CIPH Ciphergen Biosystems (MM)

Ciphergen Signs Collaboration Agreement with The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to further the Discovery, Validation, and Characterization of Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers Research and License Agreement Provides Structure for Additional Future Cancer Projects FREMONT, Calif., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ciphergen Diagnostics, a division of Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CIPH), announced today that it has signed a research and license agreement with The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to utilize Ciphergen's ProteinChip System and associated bioinformatics suites to further their ongoing research in ovarian cancer. M. D. Anderson is a major referral center for patients with ovarian cancer and is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. "This agreement allows us to further our collaborative efforts with leading ovarian cancer researchers to refine biomarkers to be used in an ovarian cancer diagnostic test. Last year's landmark publication in Cancer Research was the first in what we hope will be a series of publications describing the utility of these biomarkers. Dr. Bast, a world authority on ovarian cancer, was a key contributor to that publication and we are very pleased that he will continue his work with Ciphergen," stated Gail Page, President of Ciphergen's Diagnostics Division. Under the terms of the agreement, Ciphergen will analyze clinical samples provided by M. D. Anderson for ovarian cancer using its Deep Proteome(TM) and Pattern Track(TM) suite of proteomics tools designed for biomarker discovery and development of assays using Ciphergen's ProteinChip System. Ciphergen has exclusive rights to license discoveries made during the course of this collaboration. This work will address multiple clinical questions, including validation of markers described in the Cancer Research article, as well as discovery of markers that distinguish ovarian cancer from other gynecologic masses and prediction of treatment response. Research workplans and licensing rights beyond ovarian cancer can be added to the basic research and license agreement by mutual consent of Ciphergen and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. "We are pleased to be working with Ciphergen Diagnostics to discover and characterize markers for ovarian cancer diagnostics," commented Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr., Vice President of Translational Research at M. D. Anderson. "We hope that by combining Ciphergen's expertise in the biomarker discovery to diagnostic assay process with our clinical resources and expertise, we will be able to accelerate the development of new diagnostic approaches to ovarian cancer." About Ciphergen Ciphergen's Diagnostics Division is dedicated to the discovery of protein biomarkers and panels of biomarkers and their development into protein molecular diagnostic tests that improve patient care; and to providing collaborative R&D services through its Biomarker Discovery Center(R) laboratories for biomarker discovery for new diagnostic tests as well as pharmacoproteomic services for improved drug toxicology, efficacy and theranostic assays. Ciphergen's Biosystems Division develops, manufactures and markets a family of ProteinChip(R) Systems and services for clinical, research, and process proteomics applications. ProteinChip Systems enable protein discovery, characterization, identification and assay development to provide researchers with predictive, multi-marker assay capabilities and a better understanding of biological function at the protein level. Additional information about Ciphergen can be found at http://www.ciphergen.com/. Safe Harbor Statement Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: For purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"), Ciphergen disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and claims the protection of the Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Act. Examples of such forward-looking statements include statements regarding future publications describing the utility of ovarian cancer biomarkers, the validation of biomarkers described in Cancer Research and discovery of additional biomarkers, and statements regarding our Diagnostics Division. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements due to various factors, including the possibility that the biomarker assay described in Cancer Research or any other biomarker panel discovered by Ciphergen may fail to validate in larger studies as providing an accurate diagnostic for ovarian cancer, the ProteinChip technology's ability to validate and/or develop protein biomarkers as novel drug targets, diagnostic or toxicology assays, and the Company's ability to successfully commercialize such tests. Investors should consult Ciphergen's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-Q dated November 9, 2004, for further information regarding these and other risks of the Company's business. NOTE: Ciphergen, ProteinChip, and Biomarker Discovery Center are registered trademarks of Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. DATASOURCE: Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. CONTACT: Sue Carruthers, Investor Relations of Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc., +1-510-505 2297 Web site: http://www.ciphergen.com/

Copyright