Monogram Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: MGRM) announced today that its collaborator Pfizer, Inc. (NYSE: PFE) has separately announced results from phase III clinical trials of maraviroc. Monogram's co-receptor tropism assay, Trofile(TM), was used for patient selection for maraviroc's clinical development program, and the two companies are engaged in a collaboration agreement to make Monogram's assay available for patient use on a global basis.

Pfizer presented pivotal data of its experimental medicine, maraviroc, which tackles HIV in an entirely new way. Pfizer reported that this data indicated a significant reduction in viral load. A 24 week analysis showed that approximately twice as many patients receiving maraviroc with an optimized background regimen achieved undetectable virus in the blood than if an optimized regimen was given alone. Pfizer also noted that the new data, presented at the 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), supports the previously announced accelerated U.S. and European regulatory review of maraviroc as a treatment for patients infected with HIV that is "CCR5 tropic." In addition, Pfizer reported that patients receiving maraviroc and an optimized regimen saw an increase in CD4 cells nearly twice that seen in those receiving optimized regimen alone. Adverse events in the group receiving maraviroc plus an optimized regimen were similar to those receiving an optimized regimen alone when adjusted for duration of exposure.

Maraviroc is designed to work differently from other available HIV medications. CCR5 antagonists block the virus from gaining access into healthy cells via the CCR5 co-receptor, a common pathway for viral entry. Monogram's Trofile co-receptor tropism assay identifies whether individual strains of HIV use the CCR5 co-receptor, the CXCR4 co-receptor or both co- receptors to infect healthy cells. This helps clinicians determine whether a CCR5 antagonist like maraviroc may be a good therapeutic option for treating individual patients. Maraviroc is currently under accelerated review with U.S., Canadian and European regulatory authorities, and if approved, would be the first new oral class of HIV medicines in more than a decade.

Maraviroc and other entry inhibitors currently in development come at a time when increasing drug resistance makes treating HIV more difficult than ever. Highly sensitive and precise diagnostic tools are playing an ever more important role in the development of new therapeutic approaches that give new hope to physicians and patients with few remaining options.

About Monogram Biosciences, Inc.

Monogram is advancing individualized medicine by discovering, developing and marketing innovative products to guide and improve treatment of serious infectious diseases and cancer. The Company's products are designed to help doctors optimize treatment regimens for their patients that lead to better outcomes and reduced costs. The Company's technology is also being used by numerous biopharmaceutical companies to develop new and improved antiviral therapeutics and vaccines as well as targeted cancer therapeutics. More information about the Company and its technology can be found on its web site at http://www.monogrambio.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include references to the potential for an HIV drug that requires a molecular diagnostic for patient selection, expected protection provided by patents, and activities expected to occur in connection with the Pfizer collaboration. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that regulatory authorities may not require or recommend a molecular diagnostic for patient selection for an HIV drug, risks related to the implementation of the collaboration with Pfizer; risks related to our ability to recognize revenue from activities under the collaboration with Pfizer; risks and uncertainties relating to the performance of our products; the growth in revenues; the size, timing and success or failure of any clinical trials for CCR5 inhibitors, entry inhibitors or integrase inhibitors; the use of our Trofile co-receptor tropism assay for patient use in the event of approval of any CCR5 inhibitors; our ability to establish reliable, high-volume operations at commercially reasonable costs; expected reliance on a few customers for the majority of our revenues; the annual renewal of certain customer agreements; actual market acceptance of our products and adoption of our technological approach and products by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; our estimate of the size of our markets; our estimates of the levels of demand for our products; the impact of competition; whether payors will authorize reimbursement for our products and services; whether the FDA or any other agency will decide to further regulate our products or services, whether the draft guidance on Multivariate Index Assays recently issued by FDA applies to our current or planned products; whether we will encounter problems or delays in automating our processes; the ultimate validity and enforceability of our patent applications and patents; the possible infringement of the intellectual property of others; whether licenses to third party technology will be available; whether we are able to build brand loyalty and expand revenues; restrictions on the conduct of our business imposed by the Pfizer and Merrill Lynch debt agreements; and whether we will be able to raise sufficient capital in the future, if required. For a discussion of other factors that may cause actual events to differ from those projected, please refer to our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation, to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Monogram Biosciences, Inc.
http://www.monogrambio.com