Aseptic Technologies and Sartorius Sign Distribution Agreement for Connectors.

GOETTINGEN, Germany & LES ISNES, Belgium -- Aseptic Technologies S.A., an affiliate of GSK Biologicals, and Sartorius AG announce a strategic alliance and global distribution agreement for a novel state-of-the-art aseptic liquid transfer system technology

Today, Aseptic Technologies S.A. based in Les Isnes, Belgium, and Sartorius AG based in Goettingen, Germany, announce the formal launch of a business partnership and exclusive global distribution agreement for a novel aseptic liquid transfer system developed by Aseptic Technologies. The system comprising an optimized transfer port and disposable presterilized connection device facilitates risk-free transfer of sterile liquid to and from a contained area, with a minimal amount of ergonomic manipulation.

The connection system has been successfully developed and validated to allow transfer of sterile liquid through any type of walls that separate two areas with different levels of containment. The various applications include transfer from an external area to a cleanroom, transfer from within a cleanroom to isolators used as barriers or transfer inside incubators. The principle is based on the La Calhene concept of the transfer port and uses a gamma-sterilized connection device consisting of a plastic hose barb connector inside a removable protective sheath. The opening of the port inside the contained area releases only the sterile part of the device, allowing easy and safe connection of tubing and transfer of liquid. The device can be installed on various container types such as gamma-sterilized containers (e.g., collapsible bags) or steam-sterilized containers (e.g., stainless steel and glass vessels).

Aseptic Technologies is very pleased that a major manufacturer of sterile disposables has made such a positive evaluation of the connector technology. Benoit Verjans, Commercial Director, states: "This agreement will enable us to launch on the market a major technology developed by Aseptic Technologies. While Aseptic Technologies has capabilities and know-how in the development of new technologies to significantly improve the sterility assurance level of aseptic processes, Sartorius has the capabilities, the vision and the experience to make such a technology available to all manufacturers from various areas, such as the pharmaceutical, biotech and food industries. The partnership is also strengthened by the shared vision of the two companies to co-develop and offer to the market new products based on this connector technology to further expand applications for risk-free liquid transfer."

Reinhard Vogt, Sartorius Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Biotechnology Division, states: "This business arrangement is yet another example of a symbiosis for two innovative companies striving to provide innovative process solutions to our clients, offering them the option of working with disposables wherever possible. This creative solution for sterile liquid transfer provides a perfect solution for production environments and is a perfect fit with our product portfolio. Given the current industry emphasis on disposability and, particularly, the current explosion of companies using bag technology for liquid storage and handling, this new innovation will provide the industry with even greater opportunities to reduce manufacturing cycles, production costs and contamination rates."

Under the terms of this agreement, Sartorius will hold the exclusive rights to market and distribute Aseptic Technologies' sterile liquid transfer system on a global basis. The companies will also commit resources to jointly develop the products to meet ongoing market expectations.

This press release contains statements about the future development of the Sartorius Group and Aseptic Technologies. Both companies cannot guarantee that the content of these statements will actually apply because these statements are based upon assumptions and estimates that harbor certain risks and uncertainties.

About Aseptic Technologies:

Aseptic Technologies is a subsidiary of GSK Biologicals. The company has been launched to develop and bring to the market new technologies to improve aseptic processes. In addition to the sterile liquid transfer system, Aseptic Technologies has industrialized closed vial technology, proposing closed vials of various sizes and filling line of clinical and production formats. This technology offers the first clean and sterile ready-to-fill vial made available for the pharmaceutical and biotech injectable industry.

A profile of Sartorius

The Sartorius Group is an internationally leading laboratory and process technology supplier covering the segments of biotechnology and mechatronics. In 2004, the technology group earned sales revenue of 467.6 million euros. The Goettingen-based company founded in 1870 currently employs a good 3,750 persons. Its biotechnology segment focuses on filtration and separation products, bioreactors and proteomics. The mechatronics segment manufactures, in particular, equipment and systems, which feature weighing, measurement and automation technology for laboratory and industrial applications, as well as hydrodynamic bearings.

Sartorius key customers are from the pharmaceutical, chemical and food and beverage industries and from numerous research and educational institutes of the public sector.

Sartorius has its own production facilities in Europe, Asia and America as well as sales subsidiaries and local commercial agencies in more than 110 countries.