Pacific Biometrics Announces the Appointment of Amar Sethi, MD, PhD, as Its New Vice President of Science & Technology

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - April 27, 2009) - Pacific Biometrics, Inc. (OTCBB: PBME) ("PBI") today announced the appointment of Amar A. Sethi, MD, PhD as its new Vice President of Science & Technology. Dr. Sethi expects to start at PBI on or about July 15, 2009.

The Vice President of Science & Technology (VP of S&T) is a senior scientific and science-strategy position reporting directly to the company's CEO. The VP of S&T is expected to provide leadership to the company's Science & Technology group, which is responsible for responding to the ever-changing technical needs of PBI's clients and fostering growth of the company through scientific and technical innovation in the field of laboratory services for clinical development. The VP of S&T will participate in developing strategic plans that will keep PBI at the forefront of specialty laboratory services for pharmaceutical and diagnostic product development. The VP of S&T will also participate in science-driven business development activities including high level client consultation, attendance at professional and industry meetings, and publication in scientific journals.

Dr. Sethi trained as a physician at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark (1996). In 2003 he was awarded a PhD in genetic epidemiology at the same institution, and in 2005 he became board certified in chemical pathology by the National Board of Health, Denmark. During 2005-2008 he was a postdoctoral fellow at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Pulmonary and Vascular Medicine Branch, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and in 2008 he commenced a clinical chemistry fellowship in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, NIH overseeing the Immunology section while continuing his research. Dr. Sethi holds numerous awards and honors in both Denmark and the US, has presented extensively at international scientific meetings, and has published widely in international, peer-reviewed journals. His research has focused on genetic variations related to cardiovascular disease, and, most recently, on composition and function of HDL in patients with ischemic heart disease and on apo-AI mimetic peptides in animal models of atherosclerosis. Currently, Dr. Sethi is focusing on innovative biomarkers to elucidate the role of HDL.

"We are extremely pleased that a physician-scientist of Dr. Sethi's stature is joining PBI," commented Ron Helm, the company's chairman and CEO. "Amar's arrival at PBI reinforces our standing and reputation in the industry as the premier provider of esoteric testing services to pharma and diagnostic companies in the areas of cardiovascular, metabolic, and bone and joint diseases. Amar has cutting-edge research experience in one of the hottest areas of cardiovascular medicine today, the relationship between HDL cholesterol (the "good cholesterol") and ischemic heart disease. This continues to be a major focus of pharma companies as they move into the post-statin era, and PBI confidently expects to remain a key laboratory services provider in this complex field. Amar's training and experience will further enhance PBI's expertise and reputation in this area and will move our service menu to the next level. Furthermore, Amar has a deep interest in novel diagnostic technologies as applied to clinical drug development, which dovetails perfectly with the focus of our rapidly growing Pacific Biomarkers subsidiary."

Also commenting on Dr. Sethi's appointment, Dr. Elizabeth T. Leary, PBI's Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder, "We are very excited to have Amar join our staff of doctoral level scientists in this key new science and business-development position. Amar's qualification as a physician-scientist with in-depth experience in clinical laboratory services and both basic research and clinical research makes him uniquely suited for PBI's business niche. Especially exciting is Amar's research in innovative biomarkers in HDL metabolism that may help the field understand why some individuals with high levels of HDL, i.e. the 'good' cholesterol are not protected and may in fact be at greater risk for cardiovascular diseases. We eagerly look forward to Amar's contributions as PBI continues to grow in the specialty central lab space."

Mr. Helm concluded by saying: "Amar joins PBI at a critical juncture as we enter an upward trajectory of revenue growth, client diversification, and addition of multiple new diagnostic technologies, assay services, and custom assay development in the rapidly growing space of clinical biomarker services. This appointment will add to the growing momentum as we push into service markets, especially as they relate to biomarkers, and which will position PBI for continued growth."