Orchid Licenses Cybergenetics Technology for Automated DNA Forensics Analysis

Orchid BioSciences, Inc. announced that its Orchid Cellmark unit is the first private U.S. laboratory to license Cybergenetics’ TrueAllele® software for forensics applications. This pioneering technology uses proprietary computational methods to fully automate routine DNA analysis, replacing the slow and costly manual scoring that represents a substantial portion of the cost of analyzing DNA data for criminal databases.

“Automating our DNA databasing operations is consistent with Orchid Cellmark’s history of technology leadership in DNA forensics,” said Mark D. Stolorow, executive director of Orchid Cellmark. “We expect the TrueAllele technology to play a major role in boosting our productivity, which will be particularly valuable as we ramp up to service new DNA databasing contracts made possible by funds now being released by the National Institute of Justice. We look forward to acceptance of this technology by the law enforcement agencies we serve in order to accelerate our output and improve our costs.”

Federal and state DNA databases are playing an increasingly important role in helping police apprehend criminals by matching DNA from crime scene evidence to a database of known offenders.

“It is fitting that Orchid Cellmark, a long-time leader in DNA forensics, is the first private U.S. licensee of our TrueAllele forensics technology,” said Dr. Mark Perlin, chief executive officer of Cybergenetics. “TrueAllele uses accurate computerized intelligent systems to greatly reduce the time, cost and tedium of manually reviewing forensic data.”

Conventional DNA data editing is a labor-intensive task that requires human review of every genotype and involves significant time and expense. Cybergenetics TrueAllele software is an automated expert system that performs approximately 90 percent of this routine data review rapidly, cost effectively and with a high degree of accuracy, enabling technical staff to focus on the small number of problematic samples. The TrueAllele technology is protected by U.S. patents 5,541,067, 5,580,728, 5,876,933, and 6,054,268.

Financial details of the license were not disclosed.

About Orchid Cellmark
Orchid Cellmark, the forensic strategic business unit of Orchid BioSciences, Inc., has been a leader in private forensic DNA analysis since 1987. Orchid Cellmark has an international network of forensic testing laboratories in the U.S. and U.K., making it the largest private DNA forensic testing service provider in the world. Orchid Cellmark provides a full range of high quality, customized forensic DNA testing services, including identification of victims of accidents and disasters, criminal casework analysis and expert testimony, convicted offender DNA databasing, no-suspect casework testing for government law enforcement laboratories, and DNA testing and consultative services for the defense bar as well as for the prosecution. Orchid Cellmark, which has conducted DNA testing for many notable forensic investigations, uses a variety of genetic analysis methods for its forensic DNA studies and is a leader in developing improved technologies for genetic analysis. This year the company launched DNA Express™, a premium service to help local law enforcement agencies analyze backlogs of DNA evidence from unsolved crimes. DNA Express provides forensic DNA analyses in five business days as opposed to the standard four to five weeks. More information on Orchid Cellmark can be found at www.orchidcellmark.com .

About Orchid BioSciences
Orchid BioSciences is a leading provider of identity genomics services for the forensic and paternity DNA testing markets and for public health and animal DNA testing for food safety. Orchid’s market leading positions in these segments leverage the Company’s accredited laboratories in the U.S. and U.K., its innovative genetic analysis technologies and expertise, and the world-renowned Cellmark and GeneScreen brands that have been associated with exceptional quality, reliability, innovation and customer service for nearly two decades. More information on Orchid can be found at www.orchid.com .

About Cybergenetics
Cybergenetics is the leading innovator of automated forensic DNA interpretation technology. Cybergenetics flagship TrueAllele System 2 software generates high quality offender profiles for the U.K. National DNA Database, the largest of its kind in the world. This year Cybergenetics intends to release TrueAllele System 3, an automated forensic casework process for real-time interpretation of complex DNA evidence. More information on Cybergenetics can be found at www.cybgen.com .

All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding: Orchid’s expectation that the TrueAllele technology will play a major role in boosting Orchid’s productivity and our anticipation of the acceptance of this computer technology by the law enforcement agencies we serve. Such statements are subject to the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, but not limited to, uncertainties relating to technologies, product development, manufacturing, market acceptance, cost and pricing of Orchid products and services, dependence on collaborations and partners, regulatory approvals, competition, intellectual property of others, patent protection, litigation, Orchid’s ability to obtain additional financing and the declaration by the SEC of the effectiveness of the shelf registration statement. These risks and other additional factors affecting Orchid’s business are discussed under the headings “Risks Related to Our Business,” “Risks Related to the Biotechnology Industry” and “Risks Associated with Our Common Stock” in Orchid’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other filings made by Orchid with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Orchid expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Orchid’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based, except as may be required by law.

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