American Biophysics Corp. Awarded Intellectual Property Rights for Lentek `Mosquito Traps'.

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. & ORLANDO, Fla. -- The United States Bankruptcy Court, Middle District Florida, Orlando Division, recently awarded American Biophysics Corporation (ABC), manufacturer of the Mosquito Magnet(R) Advanced Mosquito Defense System(TM) (www.mosquitomagnet.com), all of the intellectual property rights, including all trademark and patent rights, for Orlando, Florida-based Lentek International, Inc.'s (Lentek) carbon dioxide-generating "Mosquito Traps." Lentek filed for bankruptcy on July 11, 2003 and was liquidated by court order on June 17, 2004.

The bankruptcy court ruling in favor of ABC is the result of an investigation ABC initiated with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) against Lentek in November 2003, alleging a violation under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337). ABC accused Lentek of violating its patent rights relating to methods and devices for trapping insects - including its patented Counterflow(TM) and propane combustion technology - by Lentek's manufacture and distribution of their insect trapping devices, known as the Protector Mosquito Trap or the Mosquito Killing Machine.

The ITC Administrative Law Judge issued an order on April 19, 2004, finding Lentek in default for failing to appear and participate in the ITC suit. After the default was entered by the ITC, ABC filed a claim for damages for the alleged patent infringement with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Florida. The bankruptcy judge awarded ABC an administrative claim in the amount of $50,000.00 and ordered the transfer of all of Lentek's patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark registrations, and trademark applications relating to carbon dioxide-generating insect traps (including models MK01 through MK11) to ABC. In addition, the bankruptcy court awarded Lentek's entire existing inventory of carbon dioxide-generating traps to ABC.

Lentek's complete supply of Mosquito Traps, totaling approximately 2,400 traps, was transferred to ABC; the company destroyed the entire stock of traps earlier this month.

"We vigorously defend our intellectual property rights and will pursue any company infringing on our patents and trademarks," said Raymond Iannetta, president and CEO, American Biophysics Corp. "This most recent ruling is evidence that the legal actions we initiate have important consequences to businesses that manufacture or sell products that infringe on our Mosquito Magnet(R) carbon dioxide-based traps."

Previously, ABC successfully asserted its pioneering patents against a number of companies, including Biting Insect Technologies, Inc. and Blue Rhino Corporation, a division of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE: FGP). The latter resulted in a recent ITC consent order against Blue Rhino to stop the importation and sale of its SV1000 model insect traps. ABC is also pursuing litigation against Blue Rhino before the ITC for its newer 2004 model products.

American Biophysics Corp., founded in 1991 and headquartered in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, is a biotechnology company that uses science and innovation to develop and manufacture practical applications for new technologies that address biting insect problems around the world. Ranked America's fastest growing private company by Inc. magazine, ABC is the creator and manufacturer of the Mosquito Magnet(R) product line, the world's original and only scientifically proven Advanced Mosquito Defense System(TM).

The technology behind the Mosquito Magnet(R) insect trap is backed by more than 13 years of research performed in coordination with multiple government agencies. The trap mimics a large mammal's breath by catalytically producing the proper amount of carbon dioxide, heat and humidity from propane gas. The machine then emits a warm, moist carbon dioxide plume, which attracts the blood-seeking insects. As they approach the source, they are vacuumed into the machine's net where they dehydrate and die. The traps are designed to operate 24-hours a day, virtually eliminating mosquito problems by disrupting their breeding cycles.

ABC is the only commercial company, and one of only a handful of scientific institutions in the world that has the technology to probe mosquitoes down to a single neuron to determine their reactions to various compounds. The company has isolated more than 330 compounds emitted from human skin and is now scanning, separating, and introducing these compounds to mosquitoes for positive and negative reactions to develop powerful attractants to lure and catch biting insects. In 2004, the company launched Lurex(TM), the first-ever, EPA-registered attractant designed specifically for the Asian Tiger mosquito, a non-indigenous, aggressive species that is a potential carrier of several mosquito-borne diseases including West Nile virus.

Pillsbury Winthrop represented ABC in the case against Lentek. Pillsbury Winthrop counsel includes partners George Sirilla, Adam Hess, and Kevin Kramer of the firm's Northern Virginia office. Pillsbury Winthrop is an international law firm with core practice areas in: litigation, technology and intellectual property, energy, capital markets and finance. The firm has 17 offices worldwide. For further information please visit www.pillsburywinthrop.com.