CIPH Ciphergen Biosystems (MM)

Ciphergen Announces Services Alliance with GE Medical Systems In China FREMONT, Calif., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. announced today that it has appointed GE Medical Systems Trade and Development Co., Ltd. as its exclusive post-sale services partner for ProteinChip(R) Systems to hospitals in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Ciphergen and GE Medical Systems have been working together in China on an informal basis over the last year and have now established a formal, multi-year services agreement. Financial and other terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "GE Medical Systems has a major presence and stellar reputation in China, and therefore we are delighted to have them as our services partner in China," commented William E. Rich, President and CEO of Ciphergen. "China is investing heavily in leading edge biotechnology research and we hope to jointly play a significant role in fostering the adoption of our ProteinChip products as research and diagnostic platforms in this important market." About Ciphergen Ciphergen develops, manufactures and markets a family of ProteinChip(R) Systems and services for clinical, research and process proteomics applications, as well as a broad range of bioseparations media for protein purification through its BioSepra process chromatography division. ProteinChip Systems and Biomarker Discovery Center(R) collaborative services enable protein discovery, profiling, characterization and assay development to provide researchers with predictive analysis capabilities and a better understanding of biological functions at the protein level. ProteinChip Systems are enabling tools in the emerging field of protein-based biology research, known as proteomics. Proteomics provides a direct approach to understanding the role of proteins in the biology of disease, monitoring disease progression and evaluating the therapeutic effects and side effects of drugs. Ciphergen believes proteomics will be a major focus of biological research by enhancing the understanding of gene function and the molecular basis of disease. Additional information about Ciphergen can be found at http://www.ciphergen.com/. About GE Medical Systems GE Medical Systems is a $10 billion global leader in medical imaging, interventional procedures, healthcare services, and information technology. Its offerings include networking and productivity tools, clinical information systems, patient monitoring systems, surgery and vascular imaging, conventional and digital X-ray, computed tomography, electron beam tomography, magnetic resonance, ultrasound and bone mineral densitometry, positron emission tomography, nuclear medicine, and a comprehensive portfolio of clinical and business services. For more than 100 years, health care providers worldwide have relied on GE Medical Systems for high quality medical technology and productivity solutions. For more information, visit the GE Medical Systems Web site at http://www.gemedical.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 investment in biotech research in China, the use of ProteinChip technology to discover useful biomarkers and panels of biomarkers that can be used for diagnostic purposes, and future growth in the field of proteomics. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements due to various factors, including levels of funding for future investment in medical research in China, the ProteinChip technology's ability to discover protein biomarkers and panels of biomarkers that can be developed into useful diagnostics and the continued emergence of proteomics as a major focus of biological research and drug discovery. Investors should consult Ciphergen's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-Q dated November 14, 2003 for further information regarding these and the other risks of the Company's business. NOTE: Ciphergen, ProteinChip, Biomarker Discovery Center and BioSepra 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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