SupelMIP™ SPE Nitroimidazoles simplifies extraction compared with other sample preparation methods

Lund, Sweden, May 28, 2009 – MIP Technologies AB and Supelco, a division of Sigma-Aldrich

(Nasdaq: SIAL), recently launched a new molecularly imprinted polymer SupelMIP™ SPE

product for the selective extraction of nitroimidazoles.

“This new SupelMIP product, one of many that will appear this year, has arisen from our initial

work with the Nestlé Research Centre in Lausanne with whom we published a scientific article on

this topic,” said Anthony Rees, CEO of MIP Technologies. “The excellent follow up work by the

Supelco team has generated a valuable product that maintains the high performance standards of

the existing SupelMIP sample preparation products.”

This SPE product was developed for confirmation and quantitation of nitroimidazole residues in

food samples. The SPE phase has been developed for multi-residue extraction of nitroimidazoles

and has been validated for dimetridazole (DMZ), ipronidazole (IPZ), metronidazole (MNZ), and

ronidazole (RNZ) and their hydroxylated metabolites (DMZOH and MNZOH).

“With recent mainstream concerns regarding food safety (e.g., melamine, acrylamide, salmonella,

etc.), regulatory bodies worldwide are becoming more proactive in terms of enforcing food safety

guidelines. Molecularly imprinted polymer SPE technology provides researchers with a powerful

tool towards achieving lower detection limits for confirmatory analysis,” said An Trinh, Product

Manager of Sample Prep at Supelco.

Nitroimidazoles comprise of a group of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents with antibiotic and

anticoccidial properties, which are widely used for therapeutic treatment in poultry, cattle, and

farmed fish.

These drugs and their metabolites are suspected to be found in human carcinogens and mutagens.

Consequently, DMZ, MNZ, and RNZ are on the European Union (EU) list of pharmacologically

active substances for which no maximum residue limit can be fixed, meaning their use is forbidden in food-producing animals. IPZ has never been authorized as a veterinary drug and therefore is also considered a forbidden compound. Monitoring these substance residues at trace levels is regulated by law.

Using the new SupelMIP SPE product, nitroimidazoles were extracted from milk and egg samples (fresh eggs and egg powder) with high and reproducible recoveries. The SPE sorbents based on molecularly imprinted polymers were developed by MIP Technologies.

About MIP Technologies: MIP Technologies AB is a world-leading company in the development of

molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and other novel polymers. The Company is a pioneer in the

commercial applications of MIPs, holds important patents and maintains cutting-edge research activities in this area. The Company’s mission is to provide innovative products based on molecularly imprinted

polymers that serve industry’s needs in analytical, preparative and process scale ‘selective separations’.

The Company has the ability to produce MIPs and other selective polymers from laboratory to pilot scale

and is well placed to develop large-scale separation solutions for its customers. Currently, the Company develops analytical separation products (e.g. SPE) and has multiple custom process scale projects in place with several blue chip companies. MIP Technologies has its headquarters in Lund, Sweden. For more information about MIP Technologies AB visit www.miptechnologies.com

Sean Battles

Sigma-Aldrich

314-286-7616

[email protected]

Anthony Rees

MIP Technologies AB

+46-46-163900

www.miptechnologies.com

About Sigma-Aldrich:

Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its

chemical and biochemical products and kits are used in scientific research, including genomic and

proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development and as key components in

pharmaceutical, diagnostic and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 38 countries and has 7,800 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Innovation and Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning Web site at http://www.sigmaaldrich.com.

Sigma-Aldrich and Supelco are registered trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology LP and Sigma-Aldrich Co.

Supel-MIP is a trademark of Supelco.