Nottingham, UK (March 9 2009) Novozymes Biopharma UK Ltd., part of

Novozymes, world leader in bioinnovation, today announced a newly signed

license agreement with GE Healthcare Life Sciences. This license enables

Novozymes Biopharma to produce and deliver native, animal-free protein A

using GE Healthcare technology. Novozymes Biopharma’s protein A, which is

now commercially available, is targeted to customers involved in the

production of chromatography media.

Protein A is produced by Novozymes Biopharma AB in Sweden using both GE

Healthcare’s proprietary technology and production strain. The protein is

the active component in chromatography media used in the production of

antibodies. Novozymes’ protein A can then be used to purify antibodies in

drug production and bio-chemical analysis applications.

In nature, the microorganism, Staphylococcus aureus utilises protein A to

bind antibodies in order to hide itself from the immune system when invading

the body. The ability of protein A to bind to antibodies has been used

successfully at industrial scale for several years to produce monoclonal

antibodies that are used as drugs in the treatment of illnesses such as

arthritis and cancer.

The ability to purify antibodies has been an essential tool in many of the

advances made in biotechnology. The purification is performed using

chromatographic techniques, where recent advances allow production of the

antibodies in large quantities.

Caspar Foghsgaard, Strategic Product Director, Novozymes Biopharma,

comments, “We are delighted to have secured this license agreement with GE

Healthcare which will result in rapid growth of our protein A production.”

Caspar Foghsgaard continues, “We are already filling up our stock capacities

with raw materials and the final product to deal with the demand for this

exciting product that we have now started selling.”

For further information on Novozymes Biopharma’s products and technologies,

please visit https://biopharma.novozymes.com.

About Novozymes

Novozymes is the world leader in bioinnovation. Together with customers

across a broad array of industries, we create tomorrow’s industrial

biosolutions, improving our customers’ business and the use of our planet’s

resources.

With over 700 products used in 130 countries, Novozymes’ bioinnovations

improve industrial performance and safeguard the world’s resources by

offering superior and sustainable solutions for tomorrow’s ever-changing

marketplace.

Novozymes’ natural solutions enhance and promote everything from removing

trans-fats in food, to advancing biofuels to power the world tomorrow. Our

never-ending exploration of nature’s potential is evidenced by over 4,500

patents, showing what is possible when nature and technology join forces.

Our 4,500+ employees working in research, production and sales around the

world are committed to shaping business today and our world tomorrow.