Tm Bioscience Corporation And Luminex Corporation Extend Partnership

TORONTO, March 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Tm Bioscience Corporation , a leader in the commercial genetic testing market, and Luminex(R) Corporation a leading provider of multiplex solutions, today announced they have signed a multi-year extension of their partnership agreement, which grants Tm rights to commercialize DNA-based molecular diagnostics that operate on Luminex's xMAP(R) technology platform.

All genetic tests from Tm Bioscience are based on the Tag-It(TM) Universal Array platform, which utilizes a proprietary universal tag system that allows for easy optimization, product development and expansion. Assays from Tm utilize the proven Luminex xMAP technology platform, the industry benchmark for bead based bioassay multiplexing. Combined, the Universal Array and Luminex instrument are a best in class solution for performing clinical grade multiplexed genetic tests.

The original agreement between Tm Bioscience and Luminex expires on March 28, 2006. The renegotiated agreement incorporates similar terms to the original agreement, including the ability for Tm to distribute Luminex's xMAP systems such as the new LX200 instrument.

"In 2001, we selected Luminex as a platform partner, having determined that a key factor for our success would be to commercialize our tests on an instrument capable of penetrating the clinical laboratory market," said Greg Hines, president and chief executive officer of Tm Bioscience Corporation. "Now, with more than 3400 instrument placements in life science laboratories worldwide, including a large number of clinical laboratories, Luminex is well positioned and the market reach they have achieved is a solid foundation for the further growth of our company."

"Tm Bioscience is helping drive our success, having commercialized a broad menu of genetic tests and reagents optimized to run on the Luminex xMAP system, including the first multiplexed human disease genotyping test to be cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for diagnostic use in the United States," said Patrick J. Balthrop, president and chief executive officer of Luminex Corporation. "Molecular diagnostics is an important growth market for Luminex and we are pleased to extend our successful relationship with Tm."

About Luminex:

Luminex Corporation develops, manufactures and markets proprietary biological testing technologies with applications throughout the life sciences industry. The Company's xMAP system is an open-architecture, multi-analyte technology platform that delivers fast, accurate and cost-effective bioassay results to markets as diverse as pharmaceutical drug discovery, clinical diagnostics and biomedical research, including the genomics and proteomics research markets. The Company's xMAP technology is sold worldwide and is in use in leading research laboratories as well as major pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology companies. Further information on Luminex Corporation or xMAP can be obtained on the Internet at http://www.luminexcorp.com.

About Tag-It(TM) reagents and genetic tests

Tm Bioscience's product menu is focused in the fields of human genetic disorders, pharmacogenetics and infectious disease. The Company has commercialized Analyte Specific Reagents(x) and a series of Tag-It(TM) tests(xx) for a variety of genetic disorders. The Company's Tag-It(TM) Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Kit is the first multiplexed human disease genotyping test to be cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an in vitro device (IVD) for diagnostic use in the United States. It has also received the CE Mark, allowing the test to be marketed for diagnostic purposes in the European Union.

(x) Analyte Specific Reagent. Analytical and performance characteristics are not established. (xx) For Investigational Use Only. The performance characteristics of these products have not been established. About Tm Bioscience - Putting the Human Genome to Work(TM)

Tm Bioscience is a DNA-based diagnostics company developing a suite of genetic tests. Tm Bioscience's product pipeline includes tests for genetic disorders, drug metabolism, and infectious diseases. Tm Bioscience is located in Toronto, Ontario. Additional information about Tm Bioscience can be found at www.tmbioscience.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which by their nature necessarily involve risk and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such statements. Tm Bioscience considers the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based to be reasonable at the time they were prepared, but cautions readers that these assumptions may ultimately prove to be incorrect due to certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the difficulty of predicting regulatory approvals, market acceptance and demand for new products, the availability of appropriate genetic content and other materials required for Tm Bioscience's products, Tm Bioscience's ability to manufacture its products on a large scale, the protection of intellectual property connected with genetic content, the impact of competitive products, currency fluctuations, risks associated with Tm Bioscience's manufacturing facility and any other similar or related risks and uncertainties. If any of these risks or uncertainties were to materialize, or if assumptions underlying the forward- looking statements of management were to prove incorrect, actual results of Tm Bioscience could vary materially from those that are expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Tm Bioscience disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT: Tm Bioscience Corporation, James Smith, The Equicom Group, Tel.:(416) 815-0700, Email: jsmith@equicomgroup.com; Luminex Corporate Contact:Harriss T. Currie, Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer,Luminex Corporation, (512) 219-8020, hcurrie@luminexcorp.com; Luminex MediaContact: Sandra G. Oak, Nsight Public Relations, (321) 591-1508,soakpr@earthlink.net; To request a free copy of this organization's annualreport, please go to http://www.newswire.ca and click on Tools forInvestors.