Beijing, CHINA and Madrid, SPAIN, November 30, 2006 -- CapitalBio Corporation, a leading total healthcare solutions provider based in Beijing, China and Biotools B&M Labs, S.A., a leader in real time assays announced today that the two companies have entered into a partnership, through which CaptialBio´s proprietary microarray platform will be introduced to the European market. The companies also intend to pursue further collaborations on joint development and commercialization of advanced molecular biology reagents and tools in China to leverage CapitalBio´s R&D and engineering capabilities.
Under the Agreement, Biotools will adopt CapitalBio´s proprietary microarray platform, including CapitalBio® LuxScan™ 10K-A, CapitalBio® SmartArrayer™ 48, CapitalBio® BioMixer™ II, and CapitalBio´s SpotData™ Analysis Software and introduce the platform to Spanish market. This partnership will allow Biotools to develop various applications, including microarray-based HLA genotyping, based on and compatible with CapitalBio´s platform. CapitalBio will provide technical training to Biotools´ technical specialists and necessary commercial support for Biotools´ marketing efforts.
Biotools B&M Labs will provide CapitalBio with its innovative Real Time technology ( LIONPROBES™ ), the Gelification platform and its Recombinant Enzymes, to codevelop and manufacture kits and reagents for the Chinese life science, healthcare and Agfood markets.
"It is gratifying to launch our microarray platform in Spanish market through a partnership with Biotools," commented David Sun, Senior Vice President of Corporate Business Development and Marketing of CapitalBio, "At CapitalBio, we have been committed to providing the whole microarray system and total solution to our clients worldwide. Launching our proprietary system in a developed and highly competitive market such as Europe demonstrates that CapitalBio can compete as a global player in the life science arena."
"CapitalBio is a globally recognized innovative developer of life sciences and healthcare technologies and products with a first-rate R&D capability," said Pedro Franco de Sarabia, CEO and President of Biotools, "We believe CapitalBio´s world-class proprietary microarray platform will have significant market demands in the European market. Introducing the platform to Spain and potentially other European markets will enable us to gain a first-mover advantage in terms of applying microarray technologies in various healthcare and pharmacogenomics areas. We are very glad to enter a partnership with CapitalBio, and see a very exciting and potential future in this field. "
CaptialBio and Biotools also intend to collaborate on joint development and commercialization of certain other advanced molecular biology reagents in China to complement CapitalBio´s Instrumentation. Through the collaboration, the two companies will offer robust and easy to use high quality research and diagnostic reagent kits.
About CapitalBio
CapitaBio is a leading total healthcare solution provider that develops and commercializes a broad range of products, including Biochip technology products, for drug discovery research, genomics, proteomics, bio-safety testing and clinical applications. Headquartered in Beijing, China, CapitalBio has rapidly evolved from a young innovative biochip developer into a comprehensive healthcare provider with four affiliates or subsidiaries: AVIVA Biosciences, a San Diego, California based company that develops and markets on-chip patch-clamp technologies for ion-channel studies for drug discovery researches; Chipscreen Biosciences, a Biotech company located in Shenzhen, China, for small molecular drug discovery and development; CapitalBio International, a fully owned subsidiary located in San Diego, California and another fully owned subsidiary CapitalBio Hong Kong. Additional information on CapitalBio can be found at www.capitalbio.com.
About Biotools
Biotools is a leading Spanish biotech company with its main focus in Real Time DNA amplification applications in R&D, biomedical and Agfood diagnostics. Biotools is committed to providing innovative high quality solutions at low cost to the Life Sciences and Biomedical community. Biotools has been collaborating with numerous companies and research centers worldwide. Among Biotools´ most important achievement is the development of an alternative technology for Real Time PCR ( LIONPROBES™ ) with high potential in diagnostics and pharmacogenomics. Biotools´ technology allows itself and its partners the ability to use more economical but high quality reagents without paying expensive licensing fees. Furthermore, based on its GELIFICATION technology, the producer of One Step Real Time Diagnostic Kit will provide clinicians and hospitals with a fast, easy to use and more stable format. Biotools has facilities in Spain and Brazil. Additional information on Biotools can be found at www.biotools.net.