AUBAGNE, France & GOETTINGEN, Germany–Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A. (Paris:DIM) and Metroglas announce that they signed an agreement for the exclusive supply of the first disposable–integrated electrochemical pH sensor on the market. Sartorius Stedim Biotech will offer the pH measurement option in its single-use Fluid Management Technology portfolio designed for the Biopharmaceutical industry. The single-use pH sensor offers a wide range of pH measurement from 0 to 11 with a +/- 0.1 precision and features a sensor verification function which can be performed even when the sensor is inaccessible inside the sterilized assembly (patent filed). Sartorius Stedim Biotech will integrate the pH sensor into its single-use Fluid Management Technologies, becoming the first company worldwide to offer single-use electrochemical pH control technology on bioprocess containers used for the holding, mixing, storage, transfer and transportation of biopharmaceutical fluids and drug products. This unique pH measurement system offers a fast and easy pre- and post-use calibration and fully meets cGMP requirements for critical pH control applications. Reinhard Vogt, Executive Vice President and member of the board of Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A. said the agreement is a further essential milestone in exploiting the full potential of single-use technologies for the biopharmaceutical industry. “This new capability is instrumental to the extension of our product line into more critical biomanufacturing operations that require process control. This new single use pH sensor will create a unique technology advancement in the areas of single use mixers and bioreactors”. In the past two years, Sartorius Stedim Biotech has built up a broad portfolio of turn-key single-use technologies anticipating these market trends, and this has considerably set us apart from the competition. “We are now moving a step closer to the reality of the concept of ‘totally disposable factory’ with more integrated technologies and control systems. Mr. Christian Boeck, CEO of Metroglas, explained the benefits of the agreement for Metroglas: “Sartorius Stedim Biotech offers us the opportunity to partner with the market leader in the development of single-use technologies and be a part of providing pH measurement capabilities integrated with single-use bags for mixing and media preparation to the biopharmaceutical market. In addition to our standard pH probes, we have an outlet for single use pH probes and access through Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A.” A profile of Sartorius Stedim Biotech Sartorius Stedim Biotech is a leading provider of cutting-edge equipment and services for the development, quality assurance and production processes of the biopharmaceutical industry. Its integrated solutions covering fermentation, filtration, purification, fluid management and lab technologies are supporting the biopharmaceutical industry around the world to develop and produce drugs safely, timely and economically. For next generation processes, Sartorius Stedim Biotech focuses on single-use technologies and value-added services to meet the rapidly changing technology requirements of the industry it serves. Strongly rooted in the scientific community and closely allied with customers and technology partners, the company is dedicated to its philosophy of “turning science into solutions” on a daily basis. Headquartered in Aubagne, France, Sartorius Stedim Biotech is listed on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris. With its own manufacturing and R&D sites in Europe, North America and Asia and a global network of sales companies, Sartorius Stedim Biotech enjoys a worldwide presence. Its key manufacturing and R&D site is in Germany. The company employs over 2,300 people, and in 2007 generated pro forma sales revenue of 375.9 million euros. A profile of Metroglas METROGLAS is a member of the Metrohm group and produces chemical sensors for Metrohm equipments. Metrohm is a worldwide leading company, which specializes in ion analysis and related instruments. Chemical sensors are of critical importance for all kinds of electro-analytical equipment. Metroglas develops and manufactures potentiometric and other electrochemical sensors for a variety of applications including titration, pH and conductivity measurement as well as probes for dissolved oxygen and pH in fermenters under sterile conditions. Metroglas sells its products primarily within the Metrohm group with some custom-made OEM products sold to third parties.