Ribonomics and MBL Announce Strategic Alliance for Diagnostics

September 16, 2002

Research Triangle Park, NC, and Nagoya, Japan — (September 16, 2002) — Ribonomics, Inc., of RTP, NC, and Medical & Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd. (MBL), of Japan, announced today a major collaboration whereby the two companies will work together to develop and commercialize clinical diagnostic and research products. The alliance combines MBL’s product development and commercialization expertise with Ribonomics’ unique target discovery process and systems biology data. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ribonomics will employ its proprietary RASTM platform technology to discover new diagnostic biomarkers that rapidly and accurately signal the presence of human disease. In return for an upfront technology fee, MBL has secured the first right of access to develop, manufacture and commercialize research and diagnostic products directed at novel disease markers discovered by Ribonomics. In such cases where MBL elects to develop a product covered by the collaboration, Ribonomics, Inc. will receive licensing fees, as well as milestones and royalties upon the achievement of specified research and clinical events. The term of the collaboration is three years.

“We are pleased to have begun this partnership so soon in the Company’s development,” said Chris Kelly, CEO and President of Ribonomics, Inc. “Our alliance with MBL provides Ribonomics with early revenue as well as commercial endorsement of our innovative enabling technology.”

“This collaboration will benefit MBL incredibly in that it will allow MBL to gain access to novel diagnostic targets discovered by Ribonomics, Inc. and enable MBL to quickly advance the development of research and diagnostic products,” said Sachiko Suno, Chairman of MBL.

Ribonomics, Inc. is a privately-held biotechnology company applying Systems Biology to discover and develop innovative products to treat and diagnose human diseases. Using its proprietary methodology, the Company applies a "biological filter" and transforms global transcriptomic and proteomic expression information into true pathways knowledge. This unique approach enables the Company and its partners to gain a clearer understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease. No other competing technology accomplishes this as efficiently and effectively as the Ribonomics technology. For more information, visit the Ribonomics, Inc. web site at http://www.ribonomics.com.

Medical & Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd. is a leading biotechnology company, focused on the research, development, production and sales of research and diagnostic reagents in the field of immunology, and cellular and molecular biology. The Company is expanding the scope of immunology into the broad area of life science disciplines and the application of information technology to create and market innovative products and services. For more information, visit the English version of the MBL web site at http://www.mbl.co.jp/index-e.html.