Q Chip - Microfluidics Venture Motors Ahead

8 February 2005 – Q Chip, the pioneering microfluidic venture today announces the signing of a collaborative research deal with Biocompatibles International plc (LSE–BII), the medical device company focused on the treatment of cardiovascular disease, cancer and benign tumours. Biocompatibles’s shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange’s main market. The Company forms part of FTSE’s techMark™ 100 index.

Q Chip’s technology enables the production of uniform monodispersed particles. The aim of the collaboration is to develop a novel microfluidic device for the production of Biocompatibles’ next generation microspheres.

Under the terms of the agreement Q Chip will receive a combination of fees and milestone payments. In addition Biocompatibles will have exclusive rights to Q Chips’ intellectual property portfolio for certain applications for the duration of the research project.

Biocompatibles is a leading provider of advanced biomedical polymers for medical devices and drug delivery. Biocompatibles product line includes Bead Block™ and DC Bead™ in addition to the established PC-Technology™.

Commenting on the collaboration Peter Stratford, Biocompatibles’ Managing Director - Drug Delivery, said "We are excited to enter this alliance with Q Chip. This collaboration will provide unique materials and methods of production to strengthen our pipeline of products.

Q Chip’s microfluidic engineering technology enables the development and production of monodisperse, uniformly shaped microparticles. Q Chip achieves this by the precision formation of particles in micron-scale capillaries etched in bioinert wafers, operated in large parallel arrays to enable high throughput. The processing system is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency and reduced wastage.

Mark Barry, Chief Executive of Q Chip said “I am delighted to have sealed this relationship with one of the United Kingdom’s commercial leaders in the life-sciences sector. Not only does it provide clear evidence of the appetite being generated by our unique technology platform. It also signals our ability to deliver our business targets to an accelerated timescale.”

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS.
Biocompatibles International plc

Biocompatibles www.biocompatibles.com  is a medical device company focused on the treatment of cardiovascular disease, cancer and benign tumours. The Company’s proprietary biomedical polymer systems provide medical devices with enhanced biocompatibility and offer a platform for drug delivery. Biocompatibles’ proprietary PC Technology drug-eluting stent coating is licensed to Abbott Laboratories. Biocompatibles’ Bead Block embolisation device, which does not contain any drug, is distributed by Terumo.

Q Chip Ltd
Q Chip, www.q-chip.com , is a precision particle engineering company headquartered in Cardiff, UK. With its scalable manufacturing process, Q Chip works with client companies to produce precisely engineered microparticles to the client’s specifications. Q Chip technology has multiple applications in many markets especially the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic sectors.

For immediate release

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