POMPEY, France, May 16 — Chromatide and Novasep have extended their partnership to develop large scale solid phase peptide and oligonucleotide synthesis technology. The resulting systems and equipment will meet the growing needs of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries for more efficient, continuous flow instruments for gram to industrial scale production of high quality products.

The interest of this partnership is to combine Chromatide’s experience in solid phase synthesis of peptide and oligonucleotides, including the production of novel resins and instrumentation, to Novasep’ s expertise in synthesis and purification services and technologies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries to provide them with efficient solutions to obtain pure peptides and oligonucleotides.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr Don Wellings, Chromatide’s CSO, said, “We are delighted to be continuing to work with Novasep on this project,” He added, “The extension of our collaboration is illustrative of the success we have achieved to date on developing the synthesis systems which Novasep is launching in 2008. Novasep is a world leader in the market with well established relationships within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors which will enable users’ rapid access to the technology we are co-developing.”

Mr Jean Blehaut, President of Novasep Process Pharma Business Unit added, “The Chromatide team has many years experience in peptide and oligonucleotide synthesis and has excellent contacts with key thought leaders in this field and Novasep is the recognised leader of large scale chromatography for the life-sciences industries. Peptide manufacturers lack a cost efficient, automated solid phase synthesis technology, fully scalable from g to ton. We believe that these innovative systems combined with our chromatography and membrane technology portfolio will allow us to provide a unique, global process solution for peptides but also for oligonucleotides manufacturers”.

About Chromatide Limited

Chromatide was founded in 2005 by Dr. Don Wellings, former Technology Manager at Polymer Laboratories, and Dr. Saeed Gulzar, formerly Custom Peptide Synthesis Manager at Avecia/Zeneca. The IP-driven company is highly innovative, specialising in novel biosynthesis and purification technologies designed to facilitate, and reduce costs, of the processes involved in production of biomolecules in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The founders hold a range of key patents in the field of novel polymers for use in research and development, as well as process-scale, in a range of applications including biomolecule purification and synthesis. The Chromatide team is extremely experienced in successfully developing and completing high quality research, development and processes to continually improve the production of biomolecules in drug discovery, development and process-scale programmes and is building an exciting patent portfolio. The Company is also able offer these skills in research services as a flexible resource and specialise in synthesis and purification of complex molecules with services including:

Purification of peptides, proteins and small molecules Synthesis of complex peptides Large scale DNA , peptide and polymer synthesis http://www.chromatide.com About Novasep Novasep, with its headquarters near Nancy (in Eastern France), is a leading partner for the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, agrochemicals, and specialty chemicals industries through its two businesses – Novasep Process and Novasep Synthesis. Both strategic businesses are complementary organisations with skills designed to provide technically optimized, economically advantageous, and green solutions for the life-science sector and related industries.

Novasep Process specializes in solving purification challenges for the Pharmaceutical, Biopharmaceutical and Industrial Biotech markets. The company offers laboratory purification equipment as well as large-scale industrial production plants for producing pure products, and a full range of services including process development, kg to multi-ton scale custom purification and performance optimization.

To serve its different markets, Novasep Process offers innovative and reliable solutions based on Novasep Process proprietary technologies : Novasep batch and continuous chromatography (high and low pressure) and crystallization, Applexion(r) ion exchange and evaporation, Orelis(r) membrane processes.

Novasep Synthesis produces complex molecules using proven and innovative technologies within certified facilities in France, Germany and the Bahamas. Novasep offers exclusive synthesis services from lab to commercial scale to cover the special needs of the Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic and Agrochemical industries. Novasep sells Reagents, Building Blocks and Generics as well as performs multi-step synthesis for its customers. To serve its different customers Novasep Synthesis has developed know-how and innovative technologies using: Hazardous Chemistry: Azide, Diborane, Diazomethane, Ozonolysis, Carbonylation, Asymmetric technologies: Asymmetric Chemistry, Preparative Chromatography, Synthesis and Purification of Highly Potent Molecules and multi-step, multi-ton synthesis. http://www.novasep.com