CIPH Ciphergen Biosystems (MM)

Ciphergen Names Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Corporate Development FREMONT, Calif., March 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CIPH) announced today that James P. Merryweather, Ph.D. has joined Ciphergen as Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Corporate Development. In his new position, Dr. Merryweather will manage Ciphergen's relationships with key pharmaceutical clients based on use of Ciphergen's ProteinChip technology and collaborative services provided through Ciphergen's Biomarker Discovery Center(R) laboratory in Malvern, Pennsylvania and manage pharmaceutical biomarker collaborations. "We are pleased that Jim is joining Ciphergen to provide critical pharmaceutical drug discovery and development expertise," stated William E. Rich, Ciphergen's President and CEO. "He will apply seasoned management skills to our efforts to adapt our technology and collaborations more broadly within the pharmaceutical industry, which is increasingly incorporating biomarkers in their drug discovery and development programs." Dr. Merryweather has spent over 20 years in the biotechnology industry in senior positions in Research and Development, Program Management and Business Development. Prior to joining Ciphergen, he spent five years at Incyte Corporation, most recently as Executive Vice President of Business Development & Commercial Operations. Prior to joining Incyte, Dr. Merryweather was at Millennium Pharmaceuticals as Vice President, Program Management. Prior to joining Millennium, he spent 15 years at Chiron Corporation in a variety of roles ranging from Senior Scientist to Director of Project Management. Dr. Merryweather graduated with a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Northern Illinois University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Washington State University. About Ciphergen 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. 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. 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 the use of ProteinChip technology to discover useful protein biomarkers, develop and commercialize clinical diagnostics that improve patient care, the ability to provide services that lead to improved toxicology assays and diagnostic assays, 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 ProteinChip technology's ability to validate and/or develop protein biomarkers as 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 the 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/

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