Polyplus-transfection launches "Polyplus in vivo Consortium" to speed development of gene therapy clinical trials

Innovative reagent specialist forms network of researchers and clinicians using Polyplus' synthetic gene transfer reagents Strasbourg, France, June 7, 2007 — Polyplus-transfection, a company specializing in research, development and marketing of innovative reagents for drug delivery, gene therapy and transfection announces today that it is setting up a group called the "Polyplus in vivo Consortium". This group will be developed on a user group model and bring together research scientists and clinicians in an international network of users of Polyplus-transfection's gene therapy reagents. Polyplus-transfection expects the new group to increase the number of clinical trials using its synthetic gene transfer reagents and accelerate their development.

The Polyplus in vivo Consortium aims at letting users of Polyplus-transfection's products and solutions share their experience to accelerate the implementation of clinical trials and give them access to Polyplus-transfection's latest technology. The company plans to organize regular meetings and workshops and will actively support the Polyplus in vivo Consortium members in their preclinical and clinical therapeutic projects. Members will benefit from personalized support, from Polyplus-transfection's expertise regarding in vivo delivery as well as preferential conditions for products used for therapeutic development. Among other services, Polyplus-transfection will supply appropriate certificates of analysis for preclinical and toxicology studies.

Polyplus-transfection's in vivo-jetPEI compound will play a key role in the Consortium. It is derived from the synthetic molecule polyethylenimine (PEI) for which Polyplus-transfection holds the exclusive worldwide license for the transfection of nucleic acids. In vivo-jetPEI is widely used for in vivo experiments. It allows intracellular delivery of nucleic acids and has become a benchmark in gene delivery.

"The Polyplus in vivo Consortium will make research and development of gene therapy applications easier," said Joëlle Bloch, CEO of Polyplus-transfection. "The project meets a real need that was revealed by the first clinical research teams using our products. It will allow Polyplus-transfection to build a true network where users of our transfection reagents can exchange know-how and experience. This network will help our customers get their clinical trials under way and also help Polyplus-transfection develop solutions that suit users' needs."


About Polyplus-transfection

Polyplus-transfection researches, develops and markets products for drug delivery, gene therapy and innovative transfection reagents. Transfection consists of introducing a gene or a small interfering RNA into a cell. This technique makes it possible to cross the cellular barriers and deliver such biomolecules into the cell for scientific or therapeutic purposes. Customers for Polyplus-transfection's products and services include biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies as well as life science research laboratories.

In addition to transfection reagents for research, Polyplus-transfection offers high quality consultancy and personalized scientific support. The company has acquired expertise in regulatory affairs related to the use of its reagents for gene delivery in clinical trials.

The Strasbourg-based company has 20 members of staff, an international distribution network and numerous academic and industrial partnerships. Polyplus-transfection is one of the technology leaders in the transfection market with ISO 9001:2000 certification, three exclusive licenses from the CNRS and six patents filed.

For more information, visit: http://www.polyplus-transfection.com


Source: Polyplus-transfection

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Clinical Data’s Cogenics Division Launches Services on Schedule

NEWTON, Mass. — June 6, 2007 — Clinical Data, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLDA) announced today that its Cogenics division has successfully launched the 454 Genome Sequencer FLX system (the "454 FLX system") at its facility in Meylan, France, some eight weeks after the signing of the co-marketing agreement with Roche Diagnostics Inc., to offer "next generation" sequencing services. The system enhances Cogenics’ portfolio of services by providing whole genome sequencing, Expressed Sequence Tag sequencing, identification of small RNAs, transcriptome analysis, and metagenomics on the new platform.

"Our team is enthusiastic about the level of customer interest in the 454 FLX system and pleased to be able to meet our customers’ growing needs by providing complete solutions for low-cost and high-efficiency sequencing programs," stated Robert Bondaryk, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cogenics. "We have already attracted new customers for the first projects on the platform and we have a strong pipeline of current and new customer interest in 454 FLX sequencing as a companion to traditional automated Sanger sequencing."

"I am truly excited about the speed and professionalism with which our team installed the 454 technology. This represents another example of Cogenics’ strong technical abilities and commitment to leveraging proven advances in technology and quality for its clients," stated Drew Fromkin, Clinical Data’s President and CEO. "We feel that the platform’s ability to deliver value to our clients will translate into rapid, healthy returns for Cogenics."

For more information about Cogenics’ offering of the 454 FLX system, as well as its other genomic resources and services, please contact Laure Turner, Product Manager for Sequencing, at +1-314-303-9147, or Claire Vigneron, Cogenics’ European Marketing Manager, at +33 (0)4 56 38 11 03. For more information about Clinical Data, visit the company’s website at www.clda.com.


About Cogenics (www.cogenics.com)

Cogenics offers more than 18 years of experience as a trusted provider of the broadest range of pharmacogenomics and molecular biology services available globally. Cogenics provides integrated services for nucleic acid extraction, genotyping, sequencing, QPCR, and gene expression, as well as serving as a biorepository, for both research and regulated environments: GLP, cGMP and CLIA. Cogenics combines operations from the acquisitions of Genaissance Pharmaceuticals, Lark Technologies (US & UK), Icoria, and Genome Express (France). Its customers include some of the world’s most respected pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, agencies of the US National Institutes of Health, leading government and academic researchers in the international life science community, and major agricultural companies and agencies.

About Clinical Data, Inc. (www.clda.com)

Clinical Data, Inc. is a global biotechnology company unlocking the potential of molecular discovery, from targeted science to better healthcare. Its Cogenics division provides molecular biology and pharmacogenomics services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies and academics institutions in both research and regulated environments. Its PGxHealth division focuses on genetic test and biomarker development to help predict drug safety and efficacy, thereby reducing health care costs and improving clinical outcomes. Its Vital Diagnostics division offers in vitro diagnostics solutions for the clinical laboratory. Through these divisions, Clinical Data is leveraging advances in molecular discovery to provide tangible benefits for patients, doctors, scientists, and health plans worldwide.

Source: Cogenics

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