Rhone-Poulenc Animal Nutrition and Diversa Corp. Announce a Research Collaboration in the Field of Biotechnology.

LYON, FRANCE, AND SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 2, 1999--

Rhone-Poulenc Animal Nutrition (RPAN), a subsidiary of Rhone-Poulenc S.A. (NYSE:RP), and Diversa Corp. today announced the signing of a collaboration agreement, under the terms of which Diversa will use its gene discovery and optimization technologies to develop novel enzymes which can be used for biotransformation as an alternative to chemical synthesis. RPAN will receive an option for exclusive worldwide rights to the targeted enzymes.

The application of these gene technologies will enable RPAN to considerably improve its current chemistry-based processes and provide significant economic and environmental advantages.

"The integration of the most recent developments in biotechnology in the field of Life Sciences will allow RPAN to strengthen its position in world markets of feed additives such as methionine and vitamins," commented Christian Grenier, chief executive officer of Rhone-Poulenc Animal Nutrition.

RPAN, a key activity of Rhone-Poulenc's Plant and Animal Health Sector, is one of the world's leading producers of nutritional feed additives with worldwide industrial and marketing operations. Its research activities are part of Rhone-Poulenc's life sciences research network.

Rhone-Poulenc S.A. is a leading life sciences company, growing through innovations in human, plant and animal health and through its specialty chemicals subsidiary, Rhodia. With sales in 1998 of FF86.8 billion (US$14.7 billion; 13.2 billion euros), the company employs 65,000 people in 160 countries worldwide.

Diversa Corp. is a leader in accessing biomolecules from nature's biodiversity and applying its proprietary technologies to screen, evolve and develop commercial products for agricultural, chemical, industrial and pharmaceutical applications. The company's proprietary technology platform includes capabilities for sample collection from the world's uncultured microbial populations, generation of gene expression libraries, screening of these libraries using ultra-high throughput methods capable of analyzing billions of genes per day, and biomolecule optimization via gene, gene pathway and evolution strategies.

The company has entered into a number of additional alliances with market leaders across multiple industries, including agreements with: Novartis Agribusiness Biotechnology Research Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, Finnfeeds International Limited, Halliburton Energy Services Inc. and Invitrogen. Diversa is a privately-held, venture-backed company located in San Diego.