GenTel BioSciences, Inc. Announces Agreement to License B Virus Antigen From National B Virus Resource Center

MADISON, WI--(Marketwire - August 02, 2011) -

Gentel Biosciences, a provider of animal health research products, announces today an agreement with the National B Virus Resource Center at Georgia State University for its B virus antigen to be licensed for use in Gentel's Colony Surveillance Assays (CSA).

Gentel licensed the B virus antigen from the National B Virus Resource Center, at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA for worldwide commercial use. The agreement was completed on July 22, 2011.

According to Dan Clutter, Gentel's Vice President of Commercial Development, "Gentel is thrilled to include the B virus antigen in Gentel's CSA: Simian products. The combination of the expertise of the two organizations has led to the first commercially available product using this material for detection of antibodies to the hazardous B virus in simian sera."

B virus is a common infection in non-human primates that causes mild symptoms and while transmission to humans is rare, it results in severe disease and can be fatal and is a significant occupational health hazard for laboratory animal staff.

The addition of B virus to the Colony Surveillance Assay product line complements Gentel's initiatives to grow its line of products to support translational research disease models. This strategy includes the addition of B virus to the improved CSA: Simian Basic panel for specific pathogen-free (SPF) research monkeys, and an expanded panel which covers additional opportunistic pathogens set to launch in early Fall 2011. These two CSA: Simian products provide the foundation for Gentel's growing animal health research product line that enables exceptional diagnostic accuracy for serological screening of non-human primates (NHP).

More information at www.CSA-Simian.com

NHP models for disease are a critical component of translational research for disease models like HIV and are an important model system for the human immune system. Maintaining SPF status for these types of animal models is crucial to sustain the integrity of the study.

Gentel launched its product line supporting laboratory animal health in 2010 for non-human primates with its CSA: Simian Basic panel. The addition of the B virus antigen provides additional coverage for the panel, which includes 6 infectious agents monitored in SPF primates. The CSA products use the Gentel Proteomics Multi-System™, a complete analysis platform that integrates data capture and analysis at a price that is comparable to that of a bench-top ELISA system.

"We are extremely encouraged by the early response to the CSA: Simian products by the National Primate Research Centers, whose translational research studies depend on high sensitivity and affordability to maintain colony health and workplace safety," said Alex Vodenlich, Gentel President and CEO.

"It's been a long-term goal of the National B Virus Resource Center to find methodologies to simplify detection of B Virus," said Julia Hilliard, director of the National B Virus Resource Center at Georgia State University. "We consider this a first-stage success that will provide wide applications for B Virus diagnosis."

About Gentel Biosciences, Inc.
Gentel delivers cost-effective, easy-to-use and reliable products to support laboratory animal health. These research products are designed to work with the Gentel Proteomics Multi-System™ (GPM), an all-in-one instrument for data capture and analysis. Gentel also has a strong portfolio of research oriented products for cancer biomarkers, cytokines, and tumor protein analysis, which also work with the GPM. Gentel's headquarters is located in Madison, Wisconsin.

About the National B Virus Resource Center
The National B Virus Resource Center, part of the Viral Immunology Center of Georgia State University's Department of Biology in Atlanta, GA, serves as a global resource funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Research Resources to study B Virus, examining the mechanisms of the virus, as well as how those processes can be circumvented with early identification, appropriate antiviral drugs, and in the future, effective vaccines. The center also provides immediate support in the event of exposure to the virus.


For More Information:
Dan Clutter, Ph.D.
Vice-President, Commercial Development
Gentel Biosciences, Inc.
Phone: 608-441-2904

Jeremy Craig
University Relations
Georgia State University
Phone: 404-413-1357

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