May 20^th 2004

> NextGen Sciences (Huntingdon, UK and Boston, US), a leading provider of automated solutions for protein research, today announced that it has been granted a patent to protect the electrophoretic separation technology used in the company’s a2DE^TM system.

The a2DE is the first technology to fully automate 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The granted patent protects the system’s unique ability to perform iso-electric focusing with the separation medium on one face of a flexible plastic sheet, rather than the traditional and cumbersome glass plates.

The patent, entitled ‘Electrophoretic Separation System (patent number GB 2386954), is the fourth to have been granted to NextGen Sciences since the company was founded in 2000. Earlier this year NextGen Sciences was granted a patent to protect the novel pump system used extensively in both of the company’s technologies, the a2DE^TM and the expressionfactory^TM.

“We are extremely pleased that this patent has been granted. Given the prior art and complexity of the IP in this field, this patent demonstrates that the a2DE technology is both novel and inventive. As we are securing orders for the expressionfactory and the a2DE, these patents exemplify our strategy to build a strong IP portfolio to protect the long-term commercialisation of our technologies.” commented Dr Kevin Auton, CEO NextGen Sciences and co-inventor. Inventors on this patent were Dr Sergei Schurov (Technical Director, Mechanical Engineering), Mr Paul Ryan (Ryan Research) and Kevin Auton (CEO).

For further information please contact:

Lorna Watson (Marketing Manager)

t: +44 (0) 1480 420 974

e: lorna.watson@nextgensciences.com

NextGen Sciences Ltd is a leading provider of integrated solutions for protein research. The company’s advanced technologies fully automate established, complex research techniques, improving results and accelerating discovery. With a team of skilled individuals comprising expert discovery scientists, software and design engineers, NextGen Sciences is uniquely positioned to rapidly progress technology solutions from design concept to market.

The company has a strong track record of launching first to market products and has achieved an international reputation for successfully commercialising technology. In August 2003 NextGen Sciences launched two unique technologies, the expressionfactory^TM, which fully automates protein expression from gene to protein, and the a2DE^TM, which separates proteins by 2-dimensional electrophoresis, without user supervision or intervention.

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