HTS Biosystems and Ciencia Awarded Phase II Grant from NASA.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

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HOPKINTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 2002

Next Generation Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Technology and

Proprietary Sensing Instrumentation to Advance Study of Proteins

in Space Biology

HTS Biosystems and Ciencia were awarded a Phase II grant from NASA Johnson Space Center for Protein Microarrays for Bioreactor Bioproduct Monitoring NAS9-02133.

The Phase II grant provides $600,000 to further the Space Station Cellular Biotechnology Program at NASA, which is developing advanced facilities - including cell culture systems to conduct microgravity research in cell biology onboard the Space Station.

"We're pleased to be part of this exciting NASA initiative with Ciencia, by contributing innovative, highly sensitive protein analysis technology to monitor cellular function in zero gravity environments," said Enrico Picozza, co-founder and chief operating officer for HTS Biosystems, a leading biotechnology company specializing in high-throughput bioanalytical systems for proteomics (the study of proteins).

The evaluation of proteins, as well as protein interactions, in low gravity conditions is as important as it is difficult. The development of highly automated and miniaturized instrumentation and advanced methodologies has been singled out as a high research priority in the NASA Space Biology mission. Label-free microarray technologies like HTS's proprietary grating coupled SPR are a logical fit in this effort.

"Ciencia is committed to working with HTS Biosystems as a development partner in this important effort. Through our receipt of this Phase II grant and our joint collaboration, we are building a fully integrated tool to aid in the understanding of cellular responses to environmental stresses encountered in spaceflight," added Salvador Fernandez, Ciencia's founder. Ciencia develops advanced analytical systems including fluorescence sensing instrumentation, novel fluorescent dyes and proprietary assay methods targeted to a broad range of applications in biomedical research, environmental and industrial markets.

The awarding of Phase II funding of this grant is recognition of the progress and potential of this technology. The system will consist of a rugged, compact instrument with low mass and low power consumption, and a proteomics biosensor chip array integrated into a microfluidics cartridge. The label-free nature of the system makes it ideally suited for space-based application, as it will permit direct seamless coupling between cell culture samples and the biosensor. This will create a convenient platform to perform complex cellular analyses in real time within the resource limitations and inherent constraints in the Space Station (i.e. inadequate facilities, microgravity conditions, etc.).

About HTS Biosystems, Inc.

HTS Biosystems, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company specializing in high-throughput bioanalytical systems for the rapidly growing field of proteomics. HTS Biosystems offers a unique portfolio of innovative technologies that support all phases of proteomics, from discovery to development of therapeutic and diagnostic products. The company's technology platform - the Proteomatrix(TM) Solution - streamlines the discovery process and captures fixed costs for more effective use of protein data in target screening, validation, and discovery efforts. Collaborations with key industry partners, such as Applied Biosystems, Dyax Corporation, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation , and Molsoft LLC have driven the development of the company's technology platform and related systems, including the 8500 Affinity Array System, the CHEMI FLEX(TM) System, and the PHASE FLEX(TM) System for target discovery, screening and validation. HTS Biosystems' operations are located in Hopkinton, MA. For more information, visit www.htsbiosystems.com

About Ciencia

Based in East Hartford, CT, Ciencia's main business focus in the integration of advanced fluorescence sensing instrumentation, novel fluorescent dyes, and proprietary assay methods with sophisticated analytical systems targeted to broad applications in biomedical research, environmental and industrial markets. Ciencia's goals are to dramatically reduce the size and cost of instrumentation while achieving commensurate increases in assay sensitivity, speed and robustness, and then, through the collaboration with strategic partners, to design, develop and produce fully integrated systems targeted to specific applications.