Cellular Technology Analyzers and BD Biosciences Enter Into an Elispot Applications Co-Development And Distribution Agreement.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

CLEVELAND--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 21, 2000

Cellular Technology Analyzers LLC (CTL) today announced that it has entered into a broad based relationship with Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) (NYSE:BDX) through its BD Biosciences business, PharMingen, to market innovative products for measuring the cellular immune response. Under the agreement, BD Biosciences and CTL will co-develop reagents and kits for Elispot applications that BD Biosciences will exclusively distribute through its sales channels. In addition, BD Biosciences has also established a co-marketing agreement with CTL for the ImmunoSpot(TM) Series One Analyzer system and related products.

The ImmunoSpot(TM) Analyzer measures the cellular immune response at the level of the individual T-cell and the specific cytokines produced. It offers a degree of sensitivity and specificity as well as unique features for data analysis, storage and high throughput screening which are not available with competing systems. BD Biosciences will produce and market reagents and kits for Elispot applications based upon CTL's expertise and research base. These kits will make it possible to rapidly characterize the precise responses of T-cells to specific antigens. It provides a powerful tool to scientists studying auto-immunity, cancers, infectious diseases, transplantation and those developing therapeutic treatment strategies for any condition involving the cellular immune response.

"BD Biosciences has a broad portfolio of tools for assessing cellular function and response. The addition of the Elispot platform further strengthens our ability to be a preferred provider of cutting edge solutions to the pharmaceutical, clinical and academic communities," said John Miller, V.P. and general manager for PharMingen and Transduction Laboratories Businesses within BD Biosciences. "We are estimating to launch the first round of Elispot specific reagents and kits by Spring 2001."

CTL, focused on developing research tools for studying cellular immune response, is based upon groundbreaking work in the use of Elispot applications from the laboratory of Dr. Paul Lehmann at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Lehmann is a leader in the field of cellular immunology and has made major advances in the use of Elispot applications as a tool for T-cell research.

"We are very excited about the relationship with BD Biosciences. CTL has developed a very valuable tool for cellular immunology research and BD Biosciences is the best partner we could hope for to promote and expand this technology. They are the world leader in the field for reagents and devices for sophisticated biomedical research and their global reach and capabilities ensure that CTL's technology and products will reach the broadest possible markets," said Davis Farmer, CTL's president.

About Cellular Technology Analyzers LLC

CTL and its parent, Cellular Technology LLC, are medical technology companies based in Cleveland, Ohio. CTL manufactures the ImmunoSpot(TM) line of Elispot readers and analyzers for immunology research. CTL is focused upon developing strategies for understanding and manipulating the cellular immune response for treatment of cancer, autoimmunity, infectious disease and other conditions involving the immune system.

About Becton Dickinson and Company

BD is a medical technology company that manufactures and sells a broad range of supplies, devices and systems for use by healthcare professionals, medical research institutions, industry and the general public. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000, BD reported total revenues of $3.6 billion.

About BD Biosciences

BD Biosciences, headquartered in San Jose, Calif., is accelerating the pace of discovery, detection, diagnosis and decision-making. BD Biosciences is one of Becton Dickinson and Company's five worldwide businesses and encompasses CLONTECH, Immunocytometry Systems, Labware, PharMingen and Transduction Laboratories.

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