GENDATA AND BATTELLE FORM COPD BIOMARKER DISCOVERY COLLABORATION

SALT LAKE CITY, UT and COLUMBUS, OH -- GenData Research Corporation and Battelle today announced that they have entered into a collaboration for the discovery, development, and commercialization of biomarkers for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The immediate result of this collaboration can yield the best-characterized COPD population by combining Battelle's state-of-the-art technology with extensive longitudinal clinical treatment data provided by GenData. In the future, this same population will be used to clarify the mechanisms of this disease and its progression and to identify the underlying genetic factors associated with COPD. Both GenData and Battelle see this collaboration as the initiation of a long-term relationship.

"This is a great opportunity for us to leverage twenty years of clinical experience and genetic research to better understand the pathways involved in the onset and progression of this deadly disease," says John Hoidal, M.D., Chairman of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah and Co-Investigator with Mark Leppert, Ph.D. Chief Scientific Officer of GenData.

The objectives of the collaborative study are to identify biomarkers that predict COPD progression for diagnostic procedures, to locate novel molecular targets and pathways for therapeutic intervention, and to discover clinical indicators for use in drug development. These objectives will be met through a comprehensive analysis of protein (proteomic) and metabolite (metabonomic) markers of patients diagnosed with COPD as compared to well-characterized and matched controls. GenData is providing Battelle access to its comprehensive biomedical research repository that integrates biological samples with decades of medical and genetic information from population-based studies and from studies on multigenerational families.

"This collaboration with Battelle is a unique and valuable opportunity for GenData, researchers at the University of Utah, and ultimately patients affected with COPD," said Michael S. Paul, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Corporate Development of GenData. "We look forward to combining forces and knowledge to accelerate the quest for answers about the underlying causes of COPD."

Mark Gritz, PH.D., Vice President in the Battelle Division of Health and Life Sciences said, "We are excited to bring Battelle's signature technologies in inhalation toxicology and bioanalytical methodology, as well as our development of experimental models of COPD, to expedite the development of new predictive diagnostic procedures and therapeutic regimes for prevention and more effective treatment of COPD."

About COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is responsible for at least 2.9 million annual worldwide deaths. While a major risk factor for COPD is smoking tobacco, it is known that only a certain percentage of smokers contract COPD and sound scientific evidence suggests genetic factors may predispose individuals to the disease. Current treatments for COPD temporarily relieve symptoms of the disorder. Drugs now in clinical trials are evaluated solely for their ability to slow progression of the disease.

About GenData

GenData Research Corporation is a biotechnology research organization utilizing a powerful population genetics discovery platform to identify and validate biomarkers, coordinate clinical trials, and identify health-promoting and disease-causing genetic factors. GenData provides industry partners with breakthrough genetic research programs that leverage an extensive biosample repository coupled with detailed clinical data and decades of medical and genetic information from population-based studies and from studies on multigenerational families.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, GenData draws on a proven process for genetic discovery at the University of Utah that has led to the discovery of multiple disease-causing genes in cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders. This history of success has been expanded to disease areas including autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, metabolic disorders, central nervous system disorders, and age-related conditions.

For more information about GenData Research Corporation visit www.gendata.org or contact Business Development Manager Alex Lindell at (801) 583-3289 or at alex.lindell@gendata.org

About Battelle

Battelle is a global leader in science and technology. It develops and commercializes technology and manages laboratories for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle and the national labs it manages or co-manages have 16,000 staff members and conduct more than $2.7 billion in annual research and development. Battelle innovations include the development of the office copier machine (Xerox), pioneering work on the compact disc, and medical technology advancements.

For more information, visit www.battelle.org or contact National Media Relations Manager Katy Delaney at (410) 306-8638 or at delaneyk@battelle.org.