Seegene, Inc. Signs New License Agreement for DPO™and TOCE™Technologies

GAITHERSBURG, MD and SEOUL, KOREA--(Marketwired - April 15, 2013) - Seegene Inc. (KOSDAQ: 096530), a leading developer of multiplexed molecular technologies and diagnostic tests, today announced that bioMérieux S.A. has licensed the company's DPO™ and TOCE™ technologies for the development of multiplexed tests for food safety testing. bioMérieux is the world leader in food testing. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The increased prevalence of foodborne illnesses is driving regulators and the food industry to advance food safety testing from pathogens to virulence genes detection.

"We are excited to collaborate with bioMérieux, the leading player in the food testing market, to develop the next generation of high-value, multiplexed molecular diagnostic food safety tests. We believe that the adoption of our leading multiplexing technology will curtail future food contamination outbreaks, save lives and help to grow this important market," said Dr. Jong-Yoon Chun, founder, CTO and CEO of Seegene.

According to the Centers for Disease Contol and Prevention Estimates of Foodborne Illness in the United States, 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases.

Among the 31 known foodborne pathogens:

• Nontyphoidal Salmonella, Toxoplasma, Listeria, and norovirus caused the most deaths;
• Nontyphoidal Salmonella, norovirus, Campylobacter, and Toxoplasma caused the most hospitalizations; and
• Norovirus caused the most illnesses.

About DPO and TOCE technologies
DPO™ technology is a fundamental tool for blocking extension of non-specifically primed templates generating consistently high specificity. TOCE enables simultaneous multiple assay testing, by separating genes (that have been amplified with the real-time PCR technology) using the differences in their melting temperatures. Prior to TOCE, multiple assays were difficult because even a small variation in the amplified gene sequence changes the melting temperature of the genes; and reduces the number of fluorescent signals that can be tested at the same time, due to fluorescent intervention among amplified genes. TOCE technology overcomes these limitations. It allows testing of multiple pathogens with one fluorescent material by ensuring that sequence variation does not change the melting temperature of the genes.

About Seegene
Seegene is the world's leading developer of multiplex molecular technologies and multiplex clinical molecular diagnostics (M-MoDx). Seegene's core enabling technologies -- ACP™, DPO™, READ, and TOCE™ -- are the foundation for M-MoDx tests that can simultaneously detect multiple targets with high sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. Seegene's products detect multi-pathogens with great reliability and throughput, ultimately providing the most economical basis for saving time, labor and cost. Seegene's mission is to maintain leadership in molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases, genetics, pharmacogenetics, and oncology using innovative proprietary technologies.

For more information please visit www.seegene.com or call +301-762-9066.