GPRO GoPro Inc

- Roka Bioscience to Develop Rapid, Accurate Molecular Tests for Biopharmaceutical Production Processes, Water and Food Testing, and Other Fields - - Transaction Enables Gen-Probe to Focus on Human Diagnostic Opportunities - SAN DIEGO, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gen-Probe Incorporated (NASDAQ:GPRO) announced today that it is spinning off its industrial testing assets into a new, independent company focused on developing rapid, highly accurate molecular assays for biopharmaceutical production, water and food safety testing, and other applications. Gen-Probe initially will own 19.9% of the new company, Roka Bioscience, Inc. Affiliates of leading private equity firms OrbiMed Advisors, TPG (TPG Biotechnology) and New Enterprise Associates have agreed to provide Roka up to $37.2 million in aggregate equity funding to complete development of several industrial assays and Gen-Probe's Closed Unit Dose Assay (CUDA) system, a fully integrated, portable testing instrument that can deliver highly accurate molecular results in approximately one hour. "We believe establishing a highly focused, standalone company is the best way to maximize the considerable long-term potential of our molecular technologies in industrial markets," said Carl Hull, Gen-Probe's president and chief executive officer (CEO). "Our ownership position enables us to participate in Roka's long-term success, while allowing us to concentrate Gen-Probe's internal resources and core competencies on clinical opportunities in infectious disease testing, blood screening, transplant diagnostics and oncology." Eighteen former Gen-Probe employees with expertise in industrial fields have joined Roka, which will begin operating as an independent company immediately. Gen-Probe also will contribute to Roka its CUDA system, other industrial assets, and the right to use certain of its technologies and related know-how in industrial markets. In addition to biopharmaceutical production and water and food safety testing, these markets include veterinary, environmental and bioterrorism testing. Roka also will have rights to develop certain infection control tests for use on the CUDA system. Gen-Probe will receive royalties on any potential Roka product sales, and retain rights to use the CUDA system for clinical applications. In addition, Gen-Probe will provide contract manufacturing and certain other services to Roka on a transitional basis. The spin-off is expected to have no material effect on Gen-Probe's 2009 earnings, as reductions in operating expenses will be offset by lower collaborative research and product revenues. Gen-Probe's industrial testing collaborators, Millipore and GE Water (a division of GE Energy, a business unit of General Electric), have agreed to the transfer of their respective collaborations with Gen-Probe to Roka. Gen-Probe's collaboration with Millipore is focused on developing microbial detection assays to ensure the purity of biopharmaceutical production processes, while the Company is working with GE to develop rapid molecular tests to detect microbial contamination in industrial water. Roka's CEO is Paul G. Thomas, an experienced healthcare executive who recently was chairman, president and CEO of LifeCell Corporation, a regenerative medicine company, before it was sold to Kinetic Concepts, Inc., for $1.8 billion in 2008. During his tenure at LifeCell, annual product revenues increased from $7.2 million in 1998, to $190 million in 2007. "I am excited to have the opportunity to lead a talented group of scientists and engineers who are striving to revolutionize industrial testing markets with high-performance molecular assays and systems," Mr. Thomas said. "We will pursue our shared vision based on a robust technology platform, two top-notch commercial partners, and strong financial backing." About Gen-Probe Gen-Probe Incorporated is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of rapid, accurate and cost-effective nucleic acid tests (NATs) that are used primarily to diagnose human diseases and screen donated human blood. Gen-Probe has more than 25 years of NAT expertise, and received the 2004 National Medal of Technology, America's highest honor for technological innovation, for developing NAT assays for blood screening. Gen-Probe is headquartered in San Diego and employs approximately 1,200 people. For more information, go to http://www.gen-probe.com/. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Any statements in this press release about Gen-Probe's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as believe, will, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan and would. For example, statements concerning new industrial products, customer adoption of these products, and results of future R&D studies are all forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Some of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: (i) the risk that Roka's development of industrial assays and platforms, including the CUDA system, will not be successful; (ii) the risk that these or other new products will not be adopted by customers; (iii) the possibility that the value of Gen-Probe's investment in Roka will decline, potentially resulting in a charge to the Company's earnings; (iv) the risk that Roka and its partners may not be able to compete effectively; (v) the risk that Roka may not be able to maintain its current corporate collaborations and enter into new corporate collaborations or customer contracts; and (vi) the risk that third parties may not distribute Roka's products effectively. The foregoing describes some, but not all, of the factors that could affect our ability to achieve results described in any forward-looking statements. For additional information about risks and uncertainties Gen-Probe faces and a discussion of the Company's financial statements and footnotes, see documents filed with the SEC, including the most recent annual report on Form 10-K and all subsequent periodic reports. We assume no obligation and expressly disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of subsequent events. Contact: Michael Watts Vice president, investor relations and corporate communications 858-410-8673 DATASOURCE: Gen-Probe Incorporated CONTACT: Michael Watts, Vice president, investor relations and corporate communications of Gen-Probe Incorporated, +1-858-410-8673 Web Site: http://www.gen-probe.com/

Copyright