BioServe and Seegene today announced a partnership to develop, validate and service new test systems for a variety of infectious diseases in the Indian market.

Through this partnership, Seegene will access BioServe's large repository of Indian DNA samples to collaborate on developing test systems for a wide range of infectious illnesses, such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), Tuberculosis (TB) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (1 & 2). Under the terms of the agreement, BioServe will offer diagnostic testing services using Seegene's Seeplex™ STD detection system for Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV). All of the test systems are based on Seegene's novel DPO™ technology, the first DNA amplification method able to simultaneously and accurately detect multiple pathogens in a single test.

The infectious disease detection systems that BioServe and Seegene will develop for the Indian market have the potential to play a key role in the early detection of multiple pathogens ravaging the Indian population. India is experiencing rapid socio-economic progress and development, yet the country's population suffers from a high prevalence of infectious disease. For example, according to World Health Organization statistics, India reports approximately 1.8 million of new cases of TB each year. In 2006, outbreaks of infectious diseases like dengue and chikungunya claimed lives approaching epidemic proportions. There are over 5.1 million Indians currently HIV-infected; South Africa is the only nation with more HIV-positive citizens.

"In a country where approximately 400,000 people die of TB each year, and more than 5,000 develop the disease each day, early detection and treatment are absolutely critical for the long-term health of the Indian nation," said Kevin Krenitsky, BioServe's Chief Executive Officer. "The combination of BioServe's deep molecular diagnostics and genomics expertise and Seegene's unique multiple pathogen test technology will result in important new tests in the fight against the spread of Indian epidemics."

"Our Seeplex system enables front line healthcare workers to accurately test for a number of pathogens in a single test, fundamentally altering the speed and economics of disease detection," said Jong-Yoon Chun, Seegene's Chief Executive Officer. "Seegene is currently working with various international health organizations and major commercial reference laboratories in many different countries. BioServe's large presence in India, featuring a state-of-the-art genomics facility, and molecular diagnostic experience is the strategic partner Seegene needs to further develop, validate and service new infectious disease test systems for the Indian market."

About BioServe

BioServe provides a comprehensive 'biomaterial to validated data' genomics services platform, helping researchers gain the pre-clinical data for breakthroughs in drug discovery, molecular diagnostics and pharmacogenomics. Utilizing BioServe's genomics services platform, researchers can identify genetic markers, validate drug targets that cause disease and correlate clinical data with molecular data to accelerate the development of new and safer drugs. BioServe's services extend from nucleic acids processing, DNA synthesis, high throughput sequencing and genotyping, genome wide-scans and gene expression analyses to ready-made large epidemiologically sound case-control studies of inflammatory disorders, endocrine disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and many cancers. BioServe's Global Repository® provides researchers with a library of 600,000 human DNA, tissue and serum samples linked to detailed clinical and demographic data from 140,000 consented and anonymized patients from four continents. BioServe's customers include leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and government and academic research institutions. BioServe has headquarters in Beltsville, MD and Hyderabad, India. For more information please visit www.bioserve.com or call 301-470-3362.

About Seegene

Seegene, Inc. is a biotechnology company specialized in molecular diagnostics and research applications. It holds a novel detection platform named "Seeplex," which sets a standard in high-throughput and simultaneous multi-pathogen detection called "multiplexing" in the molecular diagnostics market. Seeplex technology accurately detects multi-pathogens with high-throughput speed, ultimately providing the most economical basis for saving time, labor and cost. Seegene develops, manufactures and markets innovative molecular diagnostic products and services to a worldwide community. The company has more than 30 distributors in 25 countries, including 2 subsidiary offices in the US and India. Its mission is to maintain leadership in molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases, genetics, pharmacogenetics, and oncology, and chromosomal analyses using innovative proprietary technologies. For more information please visit www.seegene.com or call 82 2 2240 4008.