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Immunicon Launches EasyCount(TM) System for Automated Cell Counting

Posted on: Wednesday, 6 December 2006, 09:01 CST

Immunicon Corporation (NASDAQ-GM:IMMC) today announced the availability of the EasyCount™ System, a fluorescent microscopy-based imaging system that accurately counts dead and live nucleated cells and automatically calculates cell viability, in a single test. Currently, most cell counting procedures are done manually using a microscope, which is a time-consuming and tedious process. The EasyCount™ System together with the EasyCount™ ViaSure™ Kit automate this routine function, eliminating the variability associated with the subjective interpretation of the manual method. The researcher can perform up to six tests at a time using the EasyCount™ Slide6™ Multi-Well Slide provided with the EasyCount™ ViaSure™ Kit and the instrument reports total and live cell counts and viability calculation in less than one minute per test. Immunicon will target research laboratories and industrial accounts including bioprocessing facilities in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostics sectors, where rapid, accurate cell counting is valued highly by users.

The EasyCount™ System will be introduced at the American Society for Cell Biology 46th Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA December 9-13. Attendees can visit Booth #1631.

The EasyCount™ System is based on Immunicon's rare cell analysis technology that was developed for analysis of circulating tumor cells. Byron Hewett, president and CEO, commented, "The EasyCount™ platform is an important extension of our CellTracks® technology. The EasyCount™ ViaSure™ Kit represents our first core life science research application and we have a robust product pipeline planned for that segment as well as for a menu of in vitro diagnostic assays outside of our cancer business."

About Immunicon Corporation

Immunicon Corporation is developing and commercializing proprietary cell- and molecular-based human diagnostic and life science research products, and is providing certain analytical services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to assist them in developing new therapeutic agents, with an initial focus on cancer disease management. Immunicon has developed platform technologies to identify, count and characterize a small number of rare cells in blood, such as circulating tumor cells and circulating endothelial cells that are important in many diseases and biological processes. Immunicon's products and underlying technology platforms also have application in cancer research and may have applications in other fields of medicine, such as cardiovascular and infectious diseases. For more information, please visit www.immunicon.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are often preceded by words such as "hope,""may,""believe,""anticipate,""plan,""expect,""intend,""assume,""will" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, among others, statements relating to the anticipated clinical utility of Immunicon's products and other statements not of historical fact. Immunicon cautions investors not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release, are based on the current expectations and intent of the management of Immunicon and involve certain factors, such as risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be far different from those suggested by these statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: Immunicon's dependence on Veridex, LLC, a Johnson & Johnson company, in the field of cancer cell analysis; the ability to earn license and milestone payments under Immunicon's agreement with Veridex; Immunicon's capital and financing needs; research and development and clinical trial expenditures; commercialization of product candidates; Immunicon's ability to obtain licenses from third parties to commercialize products; Immunicon's ability to manage its growth; obtaining necessary regulatory approvals; reliance on third party manufacturers and suppliers; reimbursement by third party payors to Immunicon's customers; compliance with applicable manufacturing standards; retaining key personnel; delays in the development of new products or planned improvements to products; effectiveness of products compared to competitors' products; protection of Immunicon's intellectual property; conflicts with third party intellectual property; product liability lawsuits that may be brought against Immunicon; labor, contract or technical difficulties; and competitive pressures in Immunicon's industry. These factors are discussed in more detail in Immunicon's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Immunicon accepts no responsibility for updating the information contained in this press release beyond the published date, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or for modifications made to this document by Internet or wire services.

"CellTracks" is registered trademarks of Immunivest Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Immunicon Corporation. "Immunicon" and the Immunicon Corporation logo are registered trademarks of Immunicon Corporation. "EasyCount,""ViaSure" and "Slide6" are trademarks of Immunivest Corporation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Source: Business Wire

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