Biex Partners with Mead Johnson Nutritionals to Market System for Identifying Preterm Delivery Risk.

DUBLIN, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--May 12, 1999--

Biex, Inc. announced today an agreement with Mead Johnson Nutritionals, a division of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, to co-promote the first non-invasive biochemical marker for spontaneous preterm labor and delivery.

The SalEst(R) System, developed by Biex, measures levels of estriol in saliva. Estriol is an estrogen which plays a key role in the hormonal pathway leading to delivery. Research found that estriol surges two to three weeks before the onset of spontaneous preterm labor and delivery. The FDA expedited its review of the SalEst System and granted marketing approval in April, 1998 for women with singleton pregnancies between 22 and 36 weeks gestation.

Biex, Inc., based in Dublin, managed the first stage market introduction of the SalEst System with 30 sales representatives. Biex chief executive officer, James Edlund, said, "In the 12 months since the SalEst System became available, more than 2,400 physicians have prescribed the system for nearly 9,000 women.

"Our relationship with Mead Johnson will now take us to a higher level at a much more accelerated rate. Their sales force, more than ten times the size of ours, played a major role in making Mead Johnson a market leader in infant nutrition. Their established relationships with thousands of obstetricians will further advance the integration of the SalEst System into maternity care programs."

Jerry McCabe, senior vice president, global medical sales, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, said, "During our years of researching infant nutritional needs, we became acutely aware of the consequences for extremely low birthweight, preterm babies. Preterm birth is responsible for more neonatal deaths and major health problems than any other complication of pregnancy. And this is all the more tragic when early identification and management of risk could result in healthier outcomes. We are eager to begin aggressively co-promoting the SalEst System so a greater number of mothers and babies will benefit from it."

Obstetricians have long been frustrated in their efforts to determine which patients are truly at risk. Their only tool has been risk scoring, involving various methods of assessing risk potential according to medical, lifestyle and behavioral factors associated with preterm delivery. Care plans are based in part on these scores. Risk scoring, however, has a high degree of inaccuracy.

Nearly 50% of preterm births occur among women whose risk for preterm delivery is not uncovered through risk scoring. The limitations of risk scoring impact an even higher percentage of patients in the general population who are classified as "at-risk" yet never develop complications. These women are often prescribed high risk services that are unnecessary, stressful and very costly.

Mead Johnson Nutritionals is number one in infant formula market share worldwide, and recognized for developing and marketing quality products that meet the nutritional and lifestyle needs of children and adults of all ages.

Privately-held Biex, Inc. is developing new products and services to address compelling needs in women's healthcare, particularly in the area of maternity management.

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks of product non-approval or delays or post-approval review by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities, product development and market acceptance, product manufacturing risks, the results of financing efforts, and developments regarding intellectual property rights.