Sigma-Aldrich Announces Collaboration to Develop Monoclonal Antibodies

Under Five Year Agreement, Academic Steering Committee will Identify Antibody
Targets in the Areas of Cancer, Stem Cell and Autoimmune Research to be
Produced by Sigma-Aldrich

ST. LOUIS, June 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sigma-Aldrich (Nasdaq: SIAL)
today announced it has entered into a five-year collaboration to develop
optimal cell lines for the production of monoclonal antibodies. Scientists at
the University of California, San Francisco will lead the research into
antibodies for a variety of cancer targets, autoimmune diseases, stem cell
characteristics and commonly neglected disease targets.
Under the terms of the agreement, research targets will be determined by a
steering committee composed of leading scientists at UCSF, including Lewis
Lanier, Ph.D. Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Microbiology &
Immunology; Jeffrey Bluestone, Ph.D. Director, UCSF Diabetes Center; and Susan
Fisher, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Cell & Tissue Biology. The committee
will direct research into antibodies for cancer targets, stem cell surface
markers and autoimmune disease targets. The University will have free access
to the antibodies resulting from the partnership for its ongoing immunology
and disease research.
"Sigma-Aldrich is committed to developing the most comprehensive and
highly validated collection of monoclonal antibodies available for the cell
biology research community," said Dr. David Smoller, President of
Sigma-Aldrich's Research Biotech Business Unit. "By partnering with the
highly regarded UCSF research team, Sigma-Aldrich is helping to further
promote the study of a number of important cancer targets, regenerative
medicine applications and neglected diseases."
Sigma-Aldrich is expanding its antibody content offering as part of its
plan to become a leading developer and manufacturer of the next generation of
monoclonal antibody products for life science researchers. Earlier this year,
the company announced a partnership to distribute the highly-validated
Prestige antibodies powered by Atlas Antibodies, the commercial arm of the
Human Proteome Resource. Sigma-Aldrich is also collaborating with AbD
Serotec, a Division of MorphoSys, to design, produce and distribute unique
recombinant research antibodies using MorphoSys's proprietary HuCAL GOLD
technology.
For more information on Sigma-Aldrich's extensive monoclonal antibody
product portfolio, visit the company's interactive Antibody Explorer catalog
at http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/antibody.
About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High
Technology company. Our biochemical and organic chemical products and kits
are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical
development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical
and other high technology manufacturing. We have customers in life science
companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry.
Over one million scientists and technologists use our products. Sigma-Aldrich
operates in 36 countries and has 7,900 employees providing excellent service
worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success
through Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more
information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit our award-winning website at
http://www.sigma-aldrich.com.
About UCSF: UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health
worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in
the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.
Cautionary Statement: This release contains forward-looking statements
relating to future performance, goals, strategic actions and initiatives and
similar intentions and beliefs and other statements regarding the Company's
expectations, goals, beliefs, intentions and the like, which involve
assumptions regarding the Company's operations and conditions in the markets
the Company serves. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update
these forward-looking statements.
UC Disclaimer: The information stated above was prepared by Sigma-Aldrich
to report a research collaboration and reflects solely the opinion of
Sigma-Aldrich. Nothing in this statement shall be construed to imply any
support or endorsement of Sigma-Aldrich, or any of its products, by The
Regents of the University of California, its officers, agents and employees.
SOURCE Sigma-Aldrich

Sean Battles of Sigma-Aldrich, +1-314-286-7616, sean.battles@sial.com