AMERSHAM INTERNATIONAL AND MOLECULAR DYNAMICS JOIN GENE SCREEN AS MAJOR INVESTORS IN VISIBLE GENETICS INC.

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 1995--Visible Genetics Inc., "VGI" a privately-held Toronto-based company has announced that it has signed a Heads of Terms for a comprehensive investment and marketing agreement with Amersham International plc, a British health sciences company, and Molecular Dynamics (MD) a California-based molecular instrumentation company. Under the terms of the agreement, Amersham and MD will jointly invest US$5 million in VGI to receive 14 percent of the shares of VGI, and receive warrants to invest a further US$5 million for another 14 percent over the next two years. Prior to this transaction, Gene Screen Inc., "Gene Screen", had an approximate 40 percent interest in VGI which interest will be reduced to an approximate 34 percent interest after the first US$5 million investment.

Amersham and MD will have the exclusive right to sell VGI's DNA sequencer, microgels and other products to the research market as an extension of the Vistra DNA product range. VGI will receive a royalty for these sales and retains the rights to sell its own products to the diagnostic and clinical markets. The agreement also provides VGI with rights to sell all Amersham reagents necessary for DNA sequencing and analysis in the diagnostic market. These include Thermo Sequanase (see the Wall Street Journal, July 5, 1995), as well as CyDye fluorescent labels and other labels and enzymes. These reagents will allow VGI to market gene-specific kits with its high-speed diagnostic DNA sequencer, disposable microgels, and assay-based software.

This alliance could have a significant positive impact on the revenues of VGI over the next five years. Mr. Ron Long, the Commercial Director of Amersham has agreed to join the VGI Board of Directors.

With the addition of reagents and gene kits to the VGI product line, VGI is in the unique position of providing diagnostic and clinical customers with full solutions for important diagnostic genes. This new partnership and agreement makes VGI one of the first examples of a fully integrated biosystems company that meets the needs of the expanding clinical marketplace for diagnostic molecular systems and solutions.

Gene Screen's shares are quoted for trading on the Canadian Dealing Network (CDN) under the symbol "GEAN".

CONTACT: Sheldon Inwentash, 416/941-1070