EMC Helps Abgenix Scale to Expanded Networked Storage Infrastructure

HOPKINTON, MA -- EMC Corporation, a leader in information storage, today announced that Abgenix, Inc., a leader in the development of human therapeutic antibodies, has expanded its EMC networked storage infrastructure to better manage the growing volumes of gene-based data. John Atkinson, Abgenix's Senior Manager, Information Technology Infrastructure, said, "The rapid pace of product development in the biotech industry has created huge volumes of data to analyze, correlate and track. EMC networked storage provides us with a highly reliable, scaleable and efficient solution for gaining control of our information and maximizing the value of it—even as it grows. Consolidating our storage onto an EMC SAN (Storage Area Network) and using EMC's advanced management software has simplified the complexities of managing a constantly changing information infrastructure." An important factor in Abgenix's choice was EMC's Customer Service, which remains the standard in the IT industry, with a 96.7% satisfaction rate in 2001. EMC's "guilty until proven innocent" approach to customer service, along with its information storage systems' 24-hour "phone-home" capabilities, enable EMC service experts to diagnose and resolve most issues before they ever impact a customer's business. EMC provides Abgenix with a team of technical experts who understand both life sciences and complex data management issues. EMC Global Services is working with Abgenix to design and implement an EMC SAN based on EMC Symmetrix® Enterprise Storage systems and Connectrix™ Fibre Channel switches. Abgenix is utilizing EMC CLARiiON® FC4700 storage systems, as well as the Symmetrix systems, to provide centralized storage to Abgenix's Sun Solaris and Windows NT servers. Based in Fremont, Calif., Abgenix is implementing EMC software to manage the EMC Symmetrix and CLARiiON systems, such as ControlCenter™, ESN Manager™, PowerPath™, TimeFinder™, Navisphere® Manager and Navisphere Analyzer and ATF. EMC TimeFinder software provides a more efficient and secure way to manage copies of information used in collaborative arrangements and internal product development programs. Abgenix can make more frequent copies of its data because it can create backup copies of its production system while they are online. Frank Hauck, EMC's Executive Vice President of Customer Operations, stated, "Abgenix is breaking new ground in the development of important new treatments for serious medical conditions. Abgenix is depending on EMC's scalability, manageability and reliability to apply its information assets to drug research, testing and clinical trials." Abgenix will use the EMC SAN to roll out an SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and Microsoft Exchange email application. Other applications supported by the 9-terabyte EMC information infrastructure include bioinformatics, Oracle, and Documentum. For more information visit www.emc.com