bioMerieux, Inc. Exercises Second Option To License RNA Technology From Gen-Probe Incorporated

SAN DIEGO, Calif., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gen-Probe announced today that bioMerieux has exercised a second option to develop diagnostic products for certain undisclosed disease targets using Gen-Probe's patented ribosomal RNA technologies, pursuant to terms of an agreement first announced on October 6, 2004.

In exchange for the right to develop products for these targets, bioMerieux will pay Gen-Probe a $2.1 million license fee. BioMerieux also retains an option to develop products for other disease targets by paying Gen-Probe up to an additional $0.9 million by the end of 2006.

BioMerieux exercised its first option in January of this year and paid Gen-Probe a $4.5 million license fee, $1.9 of which was recorded as license revenue in the first quarter. Based on the two option exercises, Gen-Probe will record another $1.9 million of license revenue in the fourth quarter of 2005, since accounting rules require that revenue be recognized based on the total number of targets eventually selected. This revenue recognition was expected and included in Gen-Probe's financial guidance for 2005. The amount and timing of future license revenue that Gen-Probe records will depend on the number of additional targets, if any, selected by bioMerieux by the end of 2006.

Gen-Probe also will receive royalties on the sale of products that may be developed using the Company's intellectual property.

About Gen-Probe

Gen-Probe Incorporated is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of rapid, accurate and cost-effective nucleic acid tests (NATs) that are used primarily to diagnose human diseases and screen donated human blood. Gen-Probe markets a broad portfolio of products that use the Company's patented technologies to detect infectious microorganisms, including those causing sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, strep throat, pneumonia and fungal infections. The Company also developed and manufactures the only FDA-approved blood screening assay for the simultaneous detection of HIV-1 and HCV, which is marketed by Chiron Corporation. In addition, Gen-Probe's TIGRIS instrument is the only fully automated, high-throughput NAT system for diagnostics and blood screening. Gen-Probe has more than 20 years of NAT expertise, and its products are used daily in clinical laboratories and blood collection centers worldwide. The Company received the 2004 National Medal of Technology, America's highest honor for technological innovation, for developing NAT assays for blood screening. Gen-Probe is headquartered in San Diego and employs approximately 900 people. For more information, go to www.gen-probe.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as believe, will, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan and would. For example, statements concerning the receipt of license fees and royalties, future development, accounting treatment and financial guidance are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. Some of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections in the forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: (i) the risk that bioMerieux may not exercise any additional options, (ii) the risk that bioMerieux may not successfully develop products using our technology, (iii) the risk that the markets for any products developed by bioMerieux will not grow as expected, and (iv) the risk that we may not be able to maintain our current corporate collaborations, including with bioMerieux, or enter into new ones. For additional information about risks and uncertainties we face and a discussion of our financial statements and footnotes, see documents we have filed with the SEC, including our Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and all our periodic filings made with the SEC. We assume no obligation and expressly disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of subsequent events.

Contact: Michael Watts Sr. director, investor relations and corporate communications 858-410-8673

CONTACT: Michael Watts, Sr. director, investor relations and corporatecommunications of Gen-Probe, +1-858-410-8673

Web site: http://www.gen-probe.com/