Minakem and LibraGen form Strategic Alliance in Biocatalysis and Fine Chemicals Production

Close integration of biocatalysis and chemical manufacturing know-how will deliver more cost-effective leading-edge processes Toulouse, France, November 2nd, 2005 — Minakem, a leading manufacturer of fine chemicals for pharmaceutical companies, and LibraGen, a bacterial diversity-based process and discovery specialist, have entered into a strategic partnership to give their customers access to a more comprehensive range of services and products. By jointly deploying their marketing and technical resources, the two companies will be able to deliver significantly more cost-effective services and products to customers in many projects where there are synergies between fine chemicals production and biocatalysis.

LibraGen will use its proprietary META-DNA^TM technology platform and know-how in applied biocatalysis to generate new biosynthesis routes that will be transferred to Minakem's cGMP compliant facilities for manufacturing.

"We are pleased to establish this partnership with LibraGen and provide additional technology opportunities to our customers, giving them direct access to chiral biocatalysis and Green Chemistry," said Pierre Charrier, Business Development Director at Minakem. "Minakem and LibraGen teams will together design innovative and efficient synthesis routes by combining LibraGen's unique skills in applied biocatalysis, and Minakem's renowned expertise in chemical process development and FDA-approved chemical production facilities. The joint operation will allow a very rapid implementation of the best performing production solutions. These will provide an excellent response to our customers' budgetary and timeline requirements."

"This alliance will bring LibraGen additional openings for providing its services to the fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry," said Dr. Renaud Nalin, Chief Executive Officer at LibraGen. "It is a great opportunity to provide pragmatic biocatalytic processes which, when combined with Minakem's chemistry and production capabilities, offer integrated solutions for the definition and the implementation of the best industrial production processes. We will deploy all the technology available on our biocatalysis platform in these joint projects. This includes enzyme discovery, optimization and applied biocatalysis. We are looking forward to extending our market share through this alliance."


About LibraGen: http://www.libragen.com
LibraGen, Toulouse, France, specializes in the development of bioprocesses for the production of healthcare molecules and the discovery of new chemical scaffolds with cross-industry applications. By focusing on untapped biodiversity, the company has developed a platform of proven proprietary technologies to identify, validate and produce high added-value enzymes and molecules for industrial, pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetic and environmental applications. The overall combination of LibraGen's scientific and production know-how, technology platform and research results has already achieved a number of successful partnerships in research and production in the fields of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and fine chemistry.

About Minakem: www.minakem.com
MINAKEM offers a wide experience in Process and Analytical Method Development of complex multi-step syntheses, high quality starting materials, intermediates and API's for the pharmaceutical industry under terms of total confidentiality. Committed to long-term relationships with its customers, MINAKEM offers the responsiveness, risk sharing, flexibility and cost effectiveness of a "human-sized company" to each and every client on a personal level.
MINAKEM focuses on:
— Synthesis of Starting Materials for the fine chemical industry in dedicated facilities with cost-effective processes
— Custom Manufacturing of Key Intermediates for the pharmaceutical industry in a dedicated cGMP workshop (FDA inspected, cGMP compliant)
— Manufacture of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), by opportunity for niche APIs (FDA inspected, cGMP compliant).


Source: LibraGen

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Biolex Therapeutics Acquires LemnaGene S.A. — Further Consolidates Protein Capabilities

PITTSBORO, NC, July 28, 2005 — Biolex Therapeutics, a venture capital-backed, clinical development-stage protein therapeutics company, today announced the acquisition of LemnaGene S.A., a privately-held, French start-up biotechnology company researching potential applications of the small, aquatic plant Lemna to produce recombinant proteins. Biolex’ patented technology platform, The LEX SystemTM, uses Lemna as a transgenic host for the development and manufacture of therapeutic proteins and monoclonal antibodies that are difficult to make (technically or economically) in traditional recombinant expression systems. The LEX System has been successfully employed in Biolex’ GMP biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities (conforming to U.S. and international regulatory guidelines on current Good Manufacturing Practices), where multiple proteins have been produced for preclinical and clinical development.

"Last year we acquired Epicyte Pharmaceutical, strengthening our technical capabilities and patent position related to plant-based monoclonal antibody production," said Jan Turek, Chief Executive Officer of Biolex. "The acquisition of LemnaGene represents a further consolidation of relevant protein capabilities and will enhance our position as a leader in this space. It is our belief that Biolex is now becoming the first choice for companies seeking a development partner for complex protein therapeutics reflecting our many recent accomplishments."

LemnaGene, based in Lyon, France, provides biomanufacturing services to the pharmaceutical, vaccine, veterinarian, diagnostic, nutraceutical and industrial protein markets. The company has several research agreements with companies in the pharmaceutical and human/animal vaccine areas.

"I am pleased that LemnaGene has joined forces with Biolex," said Georges Freyssinet, Ph.D., former Chief Executive Officer of LemnaGene. "Our research activities and collaborations will fit in well with Biolex’ development expertise and GMP capabilities." Dr. Freyssinet will remain as Director of Research and Development of LemnaGene.

Biolex Therapeutics applies its unique drug development capabilities and expertise to commercialize complex proteins and monoclonal antibodies that until now have been impossible or very expensive to develop through traditional means. The company is advancing a proprietary pipeline of product candidates including Locteron^TM, a novel controlled-release form of alfa interferon which will enter Phase 1 clinical trials in 2005. Biolex has an extensive, multi-protein strategic alliance with Centocor and collaborations with other pharmaceutical/biotech companies including Medarex and OctoPlus. For additional information, please visit Biolex’ web site at www.biolex.com.


Source: LemnaGene

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Genome Express signs agreement with bioMérieux

Leading in vitro diagnostics firm outsources bacteriological analysis projects to GENOME express Grenoble, March 4, 2005 — GENOME express, specialist in DNA analysis, announces today that it has agreed with bioMérieux, a global leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics for medical and industrial applications to carry out a series of specific bacterial analyses for bioMérieux.

bioMérieux selected GENOME express for this work because the DNA analysis specialist offers a unique analysis platform that combines molecular biology (wet lab) expertise with bioinformatics know-how, and allows the company to carry out highly complex bacteriological analysis. Another key factor was GENOME express's ability to process a high volume of samples on a routine basis.

The identification of molecules is based on fully automated phylogenic analysis of marker genes which are compared to a sequence database maintained by GENOME express. bioMérieux will be able to access the results remotely using a customer portal developed, hosted and maintained by GENOME express fully compatible with Oracle. The application not only offers easy access to results but also allows bioMérieux to manage sequence and identity data from its library of bacterial strains. This means that bioMérieux and GENOME express are able to use a production line approach to identifying and bacterial strains that are difficult to identify using traditional approaches.

"Identifying complex strains of bacteria is a natural outlet for GENOME express's know-how in DNA analysis for industry," says Warren Barton, CEO of GENOME express. "At the same time as focusing on our core business — making DNA 'talk' — we have also extended our range of services to cover food identification services for the agri-food sector."


About GENOME express
In business since 1994, GENOME express specializes in DNA analysis for customers in human and animal healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agri-food and academic research. DNA contains the genetic code of living species and contains the key to understanding living organisms. GENOME express offers a team of experts, proprietary technologies, and an optimized process that together form a unique molecular biology and bioinformatics platform.

Using its DNA sequencing core business expertise, GENOME express has developed services and high value added solutions that allow its customers to interpret the data generated quickly and efficiently.

Analysis and identification services include:
— DNA sequencing
— Food ingredient specification
— Bacterial identification

GENOME express also offers custom solutions including an R&D outsourcing facility covering many areas of molecular biology, such as genomic exploration and identification of new markers.

To assist customers in conforming to European regulatory directives, GENOME express provides a range of services dedicated to identifying the content and origin of food through DNA analysis. These services include the detection of allergens or biological contaminants, and address the needs of large scale distribution chains and the agri-food industry.

About bioMérieux
bioMérieux is a leading international diagnostics group that specialises in the field of in vitro diagnostics for clinical and industrial applications. bioMérieux designs, develops, manufactures and markets systems (i.e. reagents, instruments and software) used in:

Clinical applications: the diagnosis of infectious diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis and respiratory illnesses, as well as pathologies such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, based on the analysis of biological samples (such as blood, saliva or urine); and

Industrial applications: the microbiological analysis of food, environments (such as water and air), surfaces and pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, based on the analysis of product or environmental samples.

In 2004, bioMérieux sales reached 930.6 million euros. The company is present in more than 130 countries through 33 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors, which positions the company well to benefit from the growth potential of the in vitro diagnostics market. Some important drivers that underpin this growth are aging populations and age-related illness, illnesses related to life-style and eating habits, emerging new pathogens, the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the fight against bio-terrorism, the recognition of the importance of the quality of food products.

bioMérieux is listed on the Premier Marché of Euronext, Paris (FR0010096479 — BIM).

Source: Genome Express

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