Rhein Minapharm and ProBioGen Announce Additional Cell Line Development Agreement

Berlin, Germany, 18 December 2008

Rhein Minapharm Biogenetics SAE and ProBioGen today announced that they have closed their third cell line development agreement. The agreement covers the development of a second generation interferon-ß compound with high economic potential and adds to the first two collaboration contracts signed in early 2007.

Under the terms of the agreement, ProBioGen will retain rights to market the respective, optimized CHO cell lines in certain global regions, whereas Minapharm has exclusive rights to the MENA (Middle East North African) region. The compound is primarily targeted at multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system, leading to demyelination. Disease onset usually occurs in young adults, and it is more common in women. Prevalence ranges from 2 to 150 per 100,000 people.

Wafik Bardissi, CEO of Minapharm, commented: "We have been building an excellent working relationship with ProBioGen over the past years. This agreement enables Minapharm to complement its interferon competence program dedicated to the research, development and marketing of innovative interferon-based therapies and further strengthens our biopharmaceutical pipeline to target major disease areas with unmet cost-effective medical needs."

"This is our third project for Minapharm", added Michael Schlenk, CEO of ProBioGen. "For ProBioGen, good relationship management and open communication with our partners and customers are of utmost importance. This long lasting business relationship proves that we consistently deliver and that our customers value the quality of our services highly."