Almac Launch Xcel Array – the Optimum Platform for Biomarker Discovery

June 3, 2010

Craigavon Northern Ireland (03 June 2010): Almac today announced the launch of Xcel™ array, a biomarker discovery platform that enables the identification of biomarkers within multiple disease areas.

Almac’s proprietary Xcel™ array contains 92,000 transcripts, significantly more than is available on any other platform and the technology is optimised for use with Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) tissue.

Xcel™ array is a high density transcriptome based microarray built on the industry standard Affymetrix GeneChip® platform. The content of Xcel™ has been derived from high quality proprietary sequence data, as well as mining public gene expression and sequence databases. The design methodologies of the array are derived from validated methods used for Almac’s range of cancer DSA® (Disease Specific Arrays).

The substantial content on Almac’s Xcel™ array ensures that the platform technology is ideally suited for research in cross-disease areas, a notable advantage to pharmaceutical companies.

President and Managing Director of Almac Diagnostic Services, Professor Paul Harkin commented:

“Our Xcel™ array provides an ideal platform for the discovery of biomarkers in a range of diseases and where cross disease compatibility is important. This array becomes an important part of our solutions for the delivery of personalised medicine”

The Xcel™ array adds to Almac’s portfolio of proprietary discovery arrays which include; Breast Cancer DSA®, Colorectal Cancer DSA®, Lung Cancer DSA®, Ovarian Cancer DSA® and Prostate Cancer DSA®.

Ends

Michael Sloan

Almac Diagnostic Services

[email protected]

Tel :+44 28 38337575

Tristan Jervis

DeFacto

[email protected]

Tel: + 44 2078 613019

Notes to Editors

About Almac Diagnostic Services

Almac is a personalised medicine company focused on the discovery and development of biomarkers. They utilise their proprietary technology and extensive experience and expertise to offer solutions to biotech and Pharma partners. Almac focus on providing a range of services including exploratory biomarker discovery studies, verification studies for existing markers, assay development and biomarker validation.

About Almac Group

The Almac Group comprises five closely integrated divisions offering a broad range of services from R&D, translational genomic services, API manufacture, formulation development, clinical trial supply and technology (IVRS & Web), to commercial-scale manufacture. Almac provides services to more than 600 companies, including all the world leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.

The company employs over 2,600 individuals and is headquartered in Craigavon, Northern Ireland. US operations are based in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California. Construction of the company’s new $120m North American Headquarters started in July 08 and is expected to be completed 2010. Almac was awarded Northern Ireland’s “Business of the Year” award in 2009.

For more information about the Almac Group, please visit almacgroup.com or e-mail [email protected].

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