Released on = June 7, 2006, 8:39 am

Press Release Author = Gentris

Industry = Pharmaceuticals

Press Release Summary = Gentris obtains rights from LGC to make, use and sell
diagnostic products and services which include testing for the CYP2D6*4 polymorphism


Press Release Body = Research Triangle Park, North Carolina - June 8th 2006 - LGC,
Europe\'s leading independent analytical laboratory, and Gentris Corporation, a
leading global provider of applied clinical pharmacogenomic services and diagnostic
product solutions, today announced that the companies have entered into a
non-exclusive licensing agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Gentris
obtains rights to make, use and sell diagnostic products and services which include
testing for the CYP2D6*4 polymorphism in the US. LGC is the exclusive licensor of
this gene variation on behalf of Dundee University and Cancer Research UK.

Patients with the *4 variant of the CYP2D6 gene are known to be poor metabolisers of
about 20 percent of commonly prescribed medications including painkillers,
anti-depressants, analgesics and cardiovascular drugs. The commercialization and
adoption of CYP2D6 genetic testing services and diagnostic products will contribute
to reducing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in this population and improving the
quality and efficacy of drugs and ultimately patient care. Currently ADRs account
for 106,000 deaths per year and 2.2 million hospitalizations per year in the US,
making them the fourth leading cause of death and fifth leading cause of illness.

\"The value of testing for key genetic markers associated with poor metabolism of
medications has now become internationally accepted as a way to prevent some adverse
drug reactions in individuals, and to identify those at risk of side effects," said
Dr. Paul Debenham, Director of Life Sciences at LGC. "Today\'s advances in
medical-based science and technology have generated DNA-based test technologies with
the potential to shape the future care of us all. We have seen a marked growth in
the demand for pharmacogenetic services and products and are pleased to see a
leading international provider like Gentris actively apply this exciting technology
to the field."

The licensing agreement with LGC is a key milestone for Gentris that demonstrates
the company's commitment to building the industry's most robust and relevant
portfolio of genetic testing services and diagnostic products. "Gentris is
dedicated to helping our clients integrate pharmacogenomic testing into their drug
development programs to deliver safer, more effective compounds to the market
sooner," commented Gentris CEO Michael Murphy. This announcement coincides with the
recent release of Gentris' proprietary human genomic DNA reference controls for the
CYP2D6 gene, which are currently available for research use. No other commercial
source of reference controls for the CYP2D6 gene is presently on the market.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:

Reference
Debenham, P. & Dale Smith, C. A. 2004, \"Personalised medicine - recognising the link
between an individual\'s genetics and their response to drugs\", European
Biopharmaceutical Review, Winter issue, pp. 80-85.

About the licence
The CYP2D6 gene controls an enzyme in the liver and the variant of this gene, known
as *4, indicates a poor metaboliser of about 20% of commonly prescribed drugs
including painkillers and anti-depressants. LGC is the exclusive licensee of the
University of Dundee, which has licensed the patents from Cancer Research Technology
Limited granted in the USA, Europe, Canada, Australia and Japan directed at
identifying the presence or absence of particular, important mutations in the CYP2D6
gene assay, thus allowing DNA-based testing. LGC provides these testing services in
the UK.

About LGC
LGC (www.lgc.co.uk), a science service company, is Europe\'s leading independent
provider of analytical and diagnostic services and reference standards. LGC\'s
market-led divisions - LGC Forensics, Food Chain and Environment, Life Sciences,
Pharmaceutical and Chemical Services and LGC Promochem (for Reference Materials) -
operate in a diverse range of sectors for both public and private sector customers.
Its research-led Analytical Technology and Government Chemist division houses
specialist laboratories for the delivery of contracts under the DTI\'s National
Measurement System and to serve its role as the UK\'s National Measurement Institute
for chemical and biochemical analysis. Growing at around 15% per annum and
majority-owned since April 2004 by funds managed by Legal & General Ventures, LGC is
headquartered in Teddington, Middlesex, UK. LGC has laboratories located in
Teddington, Runcorn (Cheshire), Culham (Oxfordshire), Risley (Cheshire), Tamworth
(Staffordshire), Edinburgh (Scotland), Luckenwalde (Germany) and Bangalore (India).
LGC also has offices in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden and India. A
specialist firearms facility in conjunction with the Royal Armouries in Leeds is
also part of LGC Forensics. LGC has formed a joint venture in proficiency testing
with Quality Management Limited and Aquacheck Limited. Since January 2006, LGC has
made two acquisitions in Germany: AGOWA, a specialist genomics company based in
Berlin, and the Institut für Blutgruppenforschung, a provider of DNA services in
paternity testing and forensic genetics, based in Cologne.

About Gentris Corporation
Gentris Corporation is a leading global provider of applied clinical pharmacogenomic
services and diagnostic product solutions. As pioneers in the field of
pharmacogenomics, Gentris helps pharmaceutical companies and clinical research
organizations effectively integrate pharmacogenomics into their drug development
programs to deliver safer, more effective compounds to the market sooner. Gentris is
developing validated reference controls and diagnostic test kits that will bring the
promise of personalized medicine to physicians and patients, which will enhance
patient management, improve patients\' response to therapy and revolutionize medicine
through pharmacogenomics. For additional information, please visit
http://www.gentris.com.



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Contact Details = CONTACT: Jonathan Jordan
919 Marketing/919.557.7890
press@gentris.com