AmeriPath and Genomics Collaborative to Develop Genomics-Based Diagnostics.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2001

AmeriPath, Inc. (Nasdaq:PATH) and Genomics Collaborative, Inc. (GCI) announced today an expansion of their genomics alliance. To further leverage Genomics Collaborative's discovery capabilities and AmeriPath's expertise in diagnostics, GCI has granted AmeriPath an option to license select molecular markers for diagnostic applications. The first option has been exercised and relates to a diagnostic marker useful in the prognosis of breast cancer. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Under the three-year option agreement, AmeriPath will have an option to license select molecular markers generated by GCI. AmeriPath will then conduct further research, if necessary, and these markers will be developed into diagnostic assays and commercialized by AmeriPath through their network of physicians, hospitals, national clinical laboratories, and managed care organizations. This work will be performed at AmeriPath's Center for Advanced Diagnostics (CAD) using CAD's advanced molecular and cancer diagnostic technologies and its team of highly specialized physicians and doctorate-level scientists.

"For generating enhanced potential commercial applications and for providing our customers with the best technology and medicine, it is critical to start with diagnostic and prognostic markers that are representative of diverse ethnic and geographic patient populations, not markers that have been based simply on findings in one homogeneous population. GCI's approach helps us meet this requirement," said Dennis M. Smith, Jr., M.D., Senior Vice President and Medical Director for AmeriPath. "Developing these and future markers into diagnostic and prognostic tests will generate revenue in the years to come through direct sales and marketing efforts to healthcare providers and through sub-licensing agreements."

"This agreement allows GCI to continue to focus on our functional genomics discovery platform," said Michael Pellini, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genomics Collaborative. "We have always believed that our relationship with AmeriPath will inevitably lead to a more rapid development of new diagnostic tests and therapies, and we are taking steps to show that we are uniquely positioned to pursue these opportunities."

AmeriPath is a leading national provider of cancer diagnostics, genomics, and related information services. In 2000, AmeriPath diagnosed three million tissue biopsies, interpreted 2.5 million Pap smears, and performed over one million specialized cancer diagnostic tests. The Company's extensive diagnostics infrastructure includes 425 pathologists and doctorate-level scientists, 42 independent pathology laboratories, the Center for Advanced Diagnostics (CAD), and Dermpath Diagnostics. Additionally, AmeriPath provides clinical trial and research and development support to firms involved in developing new cancer and proteomic-based diagnostics. CAD itself provides specialized diagnostic testing and information services including Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (FISH), Flow Cytometry, DNA Analysis, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Molecular Genetics, Cytogenetics, and HPV Typing. Dermpath Diagnostics, with 67 board-certified dermatopathologists, is the country's leading provider of Dermatopathology services in the growing skin diagnostic testing market.

Genomics Collaborative, Inc. is a functional genomics company with a comprehensive, clinical approach to discovery. The Company's scientific strategy is to utilize its LARGE SCALE GLOBAL GENOMICS(TM) Platform in exploiting the power of genetic associations studies, and complementary expression and proteomics efforts. These multidimensional studies are designed to detect subtle associations between genetic variation and disease incidence, severity or treatment, and to link the putative association to a functional analysis. Such analysis is dependent upon the availability of extremely large numbers of well-characterized, globally representative patient samples and the tools with which to analyze their molecular information. GCI intends to conduct these studies and apply any resulting discoveries to the development of high value pharmaceutical products pursuant to collaborations with pharmaceutical, biotechnology and genomics companies, and on its own.

The statements contained in this press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. In addition, forward-looking statements - which are identified by words such as "may," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate" and similar expressions - as well as any financial and operating estimates, forecasts and/or projections, are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances which are beyond the Company's ability to control. These factors, risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those expected, estimated or anticipated. These include factors, risks and uncertainties relating to general economic conditions; competition and changes in competitive factors; the extent of success of the Company's operating initiatives and growth strategies, federal and state healthcare regulation (and compliance); reimbursement rates under government-sponsored and third party healthcare programs and the payments received under such programs; changes in coding; changes in technology; dependence upon pathologists and contracts; the ability to attract, motivate, and retain pathologists; labor and technology costs; marketing and promotional efforts; the availability of pathology practices in appropriate locations that the Company is able to acquire on suitable terms or develop; the successful completion and integration of acquisitions (and achievement of planned or expected synergies); access to sufficient amounts of capital on satisfactory terms; and tax laws. The forward looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such statements, whether as result of new developments, new information or otherwise. Further information regarding risks, uncertainties and other factors that could affect the Company's financial or operating results, or which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected, estimated or anticipated, are included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 and subsequent filings with the SEC.

Editor's Note: This release is also available at http://www.ameripath.com