Department of Homeland Security Awards U.S. Genomics Phase II Biodefense Contract

Woburn, MA - U.S. Genomics has been awarded a Phase II contract by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advanced Research Project Agency (HSARPA) to continue development of the Company's sophisticated biological sensor for biodefense applications. Under the 18-month, $16.2 million contract, funded by HSARPA's Bioagent Autonomous Networked Detectors (BAND) program, U.S. Genomics will complete technology and prototype development of its system for the detection and identification of airborne pathogens using its DNA mapping technology. The contract award, follows the successful completion on October 31, 2005 of an 18-month, $7.5 million Phase I HSARPA BAND contract.

"The award of the Phase II BAND contract validates the success of our biosensor program and the considerable potential of the underlying DNA mapping technology," said John J. Canepa, Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Genomics; "The resources provided under the second phase of this contract will allow us to move closer to the commercialization of this unique technology. U.S. Genomics continues to be excited about working with the outstanding team of people at The Department of Homeland Security to deliver a biosensor which meets the program's mandate to improve the security of our citizens. Additionally, advancement of our DNA mapping technology under this contract has the potential to be developed for use in human diagnostics and military applications."

U.S. Genomics' unique DNA mapping technology allows extremely precise "broadband" detection of airborne pathogens in an environmental sample. The technology's readings are sensitive to the single-molecule level and yield extremely low false positive rates. Using a universal reagent set that can detect and identify pathogens, the technology produces a genetic signature unique to each DNA fragment in the sample, and also identifies the organism from which the DNA originates. Unlike other detection technologies, U.S. Genomics' detection platform does not require amplification or the use of pathogen-specific reagents for detection of each threat organism. Additionally, U.S. Genomics' approach has the potential to identify genetically modified species, such as those that may have been deliberately engineered to elude traditional detection methods.

SOURCE: U.S. Genomics, Inc.