Agilent Technologies Receives the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Growth Strategy Leadership Award

LONDON - US based Agilent Technologies Inc receives the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Growth Strategy Leadership Award for using research, collaboration and innovation to become a global leader in providing core bio-analytical and electronic measurement solutions to accelerate the design, discovery and development of new products to various markets, including the life sciences industry.

“Backed by an established technology platform, Agilent offers customers a comprehensive range of application-focused solutions,” says Frost & Sullivan Programme Leader - Drug Discovery Technologies, Dr. Amarpreet Dhiman. “The company’s two segments help significantly advance critical customer needs - electronic measurement segment providing standard and customised electronic measurement instruments and systems and the bio-analytical measurement segment providing application-focused solutions that include instruments, software, consumables, and services that enable customers to identify, quantify, and analyse the physical and biological properties of substances and products.”

A global leader in microfluidic/lab-on-a-chip devices, the group’s cornerstone technologies utilise a network of channels and wells that are etched onto glass or polymer microarrays to build mini-laboratories. The unique technology enables sample handling, mixing, dilution, electrophoresis and chromatographic separation, staining and detection on single integrated systems.

Agilent’s flagship product– the 2100 Bioanalyzer– used for the analysis of DNA, RNA, proteins and cells, is designed to streamline RNA isolation, gene expression analysis, gene silencing, protein purification analysis, protein quality control as well as integrated cell-based parameter acquisition from as few as 20,000 cells per sample.

Equally exceptional is the HPLC-Chip/MS system, used for nanoflow electrospray LC/MS that integrates enrichment column, hydraulic connections and electrospray emitter on a single polymer chip.

Agilent Printed Microarray technology includes optimised reagents, catalogue or custom made 60-mer oligo microarrays, scanner and data analysis software. Due to its great features density, flexibility, sensitivity and powerful data analysis capabilities, this technology has extended its application range beyond whole genome gene expression analysis. New applications include oligonucleotide array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), enabling scientists to study chromosomal gains and losses relevant for cancer or other genetic diseases. Chromatin Immuno-Precipitation on chip (ChIP-on-Chip) is used to pinpoint activity at regulatory regions of chromosomes, providing insights in pathways of illness such as cancer, or cardiovascular diseases. Other emerging application areas include microarrays for methylation, alternative splicing and microRNA studies. Agilent Technologies’ printed, open-technology based microarray solutions are providing a flexible but integrated approach to successful gene expression analysis and novel, emerging, high potential applications such as copy number polymorphisms based on aCGH, ChIP-on-Chip, DNA methylation and miRNA. Agilent Technologies has continued to expand its market opportunity by designing custom microarrays with the ability to reduce cost-per-experiment by printing several microarrays on a single slide. Such technology breakthroughs, combined with strategic acquisitions like Silicon Genetics in November 2004, have resulted in integrated solutions that are playing a crucial role in advancing biomedical and life sciences research.

“With net revenues totalling over $5.1 billion in 2005 and a presence in over 110 countries, Agilent Technologies continues to successfully complement its technological edge over the industry by encompassing a range of disciplines, with the aim of capitalising on a larger marketplace,” observes Dr. Dhiman. “A cutting-edge product range, strong investment flows, judicious industrial collaborations, an exceptional IP portfolio and an innovative commercialisation strategy have given the firm the potential to expand its base of large customers, and strike more licensing deals.”

Frost & Sullivan’s Growth Strategy Leadership Award is given each year to the company that has demonstrated an exceptional growth strategy within its industry, overall and particularly for its Genomics business in Europe.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

About Agilent in Genomics

Agilent is a leading worldwide provider of microarray-based genomics research solutions. Agilent's product portfolio includes reagents for sample preparation and microarray processing; systems for sample QC and high-throughput microarray scanning; 60-mer oligo microarrays, custom microarray design services; and industry-leading informatics tools including GeneSpring.

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 20,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $5.1 billion in fiscal 2005. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com .

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community, by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit www.frost.com .

For further information, please contact:

Claudia Hachtel, Agilent, Life Sciences & Chemical Analysis, European Field Support Center
Marketing Communications & Press Relations
T: +49 (0)7243 602 100, claudia_hachtel@agilent.com

Sandra Holze, Promotions Co-ordinator, Best Practices, Frost & Sullivan
T: +44 (0)20 7915 7866, sandra.holze@frost.com