Beckman Coulter Introduces Tests to Measure Immune Response to Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr Virus and Influenza.

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

FULLERTON, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--July 24, 2001

Beckman Coulter, Inc. (NYSE:BEC) today introduced three new, ready-to-use, major histocompatability complex (MHC) Tetramer reagents. iTAg(TM) MHC Tetramer CMV for Cytomegalovirus, iTAg(TM) MHC Tetramer EBV for Epstein-Barr Virus and iTAg(TM) MHC Tetramer Influenza measure T cells, one of the body's critical immune responses in fighting disease.

MHC Tetramers enable accurate quantitative analysis of specific cellular immune response in these infectious diseases. Unlike traditional tests, which can take up to two weeks, these disease-specific MHC Tetramers produce results within an hour. They also simplify the testing process by directly using a patient's whole blood sample, thereby eliminating extra steps.

"These Tetramers can be used to accelerate advancements in cellular immune response analysis of important infectious diseases," said Bonnie Anderson, vice president and director of Beckman Coulter's Immunomics Operation. "Our line of ready-to-use and custom MHC Tetramers have the potential to advance clinical trials for drug and vaccine development, as well as to contribute to basic and clinical research."

In addition to the CMV, EBV and influenza Tetramers, Beckman Coulter markets ready-to-use reagents for melanoma and HIV. The company also sells custom Tetramers using disease-specific peptide information provided by customers. Beckman Coulter holds the exclusive license to the patented technology behind these products, and markets them through its San Diego-based, Immunomics Operation.

The three new iTAg MHC Tetramers target research of wide-spread infectious diseases that present a substantial health risk to immunosuppressed patient populations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States alone, it is possible that as many as 85 percent and 95 percent of adults have been infected with CMV and EBV respectively by the age of 40, and influenza causes over 20,000 deaths and 100,000 hospitalizations every year. The impact of these diseases on select immunosuppressed patient populations has made them the focus of major research and, therefore, high-potential markets for the commercialization of iTAg MHC Tetramers.

Immunomics is the science and application of cellular immune response analysis. Today, MHC Tetramers are the cornerstone of this field. Research documented in over 200 publications illustrates that Tetramers have been used successfully to accurately and efficiently monitor CD8+ T cell responses in viruses, parasitic infections, cancers, autoimmune diseases and transplantations.

For more information on Immunomics, iTAg MHC Tetramer ready-to-use, or custom products, or to order iTAg MHC Tetramers, go to www.Immunomics.com.

Beckman Coulter is a leading provider of instrument systems and complementary products that simplify and automate processes in life sciences and clinical laboratories. The company's products are used throughout the world in all phases of the battle against disease, from pioneering medical research and drug discovery to diagnostic testing that aids in patient treatment. Annual sales for the company totaled $1.89 billion in 2000, with approximately half this amount generated outside the United States. More information on the company is available at www.beckmancoulter.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Beckman Coulter holds the exclusive license for the following patents:

U.S. Patent Number 5,635,363

Inventors: J.D. Altman, M.G. McHeyzer-Williams and Mark M. Davis.

Compositions and methods for the detection, quantitation and

purification of antigen-specific T cells.

French Patent Number FR9911133.

Inventor: F. Lang. Means for detecting and for the purifying CD8+

T-lymphocyte populations specific for peptides presented in

the HLA context.