Genomics
The completion of the first draft of the human genome marks only the first step in understanding the genetic basis for life and disease. Researchers will continue to use gene sequencing and analysis systems to work on further drafts of the human genome and the genomes of many other organisms, as well as studying how genes are expressed.

We now have an installed base of over 700 MegaBACE capillary systems for high throughput DNA sequencing and analysis at research institutes around the world.

Having built this strong position, we moved at the end of 2000 to enter a new market segment of ‘core’ sequencing laboratories with the launch of the MegaBACE 500 capillary system. This system offers flexibility in throughput for sequencing and genotyping applications and is ideally configured to meet the lower throughput needs of the large number of researchers in core sequencing laboratories worldwide.

We also continued development of our reagent portfolio. New products to be launched over the next 12-18 months will include TempliPhi™, for sequencing template preparation; SNuPe™, for SNP analysis on MegaBACE; and Direct Load, for more efficient loading of sequencing reactions onto sequencing instruments.

Pharmacogenomics is an emerging market in which researchers analyse small genetic differences between individuals (SNPs) and relate them to drug treatment and response. As well as the ability to use MegaBACE in this area, we introduced our SNiPer platform into customer and collaborator sites in December 2000. Sniper is technologically competitive in the existing SNP market, which uses pre-amplified genetic samples. Agreements are ongoing with the University of Washington in North America, Riken (Institute of Physical and Chemical Research) in Japan and Oxagen in the UK. We continue to work towards the goal of developing more cost-effective SNP scoring, using direct genomic DNA with Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) which has the potential to amplify and detect SNPs simultaneously.

In January 2001, we entered into an agreement with DNA Sciences Inc to jointly develop innovative microchannel chip technology for very high throughput DNA analysis. This new platform has the potential to provide the next generation of DNA analysis technology, further reducing the cost and time taken, through miniaturisation, speed and automation.

Proteomics
The advances in the field of genomics have placed a new focus on proteomics, the study of proteins, which we expect will lead to better understanding of essential biological processes in cells and aid the development of new drugs. The complexity and large number of proteins involved represent significant opportunities for the development of new technologies to speed up and automate research.

Our market leadership position in 2D electrophoresis systems was expanded with a range of new proteomics platforms under the Ettan brand. These included Ettan Dalt II, for protein separation; Ettan Spot Picker for protein isolation; ImageMaster™ software, for protein analysis; and Ettan MALDI-TOF, a mass spectrometry system, for protein characterisation. Despite the later than anticipated launch of the Ettan MALDI-TOF, sales in the proteomics product area grew strongly during 2000, and we will continue to roll out further products in the Ettan range.

Drug screening
In drug screening, we develop systems that help pharmaceutical companies ease one of the principal bottlenecks in drug discovery – finding new drug candidates from hundreds of thousands of potential compounds. Our LEADseeker™ platform supports high throughput screening of up to 750,000 compounds a day, in radioactive, luminescent or fluorescent formats. In 2001 we will launch FARCyte™, a screening instrument for lower throughput users.

The Chief Executive's business review continues on the next page >>
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