PE Biosystems and Alberta Microelectronic Corporation Sign Research Agreement - Plan to Develop Glass and Quartz Microstructures for Bioanalytical Applications
Edmonton, Alberta and Foster City, California, July 7, 1999 - PE Biosystems (NYSE: PEB), a PE Corporation business, and Alberta Microelectronic Corporation (AMC) announced today that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop microfabricated components in glass and quartz for applications in genetic analysis and high-throughput screening. The agreement is the outcome of long-standing development programs between the two organizations.
Under the terms of this agreement, AMC's expertise in microfabrication will be teamed with PE Biosystems leadership in bioanalysis systems to develop and manufacture new products that can reduce costs and accelerate analysis rates for PE Biosystems customers.
"We are pleased to be working with AMC to expand PE Biosystems capabilities in microtechnology development," said Dr. Michael W. Hunkapiller, president of PE Biosystems. "This agreement to develop materials for microfluidics further solidifies our five-year relationship with AMC, and adds to the company's collaborations with 3M and ACLARA Biosciences for the development of microfluidics products."
According to Chris Lumb, president of AMC, "This agreement is a good fit for both parties, because it brings AMC's capabilities in microfabrication to a proven industry leader. We are very pleased to be working with PE Biosystems, and we look forward to moving new products from R&D into full production."
AMC is a private company based in Edmonton Alberta. The company operates one of North America's largest commercial microfluidics fabrication facilities and develops and manufactures microfluidic and other micromachined subsystems. In life sciences, AMC's microfabrication expertise enables the development of inexpensive, rapid, effective, and miniaturized biochemical analysis systems. With a staff of 70, AMC operates profitably and has maintained a 40 percent annual growth rate for the last five years. For more information about AMC, see www.micralyne.com, or contact Mr. Chris Lumb, president and CEO at 780.492.3914.
PE Corporation currently comprises two operating groups. PE Biosystems Group, with sales of $940 million during fiscal 1998, develops and markets instrument-based systems, reagents, software, and contract-related services to the life science industry and research community.
Celera Genomics Group, a newly formed business unit, intends to become the definitive source of genomic and related medical information. Information about the Company is available on the World Wide Web at
www.pecorporation.com or by phoning 800.762.6923.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "planned," "estimated," and "potential," among others. These forward-looking statements are based on PE Corporation's current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, PE Corporation notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance, development, and results of PE Corporation's businesses include, but are not limited, to: (1) dependence on new products; (2) sales dependent on customers' capital spending policies and government-sponsored research; (3) claims for patent infringement; (4) significant overseas operations; (5) future growth strategy; (6) Year 2000; (7) earthquakes; and (8) other factors that might be described from time to time in PE Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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For further information contact:
Mr. Chris Lumb
President & CEO
Micralyne Inc.
1911 - 94 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6N 1E6
Phone: 780-431-4400
clumb@micralyne.com
