Sigma-Proligo Expands Into Genopole(R) d’Evry Biopark

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sigma-Proligo, a division of the Sigma-Aldrich group , is pleased to announce it has acquired 2,000 sq. meters of office space in the heart of the Genopole(R) d'Evry biopark in the region of Paris. The official inauguration will take place on October 19 at 11:30 a.m.

Sigma-Proligo provides researchers throughout the world with high-quality oligonucleotides due to a high throughput synthesis platform, enabling it to deliver high-quality products at short deadlines.

With 65 employees in France, the majority of whom are researchers, Sigma- Proligo has world-class expertise in nucleic acid synthesis and holds several key patents in siRNA gene silencing technology. Thanks to an R&D team, which is also based in Evry, this site is expected to become a center of excellence within the Sigma-Aldrich group. The new facility is expected to provide the capacity needed for the Company to advance the production of high-quality oligonucleotides in order to meet emerging needs within the bioscience research sector.

Sigma-Proligo has extensive knowledge in the fields of DNA synthesis, siRNA, long amino oligos, quantitative PCR probes and specialized products such as Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA). Sigma-Proligo develops new protocols and new methods in the field of oligonucleotides, and is one of four companies with the MIT license on siRNAs.

"The 'biotech' image of Genopole, as well as the offices and working environment perfectly adapted to our operations, have been the main reasons behind our expansion into Evry," said Khalil Arar, operations manager of Sigma-Aldrich Evry. "The RNAi market has a predicted compound annual growth rate of 14%, and these new facilities are expected to provide Sigma-Proligo with the capacity to meet the increasing market demand for RNAi products. The facilities should also enable the Company to continue to supply customers with innovative products."

Thierry Mandon, President of Genopole, said, "A mature company moving onto the campus boosts the attractiveness of Evry-Corbeil as a business location, and demonstrates its credibility in the biotech sector."

Pierre Tambourin, CEO of Genopole, added "This move will promote interactivity with our start-ups, which will profit from Sigma Proligo's knowledge, and our larger companies who need dynamic local links in order to pursue their development."

Marc Rebois, Director of SEM Genopole, the company that creates and manages the site's real estate and business accommodation resources, added, "Welcoming such a well-known company to Evry-Corbeil is a reward for our ongoing focus on truly biotech-dedicated real estate solutions, and it also constitutes recognition of our campus on the international level."

About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 35 countries and has 7,200 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award- winning Web site at http://sigma-aldrich.com .

About Genopole(R): The first French biopark dedicated to genetic research and biotechnologies, Genopole brings together a 90, 000 square meter site for private and public research laboratories, biotechnological companies as well as university training (Evry Val d'Essonne University). With 23 research laboratories on the campus and a portfolio of over 60 biotechnologies companies, innovation for therapeutical purposes is right at the heart of the concerns at Genopole. Their aim is to foster the development of research into genomics, post-genomics and associated sciences and to transfer technologies to the industrial sector, developing high-level information in these fields and creating and supporting biotechnology companies. Visit its Web Site at http://www.genopole.fr .

Cautionary Statement: This release contains forward-looking statements relating to future performance, goals, strategic actions and initiatives and similar intentions and beliefs and other statements regarding the Company's expectations, goals, beliefs, intentions and the like, which involve assumptions regarding the Company's operations and conditions in the markets the Company serves. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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CONTACT: Sean Battles of Sigma-Aldrich, +1-314-286-7616,sean.battles@sial.com

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