Re Agreement

Proteome Sciences Licenses its Patented TMT® Technology            

                          to Thermo Fisher Scientific                          

 

 

COBHAM, England (April 9, 2008) - Proteome Sciences plc has entered into an
exclusive license agreement for its TMT® isobaric tandem mass tag technology
with Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc (NYSE: TMO). Under the terms of the license,
Proteome Sciences will manufacture its patented TMT® reagents exclusively for
Thermo Fisher Scientific, which will market and sell them worldwide through the
Thermo Scientific Pierce product line.

 

Proteome Sciences expects double-digit growth in the market for isobaric tandem
mass tags and will receive signature fees, contract manufacturing payments and
royalties on sales with  additional sales milestones from the license. 

 

Isobaric tandem mass tags are used in scientific research, diagnostics and
pharmaceutical development for biomarker discovery, validation and assay
development. They also represent an important step forward in analysis of
proteins by mass spectrometry.

 

The earliest TMT® patents extend to 2021, and the license agreement enables
Thermo Fisher Scientific to provide third-party commercial licenses for use of
any type of isobaric tandem mass tags. In addition, Proteome Sciences retains
the use of TMT® for its own research as well as custom labeling and assay
development for its customers using TMTcalibrator and TMT®Reference Materials
under its ProteoSHOP® services division.

 

"We are delighted to have secured the global license for the TMT® reagents and
the strong patent position it has covering the field of isobaric tandem mass
tagging," said Ian Jardine, vice president of global research and development
for Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Researchers will continue to demand new
analytical tools that push the boundaries of performance for their proteomics
applications, and this agreement responds to our customers' evolving needs. We
intend to have TMT® products available in the market during the second quarter
of the year, fully supported by our strong sales and marketing organization."

 

Christopher Pearce, CEO of Proteome Sciences commented, "Thermo Fisher is the
ideal partner for us for our TMT® reagents. Not only do they have outstanding
marketing and sales coverage in the life-sciences reagents market through its
Pierce product line, but Thermo Fisher is a global leader in the development
and application of mass spectrometry. This combination provides the ability to
more closely link future development of TMT® technology to customer
requirements and deliver new applications in combination with next-generation
mass spectrometry for fast, cost-effective workflows and solutions in biomarker
discovery, validation and assay development.  By relying on Thermo Fisher's
comprehensive sales channels for volume catalog products, Proteome Sciences can
focus on custom labeling services and products. We see considerable demand for
these services and anticipate that they will generate substantial and rapidly
growing revenues using TMTcalibrator and TMT®Reference Materials available
through our ProteoSHOP® services division. The agreement with Thermo Fisher
provides Proteome Sciences with a strong cash flow, which transforms the
prospects for our company with sustainable, rising revenue from all areas of
our activities."

                                                                               

                                     Ends                                      


About Proteome Sciences:

Proteome Sciences plc (LSE : PRM) is a global leader in applied proteomics,
using high sensitivity proprietary techniques to detect and characterise
differentially expressed proteins in diseases for diagnostic, prognostic and
therapeutic applications.

 

ProteoSHOP® provides integrated proteomic services for biomarker discovery,
validation and measurement in clinical trials and in vitro diagnostics.  Key
features include the proprietary isobaric tandem mass tag technology TMT® for
accurate and reliable biomarker quantification and the ability to rapidly
develop highly reproducible quantitative biomarker assays.

 

The main focus of its research addresses neurological, oncology and
cardiovascular conditions and has discovered blood biomarkers in stroke, brain
damage, solid organ transplant rejection and Alzheimer's disease.  Proteome
Sciences is based in Cobham, UK with facilities in London and Frankfurt.

 

Contact Proteome Sciences plc at www.proteomics.com

Christopher Pearce, Chief Executive Officer

James Malthouse, Finance Director

Dr. Ian Pike, Chief Business Officer

Tel: [phone]

 

Adrian Shaw, IKON Associates

Tel: [phone]

 

Matt Baldwin, COAST Communications

Tel: [phone]

 

Nominated Adviser

Landsbanki Securities (UK) Ltd.

Gareth Price / Thilo Hoffman                                     

Tel:          [phone]

 

 

 

About Thermo Fisher Scientific:

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving
science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.
With annual revenues of $10 billion, we have more than 30,000 employees and
serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies,
hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and
government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control
settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and
Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to
complex research and discovery. Thermo Scientific offers customers a complete
range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment,
software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory
workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of
laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare,
scientific research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most
convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our
technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for
customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. Visit 
www.thermofisher.com.

 

 


Notes to editors:

 

What is Isobaric Tandem Mass Tagging (TMT®)?

 

"Tracker" system for proteins

 

Healthy and diseased samples are individually tagged and can then be monitored
simultaneously. Differences in TMT® signals show changes in proteins between
samples.

 

What is a Biomarker?

 

A measurable change in amount of a protein in a sample that correlates with
disease, progression of disease or in response to treatment

 

Why are Biomarkers important?

 

Validated biomarkers are used to diagnose disease, monitor disease progression
and to tailor treatments for disease.

 

 

Advantages of TMT® isobaric tandem mass tags:

 

Highest accuracy biomarker quantitation

Detection and assay of biomarkers not possible by standard methods, e.g.
immunoassay

Fastest and most efficient biomarker assay development - weeks rather than
years

Single platform from biomarker discovery through validation to clinical
application

Fast, flexible and cost-effective workflows