BT PHARMA and Midi-Pyrénées Regional Council support

BT PHARMA was granted a € 460 000 risk and interest free loan from the Midi-Pyrenees Regional Council to support its ProCervix® cervical cancer programme

Labège, France — March 28, 2006. BT PHARMA, an emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapeutic vaccines in cancers, announced today that it received a zero interest financial aid of €460,000 from the Midi-Pyrenees Regional Council that is only reimbursable in case of success, for the development of its lead therapeutic vaccine candidate, Procervix^®, for the treatment of cervical precancerous lesions in patients known to be at high risk of developing cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer and its associated-dysplasia are a major healthcare problem and are the result of infection by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted disease world-wide. In the US and Europe, more than 60 million women are infected and about 1 million of these develop precancerous cervical lesions each year. Despite extensive screening programmes focused on early detection, 35,000 women still die from cervical cancer in the US and Europe annually.

ProCervix^® is scheduled to receive approval for Phase I/II clinical trials before the end of 2007. ProCervix^® is based on BT PHARMA’s unique CyaA vector system which is able to deliver the appropriate HPV antigens needed to induce strong and specific T-cell responses. ProCervix^® is the only bivalent therapeutic vaccine being developed which targets two of the most common HPV strains infecting women, HPV16 and HPV18. These two genotypes account for 70% of all cervical cancers.

Benedikt Timmerman, CEO of BT PHARMA, commented: "We are delighted to receive this grant from the Midi-Pyrenees regional council as it will help us move our cervical cancer vaccines programme toward the clinic. BT PHARMA is one of only a handful companies in the world focused on providing therapeutic vaccine solutions to women affected with HPV-associated precancerous lesions. I am confident that when approved, our Procervix^® vaccine will provide a safe and convenient solution to this important unmet medical need."


About BT PHARMA

BT PHARMA is an emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapeutic vaccines for the treatment cervical cancer provoked by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

The company’s lead vaccine candidate, ProCervix^®, a HPV-therapeutic vaccine targeting cervical precancerous lesions, is scheduled to receive approval for Phase I/II clinical trial before the end of 2007. BT PHARMA plans to develop ProCervix^® to proof of concept stage. ProCervix^® is based on BT PHARMA’s unique CyaA vector system which is able to deliver the appropriate HPV-antigens needed to induce strong and specific T-cell responses.

In addition, BT PHARMA has a number of other therapeutic vaccine development programmes based on its CyaA vector system. These include TAAVac, for Tumour Associated Antigen Vaccine for a range of human cancers, and DOGTAA which targets various cancers in companion animals.

The company also has a second vaccine vector called PepTel^® which has unique intrinsic adjuvant ability. This promising technology platform is available for licensing.

BT PHARMA started operations in October 2002 following its spin off from the Institut Pasteur. The company is headquartered in state-of-the-art facilities in Labège (Toulouse), France and employs 13 people.

About Midi-Pyrenees Regional Council

In February 2006, the « Région Midi-pyrénées » established a new economic policy. This new policy which is a "first" for France is based on supporting companies on a "multi-year" basis by providing support on a project and contract basis. These support contracts include a timeframe and are designed to provide a flexible tailored counsel to companies. In 2007, the "Région Midi-pyrénées" budget for economic development amounted to € 42 million, of which €17 million was directed specifically support SMEs. At the same time, the Region has increased its "research" budget for 2007 by 72%, this follows an increase of 46% in 2006. These research funds have been set up to promote the link between SMEs and academic laboratories.

The « Région Midi-pyrénées » supports also the "Cancéropôle Grand Sud-Ouest" and the "Cancéropôle" of Toulouse and has signed a protocol agreement with the "Association pour la Recherche contre le Cancer" (ARC) in 2006. This four year partnership has the objective of developing the optimal way of developing medical and biological research in the filed of cancer in the Midi-Pyrénées area.

For more information, please, see following website: www.midipyrenees.fr


Source: BT Pharma

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Clinical Data Acquires Genome Express to Enhance European Expansion

Acquisition Strengthens Clinical Data's Global Leadership Position in the Pharmacogenomics and Molecular Services Markets Broadens European Footprint for Cogenics and PGxHealth and Provides Significantly Enhanced Base of Operations for Strategic Growth in the Region

NEWTON, Mass. — March 7, 2006 — Clinical Data, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLDA), a worldwide leader in providing comprehensive molecular and pharmacogenomics services as well as clinical diagnostics to improve patient care, announced today that it has purchased GENOME express^TM, a leading French genomics services company based in the Rhône-Alpes region of France with headquarters in Meylan, France.

Under terms of the Agreement, GENOME express shareholders received total consideration of €2.65 million euros (approximately $3.16 million). Of this amount, €200,000 euros (approximately $238,000) is being paid in cash and the remainder is being paid through the issuance of 123,179 shares of Clinical Data common stock. In connection with the transaction, Clinical Data has agreed to file a registration statement with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission to register the shares issued in the transaction. Accordingly, this press release does not and will not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Clinical Data. GENOME express retained Bioscience Managers Limited as their exclusive advisor for the transaction.

Clinical Data President and CEO Israel M. Stein, M.D., said, "GENOME express is a leading genomics services company. In France, GENOME express is unsurpassed in the scope and breadth of its platform and its capacity for proprietary genomics, transcription, and proteomics analysis as well as its biocomputing backbone. The company has substantial operations and a strong track record of providing value to European and international pharmaceutical companies and biotechs. The services offered by GENOME express are very complementary and additive to those currently being provided by Clinical Data's Cogenics^TM division. This transaction should also be accretive to earnings over the relatively near term."

"From both a financial and product perspective, and in terms of GENOME express’ geographic reach and client base of over 2000 active customers, this acquisition provides Clinical Data with an ideal opportunity to support additional European initiatives. Expansion beyond our present U.K. operations, where we already have a substantial presence, and into Europe by leveraging GENOME express assets and capabilities, provides the core strategic rationale for this transaction."

GENOME express CEO Warren Barton, said, "We welcome the opportunity to become a part of Clinical Data. We see this transaction as the initial phase of a strategic opportunity to jointly capitalize on the huge growth potential in genomics and related services in Europe. As a combined company, we anticipate building a substantial competitive advantage driven by the ability to offer the most comprehensive suite of genomics services to clients."


About GENOME express (www.genome-express.com)
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. GENOME express is also the exclusive Applied Biosystems Advanced Gene Expression Service Provider, under this program, for France.

About Clinical Data, Inc. (www.clda.com)
Clinical Data, Inc. is a worldwide leader in providing comprehensive molecular and pharmacogenomics services as well as clinical diagnostics to improve patient care. Clinical Data’s Therapeutic Diagnostics^TM division, PGxHealth, builds upon existing assets acquired from Genaissance Pharmaceuticals in the areas of genomics-based, clinical diagnostics, therapeutic efficacy and safety biomarker development for drug utilization. PGxHealth plans to develop and introduce novel Therapeutic Diagnostics in combination with new and existing therapeutics. Clinical Data’s Pharmacogenomics and Molecular ServicesTM division, Cogenics, consolidates the operations of Genaissance Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lark Technologies, Inc. and Icoria, Inc., each acquired during 2005. Cogenics provides a comprehensive range of molecular and pharmacogenomics services to pharmaceutical, biotech, academia, agricultural, and government clients. These services are offered in both research and regulated environments and have applications across the lifecycle of pharmaceutical product development, including pharmacovigilance requirements post launch. Clinical Data’s Vital Diagnostics division consolidates the operations of Clinical Data Sales & Service, Inc., Vital Scientific NV, Vital Diagnostics Pty. Ltd., and Electa Lab s.r.l. This division serves the clinical laboratory in the traditional in-vitro diagnostics market worldwide with a focus on the physician's office, hospital and small-to-medium sized laboratory segments. With customers in approximately 100 countries, Vital Diagnostics has achieved a leading market share for instruments and reagents sold into moderately complex physicians’ office laboratories within the United States.

Source: Cogenics

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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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Genome Express launches Gextrack, for food identification through DNA analysis

Grenoble, France, October 12 2004 — GENOME express, the DNA analysis specialist, announces today "Gextrack", a new range of services in the field of food identification. The launch coincides with the International Food Exhibition, SIAL (Salon International de l'Alimentation), October 17-21 in Paris. In bringing Gextrack to market, GENOME express has leveraged its expertise in molecular biology to provide the food industry with an answer to complying with European regulations on traceability, monitoring and conformity of products.

Gextrack is based on the analysis of DNA and uses patents from academic laboratories based in Lyon (CNRS, UCBL, ENS). The DNA molecule has the great advantage of being unique for each individual living organism and species. It also resists changes through the different stages of transformation of a product. These include mixture, cooking, freezing and canning. Analysis of the DNA therefore allows precise identification and analysis of the different components present in a food product, whether it is a fresh or a processed product.

Gextrack can provide solutions for the different consumer information regulations requiring product labelling such as GMOs, allergenic ingredients traceability, authentication of products. These include:

— Authentication of the product (example: Is this fish fillet really sole?) — Analysis of food product ingredients (example: Does this duck foie gras only contain duck?)
— Detection of allergens (example: Are there traces of nuts in this cereal bar?)
— Monitoring feed ingredients (example: This feed does not contain any products of animal origin)
— Detection of GM ingredients
— The presence or absence of an ingredient in a processed product (example: This dish does not contain any pork)

"Gextrack will be of enormous value to the agri-food industry and large distribution chains," says Franck Robert, Head of the Gextrack project at GENOME express. "At GENOME express, we say we can make DNA 'talk' and Gextrack shows how it is possible to use the genetic code, unique for each individual organism, whether it's of animal or vegetable origin, to distinguish, identify and analyse the different species present in a food product, whether it is in its raw state or processed."

"GENOME express now has ten years' experience as a DNA specialist and is the leading private DNA sequencing specialist for research. This unique experience of DNA analysis allows us to offer this new range of service," says Warren Barton, GENOME express' CEO. "Gextrack's main targets are the agri-food industry and food retailers, but can also provide an effective solution for any sector with a need for DNA identification."

Visit GENOME express at SIAL in Paris (Villepinte) October 17-21
Hall 5A Stand F 046


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 optimised 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 generated data 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 molecular biology and bioinformatics, such as genomic exploration and identification of new markers, Š

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 allergenic ingredients or other contaminants (GMOs, Š), and address the needs of the food industry.

For further information: www.genome-express.com

Source: Genome Express

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LemnaGene SA opens its biomanufacturing facility and has produced its first transgenic Spirodela

Lyon, France; September 27, 2004 — LemnaGene SA, a recently founded biomanufacturing company using the aquatic plant Spirodela from the Lemnaceae family, as its production platform, recently opened its new laboratory and biomanufacturing facility in the incubation space for new projects, located at the "Ecole normale supérieure de Lyon" (France) (ENS Lyon). This will allow LemnaGene to provide a full range of biomanufacturing services to the Pharmaceutical, Vaccine, Veterinarian, Diagnostic, Nutraceutical and Industrial Protein markets. LemnaGene SA also announced the production of its first transgenic Spirodela containing genes of interest to industrial partners.

Georges Freyssinet, the CEO of LemnaGene SA commented, "this new facility is a big plus for us. We can now produce efficiently transgenic Spirodela in a very nice environment. In addition, being inside the Ecole normale supérieure de Lyon allows us to work with high level scientific teams and have access to facilities and equipments which will speed up our development".

Michel van der Rest, Research Director at ENS Lyon commented, "The ENS Lyon is developing a clearly defined policy for the technology transfer of its research. With the aim of doing this, we are happy to host LemnaGene in our buildings within the framework of a research collaboration with the team of Thierry Gaude (Laboratoire de Reproduction et Développement des Plantes). LemnaGene will benefit from the expertise of this team and the equipments of this laboratory".

LemnaGene SA has been established in October 2003 in Lyon, France with the support of US and French private investors and a 400,000 Euro grant from the French Ministry of Research, grant managed by ANVAR (Agence Nationale de Valorisation de la Recherche). LemnaGene has received support from Créalys, the incubator from "Rhône-Alpes Ouest", and the Novacité label from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Lyon.

LemnaGene SA has an exclusive license from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, on know-how and patents developed by Weizmann scientists and has secured several additional licenses on enabling technologies. Agreements have been entered into with three development partners to validate the industrial feasibility of the LemnaGene platform for several genes of commercial interest.


Source: LemnaGene

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Genome Express offers 10,000 free sequences to mark 10 years in DNA sequence analysis business

Grenoble, 24 September 2004 — GENOME express, leading provider of DNA sequencing services to the French market, announced today that it is offering 10,000 free sequences, the equivalent of five bacterial genomes, in a prize-draw open to all public and private sector researchers worldwide. Those wishing to try their luck should go to GENOME express's website www.genome-express.com from 15 October 2004.

GENOME express, founded in 1994, specializes in DNA analysis for customers in human and animal healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agri-food and academic research. It offers a team of experts, proprietary technologies, and an optimized process that together form a unique molecular biology and bioinformatics platform.

"GENOME express has built upon standard sequencing tools to develop a production-level sequencing platform that brings significant added value to our customers," said François Pons, director of business development at GENOME express. "Ten years of accumulated know-how and development activity have gone into our bioinformatics and other proprietary tools. We don't just offer raw data to our customers but relevant and reliable information. We like to say that we 'can help make DNA talk' for our customers."

"To celebrate our ten years in business, and to let people try for themselves, we are offering 10,000 sequences in a prize draw that will take place in December," he added.

Today several thousand customers use GENOME express services. Daily capacity has risen by two orders of magnitude and annual sequence data production is roughly equivalent to one third of the human genome.

In addition to the DNA sequencing activities, GENOME express provides solutions to complex challenges in the fields of comparative genomics and transcriptomics, food identification, particularly the identification of allergens.

The company expects to have ISO 9001-2000 certification in December this year.

"We are proud to have already achieved 10 years in business, an impressive record for a biotechnology company," said Warren Barton, CEO of GENOME express. "Our business is built on solid foundations with significant sales growth for 2004. We expect to continue growing, building on our core activity of DNA analysis to develop exciting new products and services in food identification/analysis."


About GENOME express
In business since 1994, GENOME express specialises in DNA analysis for customers in human and animal healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agri-food and academic research. It offers a team of experts, proprietary technologies, and an optimised 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.

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

For further information: http://www.genomex.com

Source: Genome Express

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Genome Express and Institut Pasteur sign partnership agreement

Institut Pasteur accord underscores added value of GENOME express's functional genomics platform for research teams in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agrifood sectors

Grenoble, France, July 27 2004 — GENOME express, developer and provider of high added value solutions in functional genomics, announces today that it has signed a partnership agreement with the Institut Pasteur. Under the terms of the agreement, the Institut Pasteur will be able to access the range of tools available on GENOME express's functional genomics platform, in particular in the field of bacterial genomics, under favorable conditions. The agreement applies to Pasteur's internal research programs. Financial terms are undisclosed.

For GENOME express, the deal means a highly credible endorsement of its technology platform, particularly in the fields of microbiology, as well as making the platform a widely used tool by scientists throughout the Institut Pasteur. The agreement also allows for future co-development of products and services that bring together Pasteur's biology expertise and GENOME express's technology platform for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agrifood industry customers.

The Institut Pasteur will benefit from the tools and technical know-how of GENOME express and the special access terms granted by GENOME express. Building on its knowledge and experience of sequencing and bioinformatics, GENOME express has developed and is now marketing proprietary methods in the field of genomics and comparative transcriptomics. These methods allow academic or industry customers to accelerate their research processes in areas such as the discovery of new molecular diagnostic markers, strain identification, identification of new targets, and adopting appropriate vaccine strategies.

"Institut Pasteur enjoys an international reputation for its work in microbiology and infectious diseases, and this agreement is an impressive endorsement of our technology platform," said Warren Barton, chairman and CEO of GENOME express. "It illustrates our commitment to providing real, significant and competitive benefits to our customers and helping them to optimize the value chain in the discovery process."

"We have already achieved useful research results by using GENOME express tools, in particular in the field of comparative genomics related to molecular epidemiology," said Stewart Cole, director of the Institut Pasteur Genopole. "This agreement opens up for us a range of new possibilities using GENOME express's expertise."


About GENOME express
GENOME express, Grenoble, France, is a leading provider of DNA sequencing services and also develops and markets a range of high value-added solutions for functional genomics. The company offers a unique platform that integrates innovative and proprietary tools for genomics, comparative transcriptomics (gene expression analysis). These tools are linked to an advanced bioinformatics platform comprising GenoStar for bacterial genomic exploration, Syn-Quence^TM for the discovery and identification of SNPs, and PepMap for the identification of proteins via the genomic mapping of mass spectrometry data. Building on its success and experience as a service provider, GENOME express is currently making its platform accessible to private sector researchers and academics. This will be done through partnerships with customers in the diagnostics, pharmaceutical and veterinary sectors enabling them to outsource their R&D projects either in part or totally.

For further information: http://www.genomex.com

Source: Genome Express

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Yves Rambaud, member of the Ipsen Group’s Board of Directors

Paris, December 22, 2003 — Mr. Yves Rambaud is appointed a member of The Ipsen Group’s Board of Directors. He is also a Board Member of the companies « LE NICKEL SLN » and GEODIS and he is Chairman of "La Fédération des Minéraux et Métaux" (Minerals and Metals Union). From 1991 to March 2003, he was Chief Executive Officer of ERAMET.

A graduate from both "Ecole Polytechnique" and "Ecole des Mines de Paris", Mr. Yves Rambaud started his career at the National Mining and Geological Service in Paris. From 1967 to 1971, he was successfully Manager, then Deputy General Manager of PENARROYA (mining and metallurgic company). From 1971 to 1974, he became General Manager Nickel Activity of "SOCIETE LE NICKEL (SLN)" (belonging to the same group as PENARROYA). When the company "LE NICKEL" became the IMETAL Group, he was appointed General Manager in 1974, then became Chief Executive Officer from 1985 to 1991 of "LE NICKEL SLN" (metallurgic company). At the same time he was appointed Vice President and General Manager, then Chief Executive Officer of ERAMET-SLN, which since became ERAMET.

About Ipsen

Present in over 110 countries with a total staff of nearly 3700, the Ipsen Group had a turnover of €718 million in 2002, 27.1% outside Western Europe.

The Group is focused on developing innovative products in targeted disease areas: oncology, endocrinology, neurology and haematology. Ipsen currently has over 20 products on the market, including those marketed to specialists in disease areas that represent the main source of Ipsen’s future growth, as well as predominantly natural-based products that represent the historical base of the Group’s business in other disease areas. In 2002, 18.2% of Ipsen’s turnover was reinvested in Research and Development, carried out from 4 centres: Paris, Boston, Barcelona and London by an international network of about 550 scientists.

The Group’s website is www.ipsen.com


Source: Ipsen

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Roche acquires rights to diabetes compound from Ipsen

Paris (France) and Basel (Switzerland), 21 October 2003 — Roche and Ipsen today announced that the two companies have entered into a second agreement, following the one concluded December 2002, this time for Ipsen’s diabetes compound BIM 51077. BIM 51077 is a Glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue, currently in Phase I clinical studies for Type 2 diabetes. In addition to BIM 51077 itself, Roche has been granted rights to all future compounds to be discovered or licensed by Ipsen in this class of drugs.

According to the terms of the first agreement entered in December 2002, Roche already has worldwide rights, excluding Europe, to market Ipsen’s homocamptothecine class of compounds, a promising group of anticancer agents with lead compounds in development, such as diflomotecan and BN 80927.

"BIM 51077 is a very promising compound that will further strengthen our position in the diabetes market, with proven products such as Xenical," stated William M. Burns, Head of the Pharmaceutical Division at Roche, "We are very pleased to build upon our relationship with Ipsen. After just ten months of entering into our first collaboration, we have identified a further opportunity for collaboration. Working closely with partners and building upon existing relationships is a key business strategy for Roche."

"We are delighted to be signing a new agreement with Roche. This partnership, with such a highly respected company, confirms the quality of our research and reflects our corporate strategy to actively search for new alliances, particularly with quality partners," said Jean-Luc Bélingard, Ipsen’s President and CEO.


Terms of the Agreement

Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will have exclusive rights to market and sell BIM 51077 worldwide, except in Japan where Roche will share co-marketing rights with Teijin and in France where Ipsen has the option to co-market. Roche will reimburse the development and formulation work undertaken by Ipsen and will be responsible for all future clinical development. Ipsen will receive total payments of up to €202 million, consisting of €10 million in initial committed payments and additional payments contingent upon achievement of clinical, manufacturing, regulatory, and commercial milestones. Additionally, Ipsen will receive royalties on worldwide sales.

About BIM 51077

BIM 51077, a compound discovered by Ipsen Research and Development, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a new class of compounds under study for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Diabetic patients produce less insulin than non-diabetics, and clinical studies suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists can increase insulin to near normal levels. GLP-1 incretin hormone is secreted naturally in response to food intake and acts to stimulate insulin production, suppress glucagon secretion, and slow gastric emptying in order to restore and sustain physiological blood glucose levels. The structure of BIM 51077 was optimized to provide extended duration of action while retaining the potency of the endogenous hormone.

Roche in Diabetes

Roche is committed to finding new medicines to treat metabolic diseases, with a strong emphasis on diabetes. In June 2003, Switzerland’s Federal Social Security Office (BSV) expanded reimbursement approval for Roche’s Xenical to include treatment of overweight Type 2 diabetics who are also being treated with one or more oral antidiabetic medicines. Xenical is the world's leading medicine for weight loss and weight control, and BSV’s expanded reimbursement approval underscores Xenical’s efficacy in treating overweight patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Roche is a leading supplier of products and services for diabetes monitoring and integrated diabetes management. Following the acquisition of Disetronic, the world’s second-largest manufacturer of insulin pumps, Roche’s diabetes portfolio will range from blood glucose meters for patient self-monitoring to sophisticated, programmable insulin pumps that allow patients to continuously administer insulin doses according to their individual needs. In 2002, Roche Diabetes Care, a business area of Roche Diagnostics, posted sales of 2.5 billion Swiss francs (+14% in local currencies), thanks to the continued success of the Accu-Chek product line.

Roche Business Development and Alliance Strategy

Roche’s research strategy is based on strong in-house research with centres in Japan, Europe and the USA and strategic alliances with Genentech and Chugai. Complementing and strengthening the Group’s dynamic R&D capabilities are over 50 scientific and commercial collaborations with biotech companies and universities, tailored alliances supplement these efforts in clearly defined focus areas. Roche has formed over 45 new partnerships, which span a wide range of therapeutic areas and technologies, making it an industry leader; a key element of this strategy is to enable its partners to achieve their vision while maintaining their cultural identity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Ipsen’s Active Search for New Alliances and Partnerships

Ipsen’s strategy for development is based on two main pillars: the high quality of its research and an active search for new alliances and partnerships. This new agreement with Roche reflects such strategy, validates the quality of the new molecules discovered by Ipsen’s researchers and confirms the Ipsen development model. Since January 2002, Ipsen has signed ten major licensing, research development and other partnership agreements and thus demonstrated its ability to form and develop alliances and partnerships with the leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The Group intends to continue this strategy in the future in order to enrich its product portfolio in its four targeted disease areas. These agreements help the Company to secure access to complementary technologies to those it already has, and at the same time provide new opportunities for international distribution, particularly in the United States and Japan.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading innovation-driven healthcare groups. Its core businesses are pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is number one in the global diagnostics market, the leading supplier of pharmaceuticals for cancer and a leader in virology and transplantation. As a supplier of products and services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people’s health and quality of life. Roche employs roughly 65,000 people in 150 countries. The Group has alliances and R&D agreements with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai.

About Ipsen
Present in over 110 countries with a total staff of nearly 3700, the Ipsen Group had a turnover of €718 million in 2002, 27.1% outside Western Europe.

The Group is focused on developing innovative products in targeted disease areas: oncology, endocrinology, neurology and haematology. Ipsen currently has over 20 products on the market, including those marketed to specialists in disease areas that represent the main source of Ipsen’s future growth, as well as predominantly natural-based products that represent the historical base of the Group’s business in other disease areas. In 2002, 18.2% of Ipsen’s turnover was reinvested in Research and Development, carried out from 4 centres: Paris, Boston, Barcelona and London by an international network of about 550 scientists.

The Group's website is www.ipsen.com.


Source: Ipsen

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Octagen Corporation and Ipsen Commence Human Studies of Potential New Hemophilia Drug

Bala Cynwyd, PA., USA and Paris, France, September 4, 2003 — Octagen Corporation, a Philadelphia area biotechnology company, and Ipsen (formerly Beaufour Ipsen), a European pharmaceutical company announced today the start of a phase I human (clinical) trial of their recombinant porcine coagulation factor VIII for hemophilia A inhibitor patients. The drug, known internally as OBI-1, is being developed jointly by Octagen and Ipsen.

The phase I trial, to be conducted in up to 20 clinical centers throughout the United States of America and the United Kingdom, is designed to compare the safety and pharmacokinetics of single infusions of genetically engineered OBI-1 and the commercially available porcine factor VIII known as Hyate:C, a product derived from pig plasma and sold by Ipsen.

"A disorder that affects an estimated 350,000 people worldwide, hemophilia A is caused by a lack of a clotting factor protein known as factor VIII, a deficiency that results in periodic episodes of spontaneous bleeding" observed Richard Driansky, Octagen’s Chief Executive Officer. "These bleeding episodes are treated generally with replacement human factor VIII, which can either be genetically engineered or obtained from the pooled plasma of multiple donors. Approximately 25% of hemophiliacs develop antibodies or inhibitors to human factor VIII, which their immune systems see as foreign protein matter. As a result they can no longer be treated with human factor VIII" noted Mr. Driansky.

"Many inhibitor patients can be successfully treated with porcine factor VIII," said Dr. Alistair Stokes, Ipsen’s Executive Vice-President, Corporate Development. "The problem," added Dr. Stokes, "is that supplies of Hyate:C, the current commercial porcine factor VIII, have been constrained due to the necessity and difficulty of screening out extraneous material from the porcine plasma from which the product is derived. Since OBI-1 is a genetically engineered molecule, its production would not be hindered by that consideration" observed Dr. Stokes. "If proven safe and effective in clinical trials, OBI-1 would hold considerable promise both for hemophilia A inhibitor patients, as well as for so-called 'acquired' or 'autoantibody' patients. The latter group consists of individuals who do not have congenital hemophilia but who develop a severe and often life-threatening immune response to their own normal factor VIII" noted Dr. Stokes.


Notes to editor

Octagen

Founded in November 1997, Octagen’s mission is to develop and commercialize drugs to treat hemophilia and other disorders of the clotting process. OBI-1 was discovered by Dr. John S. Lollar, a renowned hemophilia researcher and Professor of Medicine at Emory University (Atlanta, USA). In 1998 Octagen entered into an exclusive worldwide license with Emory University to develop that drug. Later that year Octagen and Ipsen entered into an exclusive sublicense agreement, pursuant to which the two companies have been engaged in the development of OBI-1. Octagen, Ipsen, and Dr. Lollar have also been collaborating on an earlier stage project involving a recombinant and largely humanized version of factor VIII, OBI-2. That molecule is designed to reduce the incidence of inhibitor formation.

Octagen's website is www.octagen.com

Ipsen

Present in over 110 countries with a total staff of nearly 3700, the Ipsen Group had a turnover of €718 million in 2002, 27.1% outside Western Europe.

The Group is focused on developing innovative products in targeted disease areas: oncology, endocrinology, neurology and hematology. Ipsen currently has over 20 products on the market, including those marketed to specialists in disease areas that represent the main source of Ipsen’s future growth, as well as predominantly natural-based products that represent the historical base of the Group’s business in other disease areas. In 2002, 18.2% of Ipsen’s turnover was reinvested in Research and Development, carried out from 4 centers Paris, Boston, Barcelona and London by an international network of about 550 scientists.

The Group’s website is www.ipsen.com


Source: Ipsen

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Agreement between Teijin Limited and Ipsen for the development and the marketing of four Ipsen products in Japan

...and a new agent discovered by Teijin Limited in Europe Tokyo (Japan) and Paris (France), 7 July 2003 - Teijin Limited and Ipsen announced today the signature of a collaboration to develop and market four Ipsen products in Japan and Teijin's anti-gout agent, TMX-67 in Europe. As part of the agreement, Teijin will support the establishment of Ipsen’s presence in Japan with a mirror agreement for Europe. The collaboration foresees that sales of products in Japan and Europe will revert back to Ipsen and Teijin, respectively, in the future when the companies establish a local commercial presence.

The four products from Ipsen are a Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue (GLP-1, code name: BIM51077) for which Teijin has been granted co-exclusive rights in Japan, a type 2-receptor selective somatostatin analogue (SSTR-2, code name: BIM23190), a parathyroid hormone 1-34 fragment analogue (PTH, code name: BIM44058), and a sustained-release formulation of a somatostatin analogue (Somatuline® Autogel®), for which Teijin has been granted exclusive rights in Japan.

Teijin will develop the analogues of GLP-1, SSTR-2, PTH and Somatuline® Autogel® as treatments for type II diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, severe osteoporosis, and acromegaly, respectively. By developing novel drugs having superior efficacy compared with competitive products currently under development, Teijin aims to provide patients suffering from these diseases with better solutions, taking advantage of Ipsen’s outstanding expertise in peptide technology and large molecule sustained-release formulation technology.

GLP-1 and SSTR-2 analogues are in phase I development and the PTH analogue is in preclinical development. Somatuline® Autogel® has been launched in several European countries including the UK and France, and is in phase III in the USA. Teijin will move forward with the development and sales of these products in Japan, in collaboration with Ipsen.

TMX-67 is a novel xanthine oxidase inhibitor discovered by Teijin with a novel molecular structure different from allopurinol, the only xanthine oxidase inhibitor currently available on the market. TMX-67 is expected to be safer and more effective than allopurinol at lower doses and is in phase III both in Japan (Teijin) and the USA (TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Lakeforest, IL). The involvement of Ipsen will make it possible to develop TMX-67 in parallel in the three territories, Japan, the USA and Europe.

"The addition of GLP-1 and SSTR-2 analogues and Somatuline® Autogel® to Teijin’s product pipeline will help the company to establish a first-class cardiovascular and metabolic disease franchise in Japan. The addition of the PTH analogue to Teijin’s existing osteoporosis portfolio including Bonalon® and Onealfa® will enable Teijin to provide a total solution in osteoporosis management, in which Teijin aims at being the leading company. This collaboration will also enable us to establish a basis for the expansion into the European market with TMX-67 in collaboration with Ipsen, which has a solid foundation in the European pharmaceutical industry." said Shigeo Ohyagi, General Manager of Medical & Pharmaceutical Business Group, Teijin Group Senior Executive Officer.

"Our strategy is based on an active search for new alliances and partnerships, especially to reinforce Ipsen’s internationalization. This collaboration with Teijin, a leading pharmaceutical company in Japan, will allow us to develop our presence in Japan, the world’s second biggest market" said Jean-Luc Bélingard, President and CEO of the Ipsen Group.


Notes to editor

Teijin Limited

1. Establishment:	June 1918
2. Head Office:	6-7, Minami-hommachi, 1 chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-8587 Japan
3. Capital Stock:	¥70.787 billion (as of March 31, 2003)
4. Representative:	President & CEO Toru Nagashima
5. Number of Employees:	Consolidated 23,265 (as of March 31, 2003) Non-consolidated 2,938 (as of March 31, 2003)
6. Sales:	Consolidated ¥890.4 billion (Fiscal Year ended March 2003) Non-consolidated ¥127.4 billion (Fiscal Year ended March 2003)

7. Description of Business:
Teijin’s main areas of activity are the production and sales of fibres, chemicals and plastics, pharmaceuticals and medical products, as well as the home healthcare business. With respect to pharmaceuticals and medical products, Teijin has focused on respiratory, disease, bone calcium metabolism and cardiovascular / metabolism disorders, and markets throughout Japan. In the home health care field, Teijin is engaged in the home oxygen therapy business, marketing its oxygen concentrators throughout Japan.

The Group’s website is http://www.teijin.co.jp

Ipsen

Present in over 110 countries with a total staff of nearly 3700, the Ipsen Group had a turnover of €718 million in 2002, 27.1% outside Western Europe.

The Group is focused on developing innovative products in targeted disease areas: oncology, endocrinology, neurology and hematology. Ipsen currently has over 20 products on the market, including those marketed to specialists in disease areas that represent the main source of Ipsen’s future growth, as well as predominantly natural-based products that represent the historical base of the Group’s business in other disease areas. In 2002, 18.2% of Ipsen’s turnover was reinvested in Research and Development, carried out from 4 centers Paris, Boston, Barcelona and London by an international network of about 550 scientists.

The Group’s website is www.ipsen.com


Source: Ipsen

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Ipsen research discovers a family of specific analogues of ghrelin, a hormone implicated in weight control

Paris, 24 June 2003. The 'Beaufour Ipsen' pharmaceutical group, renamed 'Ipsen', announced at the 85th Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society held from 19 June to 22 June in Philadelphia (USA) that it has discovered a family of specific analogues of ghrelin, a hormone implicated in weight control, which, for the first time, do not stimulate growth hormone secretion.

Changes in body weight represent a major and increasing public health problem. The prevalence of obesity in the USA is 27.7% in men and 34% in women in the 20-74 year age group (source: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000); whereas in most European countries it is approximately 10-20% in men and 15-25% in women (source: Danish National Board of Health Conference on Obesity, September 2002). Significant weight loss or cachexia is also an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly, and persons with congestive heart failure or in some cancers.

Ghrelin is secreted by the stomach and stimulates the appetite. It has recently received media attention because high blood levels of ghrelin have been observed in individuals following weight loss from dieting, which may partially explain the difficulty in maintaining diet-induced weight loss. Ghrelin levels remain low in patients who have lost weight by undergoing gastric bypass surgery, and, again, this may partially explain the lack of appetite in these individuals. All these observations open the way to the research of new drugs which can treat weight pathologies such as the ghrelin agonists for cachexia and ghrelin antagonists for obesity.

Ghrelin also stimulates growth hormone and prolactin secretions by the pituitary gland, and cortisol and aldosterone secretion by the adrenal glands. If these additional effects can be desirable in certain pathologies, often they will lead to secondary effects in other pathologies (for example: augmentation of growth hormone is not desirable in the elderly with diabetes or in persons with cancer).

In this context, Ipsen research has for the first time synthesised a unique modified version of ghrelin analogues which conserves its regulator effect on appetite, but does not stimulate growth hormone secretion.

This discovery advances the possibility of producing ghrelin-based drugs for regulating appetite and body weight. For the first time this also suggests that differences may exist at the ghrelin receptor levels in different target tissues, which opens up a new field of research. This provides unique tools for researchers to increase the knowledge of ghrelin regulation and human body weight control.

This discovery has been made by Biomeasure Inc. (Boston, USA), one of four research centres of the Ipsen Group to discover drugs in neuroendocrinology. "This important discovery highlights the quality of our research in neuroendocrinology and our capacity to generate innovative molecules in this therapeutic area. At present, we are conducting pre-clinical tests on selected ghrelin analogues in order to enter them in the clinical evaluation phase in the near future" said Jacques-Pierre Moreau, Ipsen's CSO.


Ipsen

Present in over 110 countries with a total staff of nearly 3700, the Ipsen Group had a turnover of €718 million in 2002, 27.1% outside Western Europe.

The Group is focused on developing innovative products in targeted disease areas: oncology, endocrinology, neurology and hematology. Ipsen currently has over 20 products on the market, including those marketed to specialists in disease areas that represent the main source of Ipsen’s future growth, as well as predominantly natural-based products that represent the historical base of the Group’s business in other disease areas. In 2002, 18.2% of Ipsen’s turnover was reinvested in Research and Development, carried out from 4 centers Paris, Boston, Barcelona and London by an international network of about 550 scientists.

The Group’s website is www.ipsen.com


Source: Ipsen

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Ipsen to develop Spirogen’s novel anti-tumour agent

Paris and London, 22 May 2003. The "Beaufour Ipsen" pharmaceutical group, renamed "Ipsen", has acquired worldwide rights to develop a new and novel antitumour agent SJG-136, from Spirogen, a London-based biotechnology company. The agreement also provides Ipsen with exclusive access to three, selected gene targets as a platform for the synthesis and development of further anti-cancer drug candidates and a 20 percent equity stake in Spirogen.

SJG-136 spans six base pairs of DNA and has significant activity in a number of human tumour xenograft (animal) models including brain melanoma, breast, ovarian and colon tumours. The agent is currently in pre-clinical development with Cancer Research, UK and the National Cancer Institute in the United States of America (USA). Phase I clinical trials are planned for the third quarter of 2003 in the United Kingdom and the fourth quarter in the United States of America (USA).

Commenting on the agreement, Dr Alistair Stokes, Ipsen’s Executive Vice President, Corporate Development said: "We believe that SJG-136 has the potential to be an important addition to the anti-cancer therapeutic armoury. This agreement, after the one concluded with Roche last December, reflects the Group’s policy of seeking alliances that will help us gain access to new products and technologies in our core therapeutic areas".

Dr Chris Martin, CEO of Spirogen said: "The development of chemotherapeutics which target specific genes represents the cutting edge of molecular research. We are delighted to be working with Ipsen to develop such compounds for the oncology market. This agreement is in line with Spirogen’s strategy of developing drug candidates and its gene targeting technology in partnership with pharmaceutical companies while taking forward its own anti-cancer DNA sequence binding agents".


Notes to editor

Ipsen

Present in over 110 countries with a total staff of nearly 3700, the Ipsen Group had a turnover of €718 million in 2002, 27.1% outside Western Europe.

The Group is focused on developing innovative products in targeted disease areas: oncology, endocrinology, neurology and hematology. Ipsen currently has over 20 products on the market, including those marketed to specialists in disease areas that represent the main source of Ipsen’s future growth, as well as predominantly natural-based products that represent the historical base of the Group’s business in other disease areas. In 2002, 18.2% of Ipsen’s turnover was reinvested in Research and Development, carried out from 4 centers Paris, Boston, Barcelona and London by an international network of about 550 scientists.

The Group’s website is www.ipsen.com

Spirogen

Spirogen is a privately owned UK company, founded in 2001 by Professor David Thurston and Dr Phillip Howard (now at the School of Pharmacy, University of London), Professor John Hartley (University College London) and Dr Chris Martin. The company is pioneering the discovery and development of a unique class of low molecular weight sequence-specific DNA-interactive drugs designed to treat gene-mediated diseases.

Spirogen’s proprietary combinatorial chemistry-based platform technology forms the basis of a research effort that began over a decade ago to develop novel therapeutics with potential application in a number of markets. Spirogen’s initial investors were: Cambridge Research Bioventures (lead investor), Xenva Ltd, CRIL and Bloomsbury Bioseed Fund.

Spirogen's website is www.spirogen.com


Source: Ipsen

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Agreement between Beaufour Ipsen and Novartis Pharma for the marketing of two anti-hypertensive drugs, Nisis® and Nisisco® in France

Paris, May 14, 2003 — The Beaufour Ipsen Group announced today the singning in France of a marketing agreement with Novartis Pharma for two antihypertensive drugs Nisis® (valsartan) and Nisisco® (valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide). Since March 31, 2003, Beaufour Ipsen Pharma, the French subsidiary of the Group, promotes these products in France, its overseas departments and territories and in the Principalities of Monaco and Andorra. These two drugs were previously distributed by Aventis.

Already involved in the treatment of hypertension with Tenstaten® (cicletanine), this agreement reinforces Beaufour Ipsen’s expertise in cardiovascular diseases in these territories. This is also consistent with the Group’s strategy to strenghten its international development based on a solid position in France.

According to Christophe Jean, Executive Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer, Beaufour Ipsen Group "We are pleased to collaborate with Novartis Pharma, one of the world leaders in the treatment of arterial hypertension, a disease which affects 7.5 million people treated in France today. This agreement adds two major innovative medicines to our portfolio that have significant medical and scientific vcardiovascular field".

In 2002, Nisis and Nisisco had a turnover of more than €24 million (source : GERS), enhanced by the launch of Nisisco® 160-25 (160 mg of valsartan and 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide) last February, which complements the product line already available to physicians.

These drugs are being further evaluated in a broad based clinical program with the participation of more than 38,000 patients. The purpose of the ongoing studies is to extend the present indications to hypertension post-infarct, and arterial hypertension associated with cardiovascular risks.


Notes to editor

Nisis®/Nisisco®

Nisis® and Nisisco® belong to the family of angiotensin II antagonists, representing the leading edge in the treatment of hypertension with the prospect of expanding their use.

Nisis® (active ingredient: valsartan) is indicated in the treatment of essential arterial hypertension (40 mg, 80 mg, 160 mg, packs of 28). Nisisco® 80 - 12,5 (80 mg of valsartan and 12,5 :mg of hydrochlorothiazide, packs of 28) is indicated after failure of a monotherapy by an angiotensin II antagonist or by hydrochlorothiazide and Nisisco 160 – 25 is indicated when a monotherapy by Nisis 160 or by the combination Nisisco 80 - 12.5 is insufficient.

Beaufour Ipsen

Present in over 80 countries with a total staff of 3423, the Beaufour Ipsen Group had a turnover of €704 million in 2001, 57% of which was outside France.

The Group specialises in oncology, haematology, neurology and endocrinology and has a portfolio of 30 products which are either peptides, derived from biotechnology, or based on natural sources. In 2001, 16.4% of Beaufour Ipsen’s turnover was reinvested in Research and Development (R&D).

The Group’s website is www.beaufour-ipsen.com


Source: Ipsen

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Christophe Jean, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of the Beaufour Ipsen Group

Paris, May 13, 2003 — Mr Christophe Jean is nominated Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of the Beaufour Ipsen Group. Christophe Jean, 47 years old and a Harvard graduate, joined the pharmaceutical industry with Ciba-Geigy where he successively occupied Marketing (Brazil & Sweden) and General Management positions at an international level. He was subsequently nominated Worldwide Head of Financial Control and Information Technology and was a Member of the Pharmaceuticals Executive Committee. He held that position until after the merger between Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz to form Novartis and was then nominated Head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In 2000 he became President and CEO for the pharmaceutical activities of the Pierre Fabre Group.

In September 2002 he joined the Beaufour Ipsen Group where he was initially in charge of creating the Corporate Strategic Planning and Strategic Marketing departments. He is a Member of the Executive Committee and also oversees commercial operations and the development of the US and Japan markets.

About Beaufour Ipsen

Present in over 80 countries with a total staff of 3423, the Beaufour Ipsen Group had a turnover of €704 million in 2001, 57% of which was outside France.

The Group develops products for four targeted disease area franchises: oncology, endocrinology, neurology and haematology. It currently has a portfolio of 30 products on the market which are either peptides, derived from biotechnology, or products based on natural sources. In 2001, 16.4% of Beaufour Ipsen's turnover was reinvested in Research and Development, which is carried out in four research centres (Paris, Boston, Barcelona and London) by an international network of around 500 scientific staff.

The Group’s website is www.beaufour-ipsen.com


Source: Ipsen

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Beaufour Ipsen obtains the European Marketing Authorisation for NutropinAQ®, recombinant growth hormone

Paris, 18 March 2003 — The Beaufour Ipsen Group announced today that the company has obtained European Marketing Authorisation from the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) on 24 February, 2003 for Nutropin AQ%reg; (somatropin [rDNA origin] solution for injection). The approved name in Europe is NutropinAq. This decision comes after the agreement signed in September 2002 with Genentech, a USA biotechnology company giving Beaufour Ipsen exclusive rights to market Nutropin AQ® and Nutropin AQ PenTM Cartridge in Europe and the rest of the world, excluding North America and Japan.

Nutropin AQ® is produced using recombinant DNA technology and has the same amino acid sequence as human growth hormone (GH) produced naturally in the human body. Nutropin AQ® is used for the treatment of GH deficiency, which occurs when the production of GH secreted by the pituitary gland, is disrupted.

"Pituitary-related endocrine disorders are a key therapeutic area for Beaufour Ipsen. This collaboration with Genentech has added an important product to our portfolio", said Dr Alistair Stokes, Group Vice-President, Corporate Development, Beaufour Ipsen.

Nutropin AQ® is the first ready-to-use liquid GH formulation approved in the USA and is supplied as 10mg of sterile liquid somatropin per vial or cartridge for exclusive use with the Nutropin AQ Pen^TM.

Beaufour Ipsen is preparing to submit the requisite regulatory dossier to gain approval to market Nutropin AQ Pen^TM Cartridge for use with the Nutropin AQ Pen^TM.

"We are pleased to collaborate with Beaufour Ipsen to market Nutropin AQ® and Nutropin AQ Pen^TM in Europe", said Joseph S. McCracken, Vice-President, Business and Commercial Development of Genentech. "This agreement continues our efforts in providing our family of growth hormone products to patients throughout the world".


Notes to editor

Beaufour Ipsen

Present in over 80 countries with a total staff of 3423, the Beaufour Ipsen Group had a turnover of €704 million in 2001, 57% of which was outside France.

The Group specialises in oncology, haematology, neurology and endocrinology and has a portfolio of 30 products which are either peptides, derived from biotechnology, or based on natural sources. In 2001, 16.4% of Beaufour Ipsen’s turnover was reinvested in Research and Development (R&D).

The Group’s website is www.beaufour-ipsen.com

Genentech

Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercialises biotherapeutics for significant unmet medical needs. Fifteen of the currently approved biotechnology products originated from or are based on Genentech science.

Genentech manufactures and commercialises ten biotechnology products directly in the USA. The company has headquarters in South San Francisco, California and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DNA.

NutropinAq

NutropinAq is indicated for the treatment of:

• Long-term treatment of children with growth failure due to inadequate endogenous GH secretion
• Long-term treatment of growth failure associated with Turner syndrome
• Treatment of prepubertal children with growth failure associated with chronic renal insufficiency up to the time of renal transplantation
• Replacement of endogenous GH in adults with GH deficiency of either childhood or adult-onset aetiology. GH deficiency should be confirmed appropriately prior to treatment

Source: Ipsen

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New laboratory system at Genome Express brings speed, flexibility and improved cost performance to DNA sequencing

Grenoble, France, February 25, 2003 — GENOME express, the developer of high value-added solutions for functional genomics and target discovery has installed new sophisticated high performance hardware and software in its laboratories to ensure it continues to offer its clients the best and most cost-effective approaches to target discovery and validation, the company announced today. The new equipment is the Zymark Sciclone ALH, an Advanced Liquid Handling workstation that speeds up laboratory research by automating liquid handling and microplate management.

"The acquisition and installation of the Sciclone is part of our continuous policy of providing an internationally-competitive platform for the benefit of our customers and partners," said Jean-François Mouret, Chief Technical Officer at GENOME express. "The Sciclone brings speed and increases the flexibility in our sequencing and fragment analysis process from DNA template to purified and ready to load DNA products."

The Sciclone ALH is a high precision, easy-to-use instrument that performs a host of functions that previously required several separate devices. The new system will bring benefits to GENOME express customers and partners in many of the wide range of activities offered by the company. For example, GENOME express has recently launched a major new technology called DACS (Discriminative Analysis of Clone Signature). GENOME express is initially using DACS for the study of gene expression, but the company will also use it far more widely in genomics generally. "Examples include genome sequencing finishing and structural differential genome analysis," said Mouret. "All these applications will take advantage of the throughput, reproducibility and traceability provided by the Sciclone workstation. Our clients will save time and money directly from being able to access this technology."

"We are delighted to have GENOME express among the international users of the Sciclone," said Kevin Hrusovsky CEO at Zymark. "Coupled with the company's know-how in functional genomics, it will help give them a competitive edge in this burgeoning market."

It supplies eight-channel independent Z-axis probes, "on-the-fly" interchangeable 96 and 384 arrays, a compact 20-position deck, bulk dispensing capabilities and a unique design that offers effortless integration with other devices from all four sides of the system. The Sciclone ALH uses Zymark's CLARA^TM software to ensure evolving laboratory requirements are completed with as little effort as possible.


About Zymark
Zymark is a leading provider of automation solutions serving the worldwide life science, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The company has introduced new automation paradigms that have empowered scientists to raise laboratory research to a new, more industrialized level. With these advances, Zymark has firmly established itself as a solutions provider with a single-minded goal of streamlining the entire drug discovery pipeline. Zymark provides direct sales, service and applications support throughout the world and hosts the annual ISLAR conference on laboratory automation. For more information about Zymark Corporation and its products, visit www.zymark.com

About DACS
DACS (Discriminative Analysis of Clone Signature) is the new proprietary technology provided by GENOME express. The technology, based on EST sequencing reduces cost while offering the same advantages. DACS marks only one nucleotide of the four composing DNA — A, C, G, T — and includes a capillary multiplex sequencing thus offering high-throughput (1536 samples per run). A patented signal analysis technology applied on sequencing results discriminates identical clones from the different ones, thus allowing the discovery of genes expressed.

For further information: http://www.genomex.com

About GENOME express
GENOME express, Grenoble, France, develops and markets high value-added solutions for functional genomics. The company offers a unique platform that integrates proprietary tools for genomics (discovery and identification of SNPs — Syn-Quence^TM), transcriptomics (gene expression analysis), and proteomics (identification of proteins using genome mapping of mass spectrometry data — Pep Map^TM). Building on its success and experience as a service provider, GENOME express is currently making its platform accessible to private sector researchers and academics in the biopharmaceutical sector. This will be done through partnerships and enable GENOME express customers to outsource their R&D projects either in part or totally. The company is also developing its own research to discover new targets for therapeutic or diagnostic applications in the fields of metabolic diseases such as diabetes or obesity, the central nervous system and bacterial genomics.

For further information: http://www.genomex.com

Source: Genome Express

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Appointment of Mrs Claire Giraut as Chief Financial Officer of the Beaufour Ipsen Group

Paris, 5 February 2003 — Mrs Claire Giraut was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Beaufour Ipsen Group and, as Group Vice-President, Finance, Member of the Executive Committee. The Company Secretary and the Head of Group’s Information Systems (MIS) will also report directly to Mrs Giraut.

Mrs Claire Giraut, 46, qualified as a Biotech Engineer. Her career has mainly been in Finance. Among her most recent assignments, she was Senior Executive VP Finance of the Coflexip Stena Offshore Group, world leader in subsea oil services, listed in France and in the USA.

About Beaufour Ipsen

Present in over 80 countries with a total staff of 3423, the Beaufour Ipsen Group had a turnover of €704 million in 2001, 57% of which was outside France.

The Group develops products for four targeted disease area franchises: oncology, endocrinology, neurology and haematology. It currently has a portfolio of 30 products on the market which are either peptides, derived from biotechnology, or products based on natural sources. In 2001, 16.4% of Beaufour Ipsen's turnover was reinvested in Research and Development, which is carried out in four research centres (Paris, Boston, Barcelona and London) by an international network of around 500 scientific staff.

The Group’s website is www.beaufour-ipsen.com


Source: Ipsen

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