ABC.L Regulatory News (ABC)

21 Dec 2006 07:01

ABCAM Plc21 December 2006 For immediate release 21 December 2006 ABCAM PLC ("Abcam" or "the Company") International Distribution Agreement Signed with Tepnel Life Sciences Abcam plc (AIM: ABC), the rapidly growing company that markets antibodies via anonline catalogue, is pleased to announce that it has signed a global licensingagreement with Tepnel Life Sciences PLC ("Tepnel") (AIM: TED), the UK-basedinternational molecular diagnostics and research products & services group, forthe distribution of Tepnel's Diaclone range of diagnostic and research products. The Diaclone range includes more than 350 immunological products designed fortherapy, diagnostic and research applications. The distribution partnershipwith Tepnel is an exclusive agreement for sales in Japan, Canada, and SouthAmerica. In the USA Abcam will share the sales rights for the Diaclone rangewith Tepnel. The sales arrangement is non-exclusive elsewhere in the world. As part of the agreement Abcam will give Tepnel an upfront payment and hasguaranteed to a minimum level of annual sales. Commenting on the announcement, Jonathan Milner, Abcam's Chief ExecutiveOfficer, said: "We are excited about this agreement with Tepnel where we haveworldwide sales rights to a wide range of products. This opportunity allowsAbcam to expand its product range into antibody related products and gives us anopportunity to sell more products across a wide geographical footprint." Dr Allan Brown, Managing Director of Tepnel Research Products & Services,commented: "The agreement with Abcam is a significant one for Tepnel as ourDiaclone product range is already one of the world's leading sources ofimmunological products and with our new partnership, we will be able to furtherextend our market share. As the number one player in this market, Abcampossesses the awareness, reputation and know-how to help attain the marketpotential for Diaclone products." -End- For further information please contact: Abcam plc + 44 (0) 1223 696000 Jonathan Milner, Chief Executive Officer Eddie Powell, Chief Financial Officer www.abcam.com Buchanan Communications on behalf of Abcam + 44 (0) 20 7466 5000 Mary-Jane Johnson Tepnel Life Sciences plc +44 (0 )161 946 2200 Allan Brown, Managing Director, Tepnel Research Products &Services De Facto Communications on behalf of Tepnel +44 (0)20 7861 3838 Richard Anderson Notes for editors About Abcam plc Abcam is a producer and distributor of research-grade antibodies headquarteredin Cambridge, UK, with a US office located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Abcamwas admitted to AIM in November 2005 and trades under the ticker symbol ABC.The Company produces and distributes its own and third party produced antibodiesto academic and commercial users throughout the world with product informationprovided and ordering available through the Company's website, www.Abcam.com.The antibodies are sold almost entirely under the Abcam brand name. TheCompany's vision is to build the largest online antibody resource in the worldwhile also ensuring that the antibodies are of high quality and commerciallyviable. Abcam now has an online catalogue of 25,000 products, most of which areantibodies, from over 200 suppliers supported by up-to-date and detailedtechnical data sheets, which are created by the Company. The Company currentlyemploys 100 staff. About Tepnel Life Sciences plc Tepnel Life Sciences (AIM:TED) is a UK-based international life sciencesproducts and services group with two main divisions, Molecular Diagnostics andResearch Products & Services. The Company has laboratories, manufacturing andoperations in the USA, UK and France with 195 employees. TLS provides testkits, reagents and services to two highly synergistic markets, these beingMolecular Diagnostics and Biomedical Research. The company's strategy has beento identify high growth niche opportunities within these multi-billion poundmarkets. TLS focuses on these niche opportunities with internally developedproducts, patents, expertise and know-how as well as strategic acquisitions, todevelop a leadership position within these defined market segments. About antibodies Antibodies are proteins produced by white blood cells in response to theintroduction of a foreign body known as an antigen. Antibodies, which have awide variety of uses in research, diagnostics and therapeutics, are used bybioscientists in research into disease and into the human genome, where they areused to mark and identify specific cells and other living matter. The number ofhuman antibodies of use in research is potentially greater than one million. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange