National Cancer Center in Tokyo implements Pyrosequencing Technology to study disease-related DNA Sequences

National Cancer Center in Tokyo implements Pyrosequencing Technology to study disease-related DNA Sequences --Company penetrates Japanese market with sale of its PSQ 96 System-- Uppsala, Sweden, September 21, 2000- Pyrosequencing AB (SSE:PYRO), a devel- oper, manufacturer and marketer of complete systems for applied genetic analy- sis, today reported that the National Cancer Center, Tokyo (NCC) will use Py- rosequencing@ technology to study disease-related DNA sequences. The area of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisim (SNP) analysis has been identified as one of the cores of "The Millennium Project", in which 5 ministries are funding a total of $225M starting in the year 2000. The NCC is playing a leading roll in the government-funded investigation of disease-related SNPs. "We are very excited about Pyrosequencing technology and are convinced that it best serves our efforts to successfully associate a limited scale of ge- netic information with cancer," said Professor Ohki, Chief of Cancer Genomics Division of the NCC. Launched earlier this year, Pyrosequencing's PSQ 96 System, the first commer- cially available dedicated sequencing system for applied genetic analysis, has rapidly penetrated the European and US markets. Based on the Company's pat- ented Pyrosequencing@ technology, the product performs rapid and accurate, re- producible SNP analysis, and offers a high capacity, cost-effective solution for SNP analysis and Tag sequencing- the analysis of short DNA sequences used for genetic identification. PSQ 96 Systems include a sequencing instrument, software, and reagent kits necessary to conduct SNP analysis. In June 2000, Pyrosequencing AB announced that it had entered into a distribu- tion agreement that would grant Sumitomo Corporation exclusive distribution rights for PSQ 96 System products in Japan. This agreement facilitated the purchase of a PSQ 96 System by the National Cancer Center inTokyo. "Our sound marketing knowledge and Pyrosequencing's breakthrough technology put us in a strong position to develop the Japanese market, and the success of the NCC agreement, after only three months, is clear proof of a winning part- nership," said Mr. Umahara, Deputy General Manager, Machinery & Systems Dept. Sumitomo Corporation, "SNP analysis is regarded as a strategically important research area by the Japanese government. The NCC is an important client for us, both for their valued opinions and also for their close affiliation with other laboratories. We are confident of a growing future for Sumitomo and Py- rosequencing in Japan." "We could not be more pleased," adds Erik Walldèn, President and CEO of Py- rosequencing AB. "After a successful introduction in the US and Europe, an entry into the rapidly growing Japanese market for SNP analysis brings us an- other step forward in our development as a global supplier of complete systems for applied genomics." In addition to prestigious research institutions, such as the National Insti- tutes of Health, and now the NCC in Tokoyo, Pyrosequencing's global customer roster includes major pharmaceutical, genomics and AgBiotech companies, in- cluding CuraGen Corporation, AstraZeneca, and DuPont Agriculture. About Pyrosequencing AB Pyrosequencing AB develops, manufactures and markets complete systems for ap- plied genetic analysis based on its proprietary Pyrosequencing@ technology. Applied genetic analysis may be used for drug development, drug selection and diagnostics. Pyrosequencing's technology addresses the increasing demand for applied genetic analysis across various markets, including research and clini- cal routine testing and large-scale customized industrial applications such as drug development by pharmaceutical companies. The Company is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden with a North American subsidiary located in Massachusetts. Py- rosequencing AB also has sales offices and distribution partners in Scandina- via, United Kingdom, Germany, BeNeLux, Switzerland and Japan. Pyrosequencing AB is listed on the OM Stockholm Exchange. Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "should," "planned," "estimated," and "potential," among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Pyrosequencing's current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Re- form Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Pyrosequencing notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, risks associated with management of growth and international operations (including the effects of currency fluctuations), variability of operating results, the commercial development of the DNA sequencing and ge- nomics market, nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostics market, and genetic vaccination and gene therapy markets, competition, rapid or unexpected changes in technologies, fluctuations in demand for Pyrosequencing's products (includ- ing seasonal fluctuations), difficulties in successfully adapting the Com- pany's products to integrated solutions and producing such products, and the Company's ability to identify and develop new products and to differentiate its products from competitors FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pyrosequencing AB Erik Walldén President & CEO E-MAIL erik.wallden@pyrosequencing.com Phone: +46 18 565902 or 070-326 98 70 Harry Wilcox Executive VP, Chief of Finance & Corporate Development E-MAIL: hwilcox@pyrosequencing.com Phone: +1 508 389 9911 ext. 120 Media Sören Densjö Densjö Communications AB E-MAIL: soren@densjo.se Phone: +46 70 585 0525 Fredda Malkoff Feinstein Kean Healthcare E-MAIL: fmalkoff@fkhealth.com Phone: +1 617-761-6747 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/09/21/20000921BIT00500/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/09/21/20000921BIT00500/bit0002.pdf