Released on = February 1, 2007, 11:31 pm

Press Release Author = Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited

Industry = Biotech

Press Release Summary = Aurigene Discovery Technologies Ltd (Aurigene), a
Bangalore-based integrated drug discovery services company, announced today that it
has entered into a discovery collaboration with Merck Serono International S.A
(Merck Serono), a global biotechnology leader. The two companies have entered into
an agreement to identify small molecule drugs for the treatment of autoimmune
diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Press Release Body = Bangalore, India - February 2, 2007 - Aurigene Discovery
Technologies Ltd (Aurigene), a Bangalore-based integrated drug discovery services
company, announced today that it has entered into a discovery collaboration with
Merck Serono International S.A (Merck Serono), a global biotechnology leader. The
two companies have entered into an agreement to identify small molecule drugs for
the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid
arthritis.

Under the research agreement Aurigene will receive research funding for the lead
generation and optimization according to a pre-defined research plan, and shall be
entitled to milestone payments upon the achievement of certain pre-determined
milestones. Aurigene will utilize its integrated infrastructure for Drug Discovery,
starting from protein expression and purification, all the way through Medicinal
Chemistry and Pre-clinical Biology and collaborate with Merck Serono to generate an
optimized lead ready for IND-enabling studies.

Aurigene will use its particular strength in Structure Based Drug Design as an
additional tool to aid the discovery of novel leads. Commenting on the agreement
with Merck Serono, CSN Murthy, CEO of Aurigene, said: "We will use Aurigene's
rapidly expanding discovery capability, and leverage Merck Serono's experience in
this therapeutic area to succeed. We are very pleased to have a partner of Merck
Serono's calibre and to have the opportunity to create value for both sides."


About Aurigene:

Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited is a Bangalore-based integrated discovery
services company focused on collaborative drug discovery and Discovery services,
with pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Aurigene's capabilities extend from
target to pre-clinical lead optimization, including in vitro and in vivo biology and
medicinal chemistry. Aurigene also has structural biology and fragment based drug
design capabilities, with in-house crystallization (XRD) and Bio NMR facilities. The
company is engaged in a number of discovery collaborations and also provides
discovery chemistry and biology services to companies in the US and Europe.


Web Site = http://www.aurigene.com

Contact Details = CSN Murthy
CEO
Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited
Tel: +91 80 2852 1314
Fax: +91 80 2852 6285
murthy_csn@aurigene.com