CIPH Ciphergen Biosystems (MM)

Top Cancer Researchers Demonstrate Broad Use of Ciphergen's SELDI ProteinChip(R) Technology for Discovery of Biomarkers and Translation to Assays Results From 49 Clinical Research Studies to Be Presented at AACR FREMONT, Calif., March 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. today announced that data from 49 studies involving the use of its proprietary SELDI ProteinChip(R) technology in cancer will be presented during the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 95th annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, March 27-31. Many of these presentations describe new and exciting progress in the discovery of biomarkers and development of multi-biomarker assays that may improve early cancer detection and drug treatment decisions as well as insights into mechanisms of drug resistance and drug pharmacodynamics. Leading scientists from prestigious institutions in the United States, Europe, Japan and China have used SELDI ProteinChip technology to detect cancer at early stages with high accuracy in a broad spectrum of cancers. At this year's AACR conference, 14 of the 49 papers presented describe the use of SELDI ProteinChip technology for early detection of cancer with sensitivities (true positives) ranging from 72-92% and specificities (true negatives) ranging from 83-100%. Highlights of selected papers to be presented at AACR include: Cancer Study Sensitivity Specificity Institution Lung > 90% > 90% National Cancer Institute Prostate 80% 85% Eastern Virginia Medical School & Center for Prostate Disease Research Pancreatic 72-83% 100% University of Pittsburgh Cervical 87% 100% Chinese University of Hong Kong & Harvard Medical School Renal Cell 92% 83% Jena University, Germany It is well accepted in the research community that multiple markers are much more powerful and accurate in diagnosing complex diseases such as cancer than single markers. Ciphergen is strongly advocating the use of multi- biomarker panels in which the identification of the key underlying biomarkers is established. When the biomarker identity is known, information regarding the disease pathway becomes apparent and then the ProteinChip System can be used to search for secondary interactors to those initial biomarkers and to develop assays. A number of the papers presented this year at the AACR conference include identification of the critical protein biomarkers in the multi-biomarker panel. For example, our collaborators at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have discovered and identified protein biomarkers for ovarian cancer on the SELDI platform and are now translating them into quantitative SELDI-based assays. Several studies describing the applications of ProteinChip technology for the discovery of biomarkers for drug treatment and drug resistance are also being presented at the AACR conference by researchers at the INSERM, Institute of Drug Development, Arizona Cancer Centerand two biotechnology companies. SELDI ProteinChip technology was used to discover pharmacodynamic biomarkers of kinase inhibitors, angiogenesis inhibitors and other cancer drugs. In addition, SELDI ProteinChip technology was used to perform proteomicprofiling of tumors that show differential sensitivity to cancer drugs such as docetaxel and paclitaxel. "We are very excited that our customers are making tremendous progress in the discovery and validation of biomarkers for early detection of cancer," said William E. Rich, President and CEO of Ciphergen. "We are pleased to see that several of our collaborators are rapidly translating the biomarkers discovered on the SELDI platform into highly predictive, multi-biomarker assays on that same platform. As a new important developing theme, an increasing number of our customers are also using the SELDI ProteinChip technology to discover biomarkers of cancer drug treatment and cancer drug pharmacodynamics." 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, 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. 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 successfullycommercialize such tests. Investors should consult Ciphergen's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K dated March 15, 2004, for further information regarding these and the other risks of the Company's business. NOTE: 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/

Copyright