Agilent Expands Therapeutic Nucleic Acids Manufacturing Capacity

Dow Nucleic Acids Medicines Business Assets Acquired

SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 7, 2008 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced the expansion of its nucleic acid active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colo. Agilent’s Nucleic Acids Solutions Division is adding large-scale nucleic acid synthesis, purification and drying capacity that will come on stream by the end of 2008. As a part of this expansion, Agilent has purchased from Dowpharma all of the assets of its Nucleic Acid Medicines business. The financial terms of the purchase were not disclosed. This is the second manufacturing expansion for the Boulder, Colo., facility since Agilent purchased the business in 2006.

“This expansion represents a significant commitment by Agilent to meet the supply demands of a rapidly expanding market,” said James Powell, general manager of Agilent’s Nucleic Acid Solutions Division. “Merging our expansion plans with the acquisition of Dow’s assets will allow Agilent to respond to this demand well ahead of our original plan. Agilent will have the ability to serve customers from pre-clinical through large-scale commercial launch with facilities, equipment and expertise across a broad range of nucleic acid APIs.”

Agilent’s capacity expansion features the addition of a 200-1,000 mmole synthesizer capable of producing kilo quantities of API per synthesis batch. Additional downstream processing capability will also be added with a 30 liter per min chromatography system and two multikilo lyophilization units. Corresponding infrastructure and reaction vessels will be added for custom conjugation chemistries and duplex annealing of siRNAs; addressing the fastest growth segment of the oligonucleotide market.

To learn more, please visit Agilent at booth 514 at the TIDES Conference at Red Rock Resort and Spa, Las Vegas, Nev., May 19-21.

About Agilent in Nucleic Acids

Agilent, through its Nucleic Acid Solutions Division, is a leading provider of therapeutic nucleic acid development services and manufacturing solutions for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. The division operates a 33,500 square foot cGMP nucleic acid API contract manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colo. The state-of-the-art facility manufactures of a wide range of nucleic acid therapeutics, including DNA, RNA, phosphorothioates, mixed PO/PSs, aptamers, conjugated aptamers, siRNA and various modified RNAs. In addition to manufacturing cGMP nucleic acid therapeutics, Agilent also offers an array of turnkey services, including development of analytical methods and processes, stability studies, quality control, and regulatory support. Information about Agilent’s Nucleic Acid Solutions Division is available at www.agilent.com/chem/nucleicacid .

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company’s 19,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $5.4 billion in fiscal 2007. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com .

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Press release URL: http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2008/07may-ca08030.html

Additional metadata keywords (for Web use only): therapeutic nucleic acids, manufacturing, Dowpharma, API

Claudia Hachtel, Agilent Technologies
+49-7243-602 100
claudia_hachtel@agilent.com

Nicki Muir, Alto Marketing
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Sarah Perceval, Alto Marketing
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