PRESSEMITTEILUNGEN

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Company Information/Licensing Agreements/Molecular Diagnostics

Press release, Berlin, Germany, and Seattle, WA, USA, November 2, 2009 (euro adhoc) – The cancer molecular diagnostics company Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt Prime Standard: ECX) today announced that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, Madison, NJ, U.S.A., the world’s leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, successfully completed the clinical validation of its Septin9-based laboratory-developed test for aiding the detection of colorectal cancer. Under terms of a license agreement between the companies for Epigenomics’ proprietary DNA methylation biomarker Septin9, Epigenomics will receive a milestone payment from Quest Diagnostics upon reaching this milestone. The amount of the payment was not disclosed.

“Validation of our Septin9 laboratory-developed test is an important step forward in providing a test that physicians can use to help them identify patients with colorectal cancer,” said Jay G. Wohlgemuth, M.D., Vice President of Science and Innovation, Quest Diagnostics. “We intend to release the test in the U.S. later this year.”

“Quest Diagnostics’ successful development and validation of a laboratory-developed blood test based on Septin9 is an important step forward in making this innovative approach to colorectal cancer detection broadly available,” commented Geert Nygaard, Chief Executive Officer of Epigenomics. “We are confident that this patient-friendly option for colorectal cancer testing, once brought to market in the U.S., will help reduce mortality from this disease among Americans.”

About Epigenomics

Epigenomics is a molecular diagnostics company with a focus on the development of novel products for cancer. Using DNA methylation biomarkers, Epigenomics’ tests on the market and in development aim at diagnosing cancer at an early stage before symptoms occur and thereby may reduce mortality from this dreaded disease.

Epigenomics’ product portfolio contains Epi proColon, a CE-marked IVD blood test for the early detection of colorectal cancer based on the validated biomarker mSEPT9, and further proprietary DNA methylation biomarkers at various stages of development for colorectal, prostate and lung cancer detection in blood, urine and bronchial lavage specimens. Epigenomics’ biomarker mSEPT9 for the early detection of colorectal cancer in a simple blood sample has demonstrated continuously highest performance in eight clinical case-control studies with in total more than 3,300 individuals tested. A large prospective clinical study – PRESEPT – to evaluate the performance characteristics and the health economic benefit of colorectal cancer screening with the mSEPT9 biomarker in a representative screening population currently under way (www.presept.net).

Once completed, the PRESEPT Study will be one of the largest commercially sponsored colorectal cancer screening clinical studies ever conducted. The clinical performance and health economic analysis results are expected to support future coverage of mSEPT9 testing by public and private health insurers worldwide. Epigenomics’ partners developing IVD test kits for the mSEPT9 biomarker can co-fund and access the PRESEPT sample collection to conduct clinical trials for regulatory filings in the U.S.

For development and global commercialization of IVD test products, Epigenomics pursues a dual business strategy in which direct commercialization of proprietary diagnostic test products is combined with non-exclusive licensing to diagnostic industry players with broad customer access. Strategic diagnostics industry partners include Abbott Molecular, Philips, Sysmex Corporation, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, and ARUP Laboratories, Inc. for diagnostics test products and services, and QIAGEN N.V. for sample preparation solutions and research products.

Partners in the health care industry and the biomedical research community can access Epigenomics’ portfolio of proprietary DNA methylation technologies and biomarkers through research products, Biomarker Services, IVD Development Collaborations, and Licensing. The company is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and has a wholly owned subsidiary in Seattle, WA, U.S.A. For more information, please visit Epigenomics’ website at {www.epigenomics.com}[HYPERLINK: Ende der Mitteilung euro adhoc
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Further inquiry note:

Epigenomics AG
Dr. Achim Plum
Sen. VP Corporate Development
Tel: +49 30 24345 368
achim.plum@epigenomics.com

Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: DE000A0BVT96
WKN: A0BVT9
Index: Prime All Share, Technologie All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade

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Berlin Germany, Cancer Detection, Chief Executive Officer, Clinical Validation, Colorectal, Colorectal Cancer, D Vice, Development Partner, Diagnostic Testing, Dna Methylation, Licensing Agreements, Madison Nj, Milestone Payment, Molecular Diagnostics, Prime Standard, Quest Diagnostics, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, Seattle Wa Usa, Successful Development, Wohlgemuth