Gyros AB and Affibody AB announce strategic alliance to develop the worlds first microfluidics based protein microarray

Gyros AB and Affibody AB announce strategic alliance to develop the world's first microfluidics based protein microarray platform Gyros AB and Affibody AB today announced a strategic alliance in which both companies will allocate major resources to develop and commercialize the world's first integrated and automated microfluidics based protein microarray platform. The new platform will combine the unique, proprietary technologies of the two companies. CD-based microlaboratories from Gyros together with the extensive libraries of capturing proteins from Affibody will create a wide range of high throughput, high sensitivity protein microarrays. In the microlaboratory designed for protein microarray applications, a single sample could be evaluated against an array of capturing proteins or many different samples could be evaluated against one or more selected capturing proteins. Dr. Eugen Steiner, President of Affibody AB commented "Protein microarrays will enable researchers to study cell profiling and protein expression in a rapid and innovative way. The combination of Gyros' flexible technology platform, together with the versatility of our Affibodies, underlines our commitment to enable large scale proteomic research in drug discovery." "Combining these complementary technologies will give pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies access to exciting, leading edge research tools to enhance the drug discovery process and support the development of new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic products for human disease management," says Dr. Maris Hartmanis, President and CEO of Gyros AB in Uppsala, Sweden. "In proteomic research, the demand for increased throughput, sensitivity and flexibility continues to grow" says Per Sjöberg, Executive Vice President Commercial Operations at Gyros AB. "By miniaturizing and integrating protein arrays onto our microlaboratories, investigators can perform high throughput protein profiling with minimal consumption of valuable samples. This unique approach will offer a major increase in speed and cost efficiency." For reliable data the quality and functionality of the capturing protein is crucial. Affibody has a strong intellectual property position around the patented technique for development of Affibodiestm. These capturing proteins can be designed to bind to any desired target protein. Using combinatorial protein engineering technology applied on a proprietary scaffold with excellent features, Affibodiestm can be engineered to have the desired properties, while also being highly robust to withstand a broad range of analytical conditions used in protein microarrays and clinical diagnostics. Based on more than 10 years of research within microfabrication and microfluidic technology, Gyros has a leading position in the fields of microfabrication and microfluidic technology. This lead is supported by a strong proprietary technology platform with more than 30 patents and patent applications. The company has extensive knowledge concerning the physical and chemical conditions required to provide optimal environments for studying biomolecules in a microscale. About Gyros AB Gyros AB offers the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostic companies access to a unique, proprietary technology platform in which routine or non-routine laboratory processes can be miniaturized and integrated into client-specific CDs. Hundreds of analyses can be performed in parallel on these disposable microlaboratories. This new platform brings outstanding gains in efficiency, cost-effectiveness and information content. The ability to integrate different laboratory steps on a single CD offers the potential to reassess and redesign traditional working procedures. The company was founded in 2000 and has its offices based in the Science Park in Uppsala, Sweden. For further information, visit www.gyrosmicro.com or contact: Maris Hartmanis, President and CEO, Gyros AB Tel: +46 (0)18 566 330 Mobile: +46 (0)70 562 8617 Email: maris.hartmanis@gyrosmicro.com Per Sjöberg, Executive Vice President Commercial Operations, Gyros AB Tel: +46 (0)18 566 318 Mobile: +46 (0)70 5444799 Email: per.sjoberg@gyrosmicro.com About Affibody AB Affibody AB is a proteomics and biotherapy company leading the development of combinatorial protein engineering to enable high throughput protein characterization in drug discovery and the development of novel biotherapeutics and diagnostic products. The company owns a patented technique for the development of Affibodiestm. These easily produced, highly stable molecules mimic monoclonal antibodies in many ways, but have unique properties that make them a superior choice for a number of biotechnological and therapeutic applications. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Stockholm, Sweden. For further information, visit www.affibody.com or contact: Eugen Steiner E-mail address: eugen.steiner@affibody.com Phone: +46 (0) 70 540 6519 Fax: +46 (0) 8 458 95 46 Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical may be forward-looking and include risks and uncertainties. Therefore, though based on Gyros' and Affibody´s current expectations, it should be duly noted that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experiences to differ materially from what is herein expressed. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the management of growth and international operations (including effects of currency fluctuations), variability of operating results, unforeseen changes in the diagnostic and pharmaceutical markets, market competition, rapid or unexpected changes in technologies, fluctuations in product demand, difficulties to successfully develop, adapt, produce or commercialize products, the ability to identify and develop new products and to differentiate products from those of competitors, as well as various legal hazards. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/05/31/20010531BIT00160/bit0002.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/05/31/20010531BIT00160/bit0002.pdf