a s c e n i o n: Novel antibodies discovered by GSF licensed to Actinium Pharmaceuticals for the development of targeted gastric cancer treatment

BIO Deutschland and Ascenion Join Forces

to Accelerate the Transfer of Findings from National Genome Research into New Product Development

November 10, 2005 – Munich and Berlin, Germany – The Biotechnology Industry Organization Deutschland (BIO Deutschland) and Ascenion GmbH will closely collaborate to provide members of BIO Deutschland with improved access to commercially attractive results from phase 2 of the National Genome Research Network (NGFN-2) and various life science institutes in the Helmholtz and Leibniz Associations.

Ascenion and Garching Innovation jointly co-ordinate technology transfer for NGFN-2. In addition, Ascenion markets the intellectual property of eight German life-science institutions with a total staff of 5,800. Currently, Ascenion manages over 500 patent families, together with a varied range of research materials in the life sciences.

“The quality of German life-science research is excellent and provides a strong basis for the emerging local biotech industry. Our co-operation with Ascenion will be crucial in unlocking this potential. In the future, our members will be able to identify commercially attractive results more quickly and in-licence required technologies more efficiently”, commented Peter Heinrich, Chairman of the Board of BIO Deutschland.

“We look forward to collaborating with BIO Deutschland as the representative of the local biotech industry. Its members, including small and medium-sized biotech companies, are ideally positioned to acquire and progress technologies and product ideas from public research, thereby creating new products and sustainable jobs in Germany”, said Dr. Christian Stein, Ascenion’s CEO.

Notes to editors

Ascenion GmbH

Ascenion is a patent management agency focused on the life sciences. Ascenion supports and advises scientists and research institutions with regard to the protection and exploitation of their intellectual property (patents), and initiates and mediates license agreements between research institutions and industry. Among Ascenion′s particular strengths are start-up coaching and active investment management. Ascenion is a 100% subsidiary of the Life-Science Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Research and the exclusive commercialization partner for the GBF, GSF, MDC, DIfE, DKZF*, DPZ, FMP, and IPK. Ascenion′s headquarters are in Munich, with further offices in Berlin, Braunschweig and Neuherberg. Further information at www.ascenion.de

* (For the DKFZ, only in relation to findings from the NGFN)

BIO Deutschland
The objective of the Biotechnology Industry Organization Deutschland (BIO Deutschland) is to support and promote in Germany the development of an innovative industry sector based on the modern biological sciences.

Further information at: www.bio-deutschland.org

Technology transfer for NGFN-2

Genome Marketplace (www.genome-marketplace.com) is a central platform where commercially viable findings from the National Genome Research Network (NGFN-2) are brought together and made clearly accessible to industry. Genome Marketplace is managed by Ascenion and Garching Innovation and is jointly funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Further information at www.genome-marketplace.com