Pyrosequencing and University of Geneva to collaborate on diagnostic test for Down Syndrome

PYROSEQUENCING AND UNIVERSITY OF GENEVA TO COLLABORATE ON DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR DOWN SYNDROME Uppsala, Sweden and Geneva, Switzerland, August 29, 2001-Pyrosequencing AB's Molecular Diagnostics Business Unit (Stockholm: PYRO A) and the University of Geneva today announced that they have initiated a sponsored research agreement to analyze genes and develop diagnostic tests using PyrosequencingTM Technology. The goal of the collaboration is to develop rapid genetic tests for the diagnosis of Down Syndrome, also known as trisomy 21. The highly-respected clinical and molecular geneticist, Stylianos Antonarakis, M.D., D.Sc., Director of the Division of Medical Genetics at the University of Geneva, will head the research program. "A rapid, accurate and cost-effective diagnostic test for Down Syndrome has been the focus of several clinical research efforts around the world," said Dr. Stylianos Antonarakis. "We will use Pyrosequencing's technology to develop novel diagnostic tests for this prevalent genetic disease with the ultimate goal of improving health care." The first phase of the sponsored research agreement will involve optimizing methods for the analysis of Down Syndrome employing PyrosequencingTM Technology. The new, DNA-based method of rapid genetic analysis is the subject of a recent patent application filed by the University. Through the collaboration, Pyrosequencing has secured exclusive access to the intellectual property that underlies the unique diagnostic method developed for detecting Down Syndrome (trisomy 21). Once the rapid diagnostic assays are designed, the University of Geneva will perform rigorous clinical evaluation of previously collected patient samples to validate these diagnostic tests. "Pyrosequencing is quickly expanding its diagnostics platform by establishing collaborations with prestigious academic research organizations to develop diagnostics tests," said Jerry Williamson, VP and Molecular Diagnostics Business Head of Pyrosequencing AB. Our collaboration with the University of Geneva and Professor Antonarakis, a worldwide leader in human genetics, is in line with this strategy and shows the utility of Pyrosequencing technology for developing rapid, DNA- based tests for genetic diseases." Down Syndrome is the most common cause of mental retardation, affecting one out of 700 live births in all ethnic groups. However, there is a pronounced maternal age effect, with risk increasing as maternal age progresses. The link between Down Syndrome and trisomy 21 was established in1959 and since then diagnosis has been possible using methods based on counting the number of chromosomes present in human cells. Although highly accurate, these methods are labor intensive and time consuming, often requiring several days of cell culture followed by the subjective judgment of highly skilled technicians. Pyrosequencing AB formed a Molecular Diagnostics Business Unit earlier this year to establish the Company's proprietary technology as a standard platform for clinical genetic analysis. Capitalizing on Pyrosequencing's worldwide market leadership in applied genetic analysis, the Molecular Diagnostics Business Unit is pursuing a global strategy to identify new diagnostic product opportunities, develop clinically useful molecular diagnostic assays, and collaborate with academic and commercial partners in the fields of disease diagnosis, clinical prognosis and pharmacogenomics. The University of Geneva The University of Geneva (www.unige.ch) is Switzerland's second largest university and is dedicated to teaching, research and providing services to the city of Geneva. Since its foundation in 1559, it has been a scientific mainstay in many areas of research. In August 1998, the prestigious American journal Science pinpointed the Geneva-Lausanne area as the third most important research center in Europe, after Cambridge (UK) and Oxford-Reading. The University is very much aware of the importance of valorizing its research, and it recently set up Unitec, the Office for Transfer of Skills and Technologies. The Division of Medical Genetics is part of both the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva and of the Geneva University Hospitals, and has three equally important missions: (i) to provide high quality genetic services to the population; (ii) to teach the students, health professionals, and the public the importance of genes in human disorders; and (iii) to conduct excellent, internationally competitive research on the involvement of genes in the development of disorders in individuals. About Pyrosequencing AB Pyrosequencing AB develops, manufactures and sells complete solutions for applied genetic analysis based on its proprietary Pyrosequencingtm Technology, a simple-to-use DNA sequencing technique. In the post-genome era, Pyrosequencing's technology has established the Company as one of the leading suppliers of solutions for accurate, consistent DNA analysis in research institutions and pharmaceutical, genomics and agbiotech companies. For the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the PSQtm96 System with SNP Software and Reagent Kits is used by customers such as AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Karolinska Institute and DuPont Agriculture. The Company's Sequence Analysis Software and Reagent Kits together with the PSQ 96 System are used for the identification of gene-specific DNA sequences for applications such as bacterial and viral typing where speed and ease of use are essential. The Company is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden with North American operations located in Westborough, Massachusetts. Pyrosequencing AB also has sales offices and distribution partners in Europe, Japan and the Middle East. Pyrosequencing AB is listed on the OM Stockholm Exchange. The Company's web address is www.pyrosequencing.com. 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," and "should," among others. These forward- looking statements are based on Pyrosequencing's current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform 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 genomics 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 (including seasonal fluctuations), difficulties in successfully adapting the Company'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 Jerry Williamson Theresa McNeely, Sr. Director VP & Molecular Diagnostics Investor and Public Relations Business Unit Head jerry.williamson@pyrosequencing.com theresa.mcneely@pyrosequencing.com Phone: +1 877 797 6767 Phone: +1 877 797 6767 Financial Dynamics Jonathan Birt/Sarah Mehanna Jonathan.birt@fd.com Phone: +44 20 7831 3113 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/08/29/20010829BIT00550/bit0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/08/29/20010829BIT00550/bit0001.pdf