Biopool International to market new test to measure key protein regulating clot dissolution.

VENTURA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 1996--Biopool International Inc. (NASDAQ:BIPL) Wednesday announced that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) approval to market the company's new Chromolize PAI-1 Assay Kit, which measures the level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in blood.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 is one of the most important naturally occurring proteins regulating fibrinolysis (the body's ability to break down blood clots). It does so by modulating the activity of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which is the body's key enzyme responsible for the dissolution of blood clots.

The balance between tPA activity and PAI-1 activity is recognized as being key to developing life-threatening thrombotic disease. Defective fibrinolysis is closely associated with the incidence of coronary heart disease, including angina pectoris, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and primary cardiac arrest.

Independent clinical studies have suggested that elevated PAI-1 levels may be a stronger indication of risk for developing cardiovascular disease than total cholesterol. The Chromolize PAI-1 Kit is Biopool's third-generation test kit for PAI-1 activity. The first kit was introduced in 1992.

The Chromolize kit is a ``bioassay'' that directly measures PAI-1 functional activity, whereas competitive tests offer detection only by indirect methods that are less precise and more cumbersome to perform.

Michael D. Bick, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Biopool, said: ``We are pleased that Biopool continues to increase its line of products for the evaluation of thrombotic tendency and cardiovascular risk.

``This is Biopool's eighth FDA product approval this year. The company previously received FDA approval to market its TintElize PAI-1, Chromolize tPA and Bioclot Protein S kits, which expand the spectrum of assay kits for the hemostasis laboratory.

``With cardiovascular disease being one of the leading causes of death in developed nations, Biopool remains committed to developing and marketing innovative, high-quality test kits to help diagnose and prevent cardiovascular disease.''

Founded in 1987, Biopool International develops, manufactures and markets a full range of test kits to assess and diagnose disorders of blood coagulation, thrombotic risk factors, fibrinolysis, platelet function and the vascular system, as well as specialty chemistry controls used to monitor and measure the presence of drugs of abuse.

In November, Biopool announced the acquisition of the Blood Group Serology business from Organon Teknika, which will nearly double Biopool's revenues going into 1997. The company's products are sold to hospitals and clinical and reference laboratories on a worldwide basis through an extensive network of distributors.

CONTACT: Biopool International Inc., Ventura

Michael D. Bick or Carol Hill, 805/654-0643