CIPH Ciphergen Biosystems (MM)

Ciphergen Names Vice President of Diagnostic Operations FREMONT, Calif., March 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. announced today that William Sullivan has joined Ciphergen as Vice President, Diagnostics Operations, in its newlyformed Diagnostics Division. In his new position, Mr. Sullivan will manage general operations in support of a major clinical diagnostics business initiative by the company to develop and commercialize Protein Molecular Diagnostics, based on the ProteinChip(R) platform. "We are pleased that Bill is joining Ciphergen to provide critical product development and operational expertise as we implement our Protein Molecular Diagnostics commercialization effort," stated Gail S. Page, President of Ciphergen's Diagnostics Division. "He will apply seasoned management skills to our efforts to translate our biomarker discoveries into commercial clinical diagnostics." Bill has spent over 25 years in the diagnostics industry, covering all aspects of clinical laboratory operations and diagnostic manufacturing, including quality systems, product development, technical transfer, customer support and operations management. Prior to joining Ciphergen, he was Vice President of Diagnostic Manufacturing at Visible Genetics, Inc. as they brought the first FDA cleared HIV genotyping product to the market. At Nichols Institute Diagnostics (a division of Quest Diagnostics) he served as Vice President of Operations with major responsibilities for reagent and instrument manufacture, field service and facilities management. Previously he served in management roles at Laboratory Corporation of America and its predecessor Roche Biomedical Laboratories, Geometric Data Company (a subsidiary of SmithKline Beckman) and GenTrak, Inc. Bill spent ten years in technical and management positions in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated with an AB degree from the College of the Holy Cross and subsequently attended graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds certification as a Specialist in Immunology from the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Beginning in 2000, Ciphergen established the first of a series of Biomarker Discovery Centers(R) and established a major collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with the intention of employing Ciphergen technology to discover biomarkers and develop assays based on panels of biomarkers which might have greater predictive power than single marker tests. While Ciphergen is perhaps best noted for its diagnostic efforts in the early detection in cancer, the company also has active discovery programs underway in neurology, cardiovascular and infectious disease, focused on a variety of clinical questions including disease treatment response, monitoring, classification and prognosis. About Ciphergen Ciphergen's Diagnostics Division is dedicated to the discovery of protein biomarkers and panels of biomarkersand 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, as well as a broad range of bioseparations media for protein purification and large scale production. 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 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 14, 2003, for further information regarding these and the other risks of the Company's business. Ciphergen, ProteinChip, BioSepra 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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