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Chemicon International, Inc. Enters into a License to Commercialize Research Products Utilizing Human Embryonic Stem Cell Technology From Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)

Posted on: Monday, 25 July 2005, 18:01 CDT

Serologicals Corporation (NASDAQ: SERO) announced today that Chemicon International, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary based in Temecula, CA, and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) have signed a license to commercialize research products derived from patented human embryonic stem (ES) cell technology. Chemicon is the first broad commercial collaborator to enter into such a licensing agreement with WARF, allowing it to develop and provide researchers worldwide access to a wide variety of proprietary human ES cell products.

Chemicon acquires non-exclusive rights to WARF's complete patent portfolio of stem cell technologies, including patents invented by Dr. James Thomson, in order to facilitate and accelerate human embryonic stem cells research. These seminal patents cover several widely used and referenced human ES cell lines and procedures for their culture, propagation, differentiation and storage. The license covers a broad range of technologies that will make it easier, quicker and cheaper for scientists to conduct human embryonic stem cell research.

With access to WARF's vast leading-edge stem cell technologies, Chemicon further expands its leading position as a stem cell research tool provider. The WARF patents will enhance Chemicon's current proprietary rights to ES cell reagents, including: Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), the Specialty Media(TM) line of media, supplements, and cell lines, and ES Cell markers.

"Chemicon is proud to be aligned with WARF and to make a commitment to supplying critical research tools and solutions to the worldwide human ES cell research community," said Jeffrey D. Linton, President of Chemicon. "The new products that will be developed out of this agreement will greatly enhance and propel growth of our portfolio of innovative tools for stem cell research. We believe our license with WARF and subsequent introduction of stem cell products will accelerate discovery in a field expected to be central to future medical breakthroughs, which could ultimately save the lives of individuals with tissue degenerative diseases," stated Mr. Linton.

"Serologicals is committed to partnering with scientists at leading academic, biotech industrial and government institutions worldwide to supply the research tools and services they require to achieve their promising breakthroughs in all areas of medicine including stem cell-derived therapies," said David Dodd, President and CEO of Serologicals Corporation. "It is our business model and commitment to support all areas of science and this agreement allows us to fulfill that mission in the area of human stem cell research."

"This license contributes to WARF's mission by promoting the development of commercial products using technology discovered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the benefit of the University, Chemicon, and humankind. This agreement demonstrates how seriously we take our responsibility in making this exciting discovery available to a wide variety of non-profit and for-profit entities that will work to identify and develop treatments and cures for the world's most devastating diseases," said Carl Gulbrandsen, managing director of WARF.

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.

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.

Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation exists to support world class research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The mission is accomplished by protecting the intellectual property of University faculty, staff and students, and by licensing inventions resulting from their work. Through the licensing efforts university ideas benefit the public by bringing resources back to the University to continue the cycle of investment, research and invention. WARF was the first university technology transfer office in the United States established in 1925.

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" or 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. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the value of the licensed research tools and the utility of the licensed research tools to researchers. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, since the statements speak only as of the date that they are made, and the Company 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 Investment Company.

Source: Business Wire

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