Chemicon International, Inc. Expands its Exclusive Agreement for Paten

    Business Editors

    ATLANTA & MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2005--Serologicals Corporation (NASDAQ: SERO) announced today that Chemicon International, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary based in Temecula, CA, has expanded its exclusive worldwide agreement with Amrad Corporation Ltd (ASX: AML, Melbourne, Australia) and The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI, Melbourne, Australia). The new agreement provides Chemicon additional rights to further develop its proprietary embryonic stem cell products, Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) and ESGRO(R) into additional kits and combination products. This new agreement provides an important expansion of the initial license agreement covering LIF patent rights signed by Chemicon, Amrad and WEHI in 1999 to include additional fields of use in non-therapeutic fields.
    The new license affirms Chemicon's exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, sublicense and distribute LIF and LIF based products in the research market worldwide and expands the company's ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize diagnostic products. The new exclusive license also gives Chemicon access to patents and applications that cover LIF production and uses in various biotechnology applications. Through this agreement, Chemicon expands its rights to access Amrad's LIF and embryonic stem cell intellectual property portfolio, which now totals 45 granted and 7 pending patents for both LIF and ESGRO(R) applications. Amrad has retained all other rights under the LIF patents and patent applications for therapeutic applications and associated research activities.
    Chemicon is the exclusive manufacturer of recombinant murine and human LIF and LIF based stem cell culture supplements, such as ESGRO(R) for diagnostic and research applications. LIF products are widely used as tools for the in vitro development, maintenance, and expansion of different stem cell types, including embryonic, neural, and hematopoietic stem cells. Long-term maintenance of mouse and, in many cases, human embryonic stem cells requires specialized media containing recombinant LIF or ESGRO(R).
    "We are pleased to have entered into this new agreement, which will allow us to introduce new, high-profile LIF based products for the stem cell research community," said Jeffrey D. Linton, President of Chemicon International. "The new license is an extension of our strong and successful long-term collaboration with Amrad and WEHI in the development, manufacture and commercialization of recombinant LIF and its improved formulations in non-therapeutic fields."
    "This agreement is further testament to Amrad's continued strategy of focusing on its core capabilities associated with developing therapeutic products that modulate cytokine activity, and out-licensing non-core technologies to partners with the greatest ability to realize their maximum potential. Along with our academic colleagues at the WEHI, where LIF was first discovered, we are delighted to have expanded our agreement with Chemicon on LIF," said Dr. Pete Smith, CEO of Amrad Corporation.

    Chemicon International, Inc. offers a broad range of research products, including specialty reagents, kits, antibodies, and custom products and services, to customers working in the areas of neuroscience, stem cell biology, cancer, and infectious disease research. It is also a leading supplier of monoclonal antibodies, conjugates, antibody blends and molecular-based detection kits for use in diagnostic laboratories. Chemicon focuses on basic and biomedical research, drug discovery, and diagnostics, allowing it to serve thousands of customers worldwide in the academic, clinical, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sectors. Acquired in 2003, Chemicon is a Serologicals company, based in Temecula, CA.
    For more information, please visit our website: www.chemicon.com.

    Amrad (ASX: AML) is a drug discovery and development biotechnology company based in Melbourne, Australia. Amrad's core business is discovering and commercializing therapeutic drugs that modulate the activity of cytokines, with a strong focus on therapeutic antibodies. Amrad's current R&D portfolio includes projects in the therapeutic areas of cancer, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
    More information can be found at www.amrad.com.au.

    Serologicals Corporation (NASDAQ: SERO), headquartered in Atlanta, GA., is a global leader in developing and commercializing consumable biological products, enabling technologies and services in support of biological research, drug discovery, and the bioprocessing of life-enhancing products. Our customers include researchers at major life science companies and leading research institutions involved in key disciplines, such as neurology, oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiology, proteomics, infectious diseases, cell signaling and stem cell research. In addition, Serologicals is the world's leading provider of monoclonal antibodies for the blood typing industry.
    Serologicals employs a total of more than 1,000 people worldwide in three Serologicals' companies: Chemicon International, headquartered in Temecula, CA, Upstate Group, LLC, headquartered in Charlottesville, VA. and Celliance Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, GA.
    For more information, please visit our website: www.serologicals.com.

    This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words or phrases such as "should result," "are expected to," "we anticipate," "we estimate," "we project" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include, among other things, Chemicon's ability to introduce new LIF-based products. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, since the statements speak only as of the date that they are made, and Serologicals undertakes no obligation to update these statements based on events that may occur after the date of this press release.
    Serologicals is a registered trademark of Serologicals Royalty Company.

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CONTACT: Chemicon International, Inc., Temecula Bill Davis, 678-728-2018 or Amrad Corporation Dr. Pete Smith, +61 3 9208 4108

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA GEORGIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL PHARMACEUTICAL BANKING BIOTECHNOLOGY MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Serologicals Corporation

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