Asterand CEO Martyn Coombs commented:

“This decision by Bristol-Myers Squibb is an important validation of Asterand's products and services. Asterand provides human based solutions that improve decision making during the development of medicines. Our customers incorporate human tissue-based models at all stages of development from target identification to pre-clinical research. We are delighted that Bristol-Myers Squibb has renewed our collaboration and our team looks forward to continuing to support their target validation and compound optimisation programmes.”

Under the extended collaboration, Asterand will continue to undertake a range of PhaseZERO® studies for Bristol-Myers Squibb in the areas of compound profiling and target validation. PhaseZERO® studies include gene and protein expression profiling and cell-based pharmacology assays. Likewise, Bristol-Myers Squibb will be granted access to Asterand's XpressBANKTM of human tissue, bio-fluid, and cell lines and may also utilize Asterand's ProCURETM custom clinical sample collection service.

About ASTERAND

Asterand plc is a leading supplier of high quality human tissue and tissue-based services. Our comprehensive approach to human tissue and research services offers pharmaceutical, biotech and diagnostic companies the unique opportunity to have one Company meet all of their human biomaterial needs along the continuum of drug discovery and development. Our mission is to accelerate target discovery and compound validation and enable pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to take safer and more effective drugs into the clinic.

For more information, go to www.Asterand.com.

Contact:

Asterand plc Martyn Coombs, Chief Executive Officer John Stchur, Chief Financial Officer Tel: + 44 (0) 1763 211 600 / + 1 (313) 263-0960 or Buchanan Communications Lisa Baderoon / Jennie Spivey Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000 or Cenkos Securities plc Stephen Keys / Alex Aylen Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7397 8924 or Daniel Stewart & Company plc Martin Lampshire Tel: +44 (0) 20 7776 6550