Dade Behring and Inpeco Sign Agreement for Long-Term Partnership in Lab Automation; Assures access to new automation technologies

Dade Behring (NASDAQ:DADE), the world’s largest company solely dedicated to diagnostics, and Inpeco, a global supplier of automation technology solutions, announced that they have signed a memo of understanding designed to solidify their long-term partnership in laboratory automation. Under this agreement, Dade Behring will have immediate access to new automation technologies developed by Inpeco, thus ensuring a steady stream of leading edge capabilities for Dade Behring’s automation solutions, including the StreamLAB(R) Analytical Workcell.

“This is the type of intelligent partnership that leverages our strong instrument capabilities and the core competencies of our selected automation partners,” said Jim Reid-Anderson, Chairman, President and CEO, Dade Behring. “It is an arrangement that reflects our focus on the future of automation technology and our flexible approach to automation. We are proud of our automation offering and the broad-based solutions we provide, which are customized to meet the real needs of our customers.” “StreamLAB is a key element of our automation strategy, and global placements of StreamLAB were at an all time high in 2004,” said Rick Lee, Corporate Vice President, Global Marketing at Dade Behring. “Interest in our StreamLAB solution continues to increase globally. This partnership supports our unique approach to automation, which is focused on creating individualized solutions based on customer needs and requirements.”

“As a leading technology player in the fast growing clinical automation market, we are dedicated to this continued partnership with Dade Behring, a global leader in the clinical diagnostic market,” said Andrea Pedrazzini, President of Inpeco. “Our business strategy focuses on key technologies in the IVD industry that benefit from expertise in automation. Having already worked closely with Dade Behring, to develop one of their current automation solutions, StreamLAB, we are certain this automation partnership will be unparalleled by any other in the marketplace.”

About Inpeco

Inpeco started its activity in automation technology solutions in 1990, and since then it has been working with most of the major companies and institutions in the IVD, pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. The company’s strategy has been driven, since the very beginning, by final customer needs. Product quality and innovation are major goals. Additional company information is available on the internet at www.inpeco.com .

About Dade Behring

With 2003 revenues of over $1.4 billion, Dade Behring is the world’s largest company dedicated solely to clinical diagnostics. It offers a wide range of products, systems and services designed to meet the day-to-day needs of labs, delivering innovative solutions to customers and enhancing the quality of life for patients. Additional company information is available on the internet at www.dadebehring.com .