SAN DIEGO, March 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM), a life sciences company committed to enabling healthier lives through the development of innovative products and services, today announced that its Board of Directors elected Kenneth Buechler, Ph.D. as Chairman of the Board, effective April 1, 2015. Dr. Buechler succeeds Harry Hixson, Jr., Ph.D. who will retire from the position effective March 31, 2015, after 11 years of service.

"We are extremely appreciative of Dr. Hixson's commitment and service to the board of directors for the past 11 years," said Bill Welch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sequenom. "His leadership and passion for innovation have played a significant role in Sequenom's success in the noninvasive prenatal testing market."

Incoming chairman, Dr. Buechler, has served on the board of directors since December 2009. Prior to joining Sequenom's board, he served as President and Chief Scientific Officer of Biosite Incorporated, which he co-founded. Prior to co-founding Biosite, Dr. Buechler was a senior research scientist for the diagnostics research and development group at Hybritech Incorporated. He also is a director of Quidel Corp., Sotera Wireless Inc., Edico Genome Inc., and Astute Medical Inc.

"I am honored to begin my new role and look forward to working closely with the board and Sequenom management team as the Company continues to expand its portfolio of tests to provide additional offerings to health care providers and their patients," said Dr. Buechler.

About Sequenom

Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM) is committed to enabling healthier lives through the development of innovative products and services. The Company serves patients and physicians by providing early patient management information.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the development of innovative products and services, the anticipation of Dr. Buechler assuming the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors on April 1, 2015 and the continued expansion of its portfolio of tests to provide additional offerings to health care providers and their patients. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks are described more fully in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

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SOURCE Sequenom, Inc.