Midwest BioResearch Expansion Fuels Move to New Facility.

Drug Disposition and Toxicology Contract Research Organization Rides Outsourcing Boom

SKOKIE, Ill. -- Midwest BioResearch, LLC (MBR) today announced that rapid company growth has necessitated a move to a new facility: ironically, the former Pfizer/Pharmacia/Searle site where many of MBR's colleagues once worked. Fueling the company's expansion is a marked increase in demand for its drug disposition and toxicology services at all stages of drug research and development, a sign of the overall good health of the outsourcing industry.

The 16,000 sq. ft. laboratory, located at the Illinois Science + Technology Park in Skokie, is GLP-compliant and better enables MBR to select and progress proteins and small molecule therapeutics out of discovery and through development faster and more efficiently. The lab offers ample space for cell culture, sample handling, chromatography, immunoassays, GLP archives and freezer storage protected by an uninterrupted power supply. The new facilities mark a natural progression in MBR's development and provide room for future expansion.

What started as a dream of six founding scientists, managers and directors led by Pharmacia's ex-senior director of toxicology, Michael Schlosser, is now a full-fledged contract research organization with more than 40 employees. Since the company's inception in 2003, MBR has seen both the number of its employees and revenue double each year, with a growing number of clients that stay loyal to the company. It has conducted more than 80 GLP validations of protein and small molecule therapeutics.

"The fundamentals behind our growth include the fact that more big companies are outsourcing in all areas, from pre-clinical to clinical, and the emergence of small companies in need of the same services," said Schlosser. "These segments choose us primarily because of our focus on specialized areas of drug disposition and toxicology and our ability to provide strategic advice that moves their drugs faster and more efficiently through discovery and development. We understand our clients, why they need the data, and the pressure they are under."

An example of a service witnessing significant demand is its new microAmes test which saves pharmaceutical companies time and money by fully predicting the GLP regulatory Ames test using milligram quantities. Another example is immunoanalysis, an area that is being fueled by tremendous growth in protein therapeutics.

MBR continues to pursue new capabilities to sustain their growth. In addition to continuing to provide superb service to clients, the company's goals include adding GMP analytical procedures, implementing a fully integrated computerized laboratory information management system (LIMS), and expanding their immunoassay platform through additional investments in new technologies (e.g., electrochemiluminescence detection systems).

About Midwest Bioresearch, LLC.

Midwest BioResearch, LLC (MBR) was founded by former scientists, managers and directors from major pharmaceutical companies to provide outsourced drug disposition and toxicology services. Specifically, the company uses a client-centered approach in providing bioanalysis, structure identification, genetic toxicology and consulting services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. MBR's facilities are GLP compliant and are located in Skokie, Illinois. For more information on the company, please call 1-847-972-2500 or visit them on the web at http://www.midwestbioresearch.com.