Hayward, CA - February 12, 2001 -- Biolog, Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering powerful new tools for cell-based analysis, announced today that it has received a European patent on its proprietary MicroCard™ device. This patent follows the issuance of a U.S. patent on this device.

The MicroCard is a proprietary microfluidics platform that allows for miniaturization of Biolog's 96-well format by reducing the amount of sample and allowing for rapid inoculation of all 96 wells simultaneously. The MicroCard can be adapted for Biolog's microbiology identification products and its new Phenotype MicroArray™ (PM) technology.

Phenotype MicroArrays are designed to study a range of cell properties (phenotypes) as a means of understanding how a gene or drug affects living cells - a critical step in identifying potential new drug targets and in developing safe and effective new drugs. Biolog's proprietary PM technology provides researchers with powerful, efficient and cost-effective information for determining gene function by directly measuring the consequence of a genetic change on cellular phenotypes. This technology allows researchers to test hundreds to thousands of cell properties simultaneously, and also has applications in the validation and optimization of drug targets, determining a drug's mode of action, assessing toxicology, and basic cellular research.

"When used with the PM technology, the MicroCard is able to greatly expand the capacity of our OmniLog® PM System," explained Tim Mullane, president and CEO of Biolog. "The OmniLog® kinetically measures and records the changes in our PM assays. With the addition of the MicroCard, the system will be able to double its monitoring capability, from 450,000 datapoints to 900,000 datapoints in a 24-hour run.

"In addition, the MicroCard reduces sample requirements by 10-fold over our current product platform. It has single-port inoculation which is simple and rapid, allowing the user to inoculate the MicroCard in about 2 seconds. It also provides safety in that the sample is sealed."

The MicroCard microfluidics technology will have other uses in multiwell testing, such as diagnostics, cell-based assays, and biochemical assays. The company plans to pursue licensing the MicroCard technology to companies interested in using it in non-competitive applications.

Phenotype MicroArrays include assays to monitor carbon metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, sulfur and phosphorus metabolism, and assays that monitor growth stimulation by different nutrients. Currently the Phenotype MicroArray technology is optimized for use with bacteria and fungal cells. The company has developed procedures that facilitate analysis of the most important bacterial infectious disease agents, and has begun work on fungal pathogens.

Biolog is a pioneer in the development of powerful new cellular analysis tools for solving critical problems in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development. The company has recently launched its Phenotype MicroArray technology and OmniLog® PM System for such applications as determining gene function, validating and optimizing drug targets, and assessing cellular toxicology. Further information can be obtained at the company's website, www.biolog.com.