Sequenom, Inc., a life sciences company providing innovative genetic analysis solutions, announced it has signed a three-year supply agreement with Illumina, Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of life sciences tools for the large-scale analysis of genetic variation and function.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sequenom and its subsidiaries will purchase Illumina's sequencing equipment and consumables for use in the development of a noninvasive test designed to detect an overabundance of chromosome 21 in pregnant women, a result associated with fetal Down syndrome.

Sequenom and Illumina will work collaboratively toward the submission for regulatory approval of an in vitro diagnostic product for the detection of fetal chromosomal abnormalities.

"We are pleased to announce this new partnership with Illumina, a leader in genetic sequencing systems, as we advance our role in developing and commercializing prenatal diagnostics," said Harry F. Hixson, Jr., chairman and CEO of Sequenom, Inc. "This agreement is an important step in bringing our proprietary trisomy test to market, giving us the scalability, speed to market and supply chain necessary to address the commercial opportunity of our noninvasive prenatal test for trisomy 21."

"We are very pleased to complete this supply agreement with Sequenom for Illumina'sHiSeq 2000 platform," said Jay Flatley, president and CEO of Illumina. "With the most powerful and cost-effective sequencing technology available, we are fully ready to meet Sequenom's needs as it prepares for the commercial launch of its test."

Sequenom, Inc. is a life sciences company committed to improving healthcare through revolutionary genetic analysis solutions. Sequenom develops innovative technology, products and diagnostic tests that target and serve discovery and clinical research, and molecular diagnostics markets.

Illumina is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of life science tools and integrated systems for large-scale analysis of genetic variation and function. Illumina provides innovative sequencing and array-based solutions for genotyping, copy number variation analysis, methylation studies, gene expression profiling, and low-multiplex analysis of DNA, RNA, and protein.