

Oxford Nanopore Technologies也在探索納米孔測序在科研之外的應(yīng)用，它有潛力在醫(yī)療保健、農(nóng)業(yè)、食品與水監(jiān)測及教育領(lǐng)域提供快速、有意義的信息。

安進(jìn)(Amgen) 前瞻性陳述

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Amgen, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those Amgen project. Amgen’s results may be affected by its ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products including biosimilars, difficulties or delays in manufacturing its products and global economic conditions. In addition, sales of Amgen’s products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, Amgen’s research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. Amgen or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with its products, including its devices, after they are on the market. Amgen’s business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, Amgen’s business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. While Amgen routinely obtains patents for its products and technology, the protection offered by its patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors, or Amgen may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. Amgen performs a substantial amount of its commercial manufacturing activities at a few key facilities, including in Puerto Rico, and also depends on third parties for a portion of its manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of its current products and product candidate development. In addition, Amgen competes with other companies with respect to many of its marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for Amgen’s products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Certain of Amgen’s distributors, customers and payers have substantial purchasing leverage in their dealings with Amgen. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of Amgen’s products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on its business and results of operations. Amgen’s efforts to acquire other companies or products and to integrate the operations of companies Amgen has acquired may not be successful. A breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Amgen’s systems and Amgen’s data. Amgen’s stock price may be volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Amgen’s business performance could affect or limit the ability of the Amgen Board of Directors to declare a dividend or its ability to pay a dividend or repurchase its common stock. Amgen may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to it, or at all.

來源：Oxford Nanopore]