IQuum to Collaborate with UMMS to Develop Rapid Diagnostics for VHF in NIAID Funded Program

Marlborough, MA, October 9, 2006 – IQuum announced today that it will collaborate with the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) to develop rapid diagnostics based on IQuum’s lab-in-a-tube platform for category A-C biodefense pathogens that cause viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF). This project will be supported in part by funding under the Cooperative Research Partnerships for Biodefense Program of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). Dr. Alan Rothman, a Professor of Medicine within the school’s Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, and an expert in the field of VHF with over 70 publications, will be the Principal Investigator for this project.

“We are very excited about working with IQuum to advance this high priority research. The NIAID initiative provides a perfect opportunity to merge our expertise in VHF with IQuum’s automated diagnostic technology.” said Dr. Rothman.

VHF refers to a group of illnesses that are caused by several distinct families of viruses, including filoviruses, arenaviruses, hantaviruses, and flaviviruses. Infection by these viruses typically damages multiple organ systems, impair the body's ability to regulate itself, and cause severe hemorrhage. Although VHF is largely endemic to tropical regions, there is a growing need for better detection capabilities in the US and other countries due to the increase of international travel as well as the concern regarding the potential misuse of these pathogens.

Because many of these viruses are classified as biosafety level 4 agents, current diagnosis of VHF requires specialized laboratories and high technical expertise. Based on the guidelines of the Laboratory Response Network established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sentinel laboratories – most of which are hospital-based – are currently advised to refer specimens to one of a very few national biosafety laboratories with such capability. As a result diagnosis can be significantly delayed. The NIAID Biodefense Initiatives placed a high priority on the development of advanced diagnostic equipment that can safely provide such detection capability to sentinel laboratories or even to medical teams deployed in the field.

IQuum’s lab-in-a-tube platform is well-suited for meeting this challenge. Liat™ systems employ a closed tube design, where the Liat Tube serves as the assay reaction vessel and contains all assay reagents pre-packed in tube segments. Once a biological sample is introduced and the Liat Tube is capped, the tube remains closed for all tests processes – no sample, reagent, or reaction mixture needs to be added or removed from the tube. This closed system approach minimizes cross-contamination and reduces biohazard risks, allowing testing to be performed without specialized facilities. The ease-of-use, full automation, portability, and rapid testing capabilities of Liat system will provide further benefits to sentinel laboratories and field- deployed personnel.

Under this five-year project, IQuum and UMMS will collaborate on the development of VHF detection assays using IQuum’s Liat™ Analyzer. IQuum will also develop the Liat™ Workstation and related disposables for higher throughput sample processing. The assay will be validated in pre-clinical studies conducted by reference labs at the CDC, the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), and the Instituto Nacional de Higiene in Venezuela. Clinical studies will be performed at end of this project in preparation for FDA market clearance.

“We are pleased to be working with Dr. Rothman and the University of Massachusetts Medical School on this important project,” said Dr. Shuqi Chen, CEO of IQuum. “The Liat VHF tests developed here will provide tremendous benefits to public health around the world, as well as safeguard against potential bioterrorism.”

About IQuum, Inc.

IQuum is the leader in developing lab-in-a-tube technology, a novel biological sample testing platform which provides revolutionary benefits to a broad cross section of the bioassay market. The Company's proprietary technology enables the non-specialized personnel to perform more sophisticated biological sample testing in any setting with greater speed. Founded in 1998, the Company is commercializing its lab-in-a-tube technology and products for the clinical diagnostics, bio-defense, and industrial testing markets. For more information, please visit www.IQuum.com.

The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), one of the fastest growing academic health centers in the country, has built a reputation as a world-class research institution, consistently producing noteworthy advances in clinical and basic research. The Medical School attracts more than $174 million in research funding annually, 80 percent of which comes from federal funding sources. The Medical School’s Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research has as its mission to conduct research in and training for the study of the basis of human diseases caused by infectious agents and the development of safe and effective vaccines against these agents. For more information, visit www.umassmed.edu.

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