Agilent Technologies and Paradigm Genetics Sign Licensing Agreement For DNA Microarray Systems.

Health/Medical Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif. & RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BW

HealthWire)--Oct. 11, 2000--

Agreement to Further Paradigm's Gene Function Research

into Human Health and Crop Production Applications

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today announced it has signed a technology access program (TAP) agreement with Paradigm Genetics Inc. (Nasdaq:PDGM) in order to grant Paradigm early access to Agilent's customizable microarray technology to supplement Paradigm's gene function research.

The licensing agreement includes a second-generation microarray scanner, probe design service and a supply of customized in-situ synthesized microarrays that will be useful to the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, as well as academic researchers. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

"As a leading provider of customized microarray solutions, consulting services, informatics software and tools for gene expression analysis, Agilent is well placed to help researchers identify key pathways associated with human diseases or biologies," said Bill Buffington, vice president of Agilent's Life Sciences Business Unit. "Agilent's tools allow researchers to do rapid, iterative, hypothesis-driven gene expression research by first allowing them to determine their research goals and then having custom-designed microarrays developed by Agilent. These tools can be delivered within days."

"Paradigm strives to employ the best technologies to discover gene function. Our aim is to integrate these technologies into our industrialized gene function discovery process," said John Hamer, Ph.D., Paradigm's vice president of Research and Development. "Paradigm evaluated many gene expression profile technologies before selecting Agilent's. With this technology we will be able to quickly and cost-effectively design new arrays that can provide high-quality data."

Agilent Technologies in Gene Expression

Agilent Technologies is a leading provider of solutions, including consulting services, informatics software and tools for gene expression analysis, a fast-growing field of study that allows researchers to identify key gene transcriptional regulatory events or pathways associated with diseases or biologies. Researchers can do rapid, iterative, hypothesis-driven gene expression research by first determining their research goals and then having custom-designed microarrays developed by Agilent to be delivered within days. Agilent is also a leading original equipment manufacturer of high-quality bioanalyzers and microarray scanners. Agilent supports the collaborative research efforts by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and others to analyze genome-wide patterns of mRNA expression, and is actively driving open data standards for gene expression research in alliance with Rosetta Inpharmatics Inc.

About Paradigm Genetics

Paradigm Genetics is industrializing the process of gene function discovery for four major sectors of the global economy: human health, nutrition, crop production, and industrial products. The company has designed the GeneFunction Factory(TM) -- an integrated, rapid, industrial-scale laboratory through which it discovers gene function. Paradigm and its strategic partners intend to develop novel products using information developed with the GeneFunction Factory(TM). Paradigm's GeneFunction Factory(TM) is based on a state of the art phenomics platform integrated with metabolic profiling and gene expression profiling technologies. The backbone of the GeneFunction Factory(TM) is the company's proprietary FunctionFinder(TM) bioinformatics system, used to collect, store, analyze, and retrieve information. For more information visit www.paragen.com.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a diversified technology company with approximately 46,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. In fiscal year 1999, Agilent had net revenue of more than $8.3 billion. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare.

Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Paradigm's ability to successfully develop its GeneFunction Factory(TM) and other technologies; Paradigm's ability to industrialize the process of gene function discovery for four major sectors of the global economy: human health, nutrition, crop production, and industrial products; Paradigm's ability to develop and derive revenues from products using its technology; as well as Paradigm's ability to successfully utilize Agilent's technology. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, factors and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, Paradigm's early stage of development, history of net losses, technological and product development uncertainties, reliance on research collaborations, uncertainty of additional funding, uncertainties regarding the use of new technologies, and Paradigm's ability to protect its patents and proprietary rights. These and other risks are identified in Paradigm's report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.