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PRINCETON, N.J. and ABINGDON, OXON., U.K., Sept. 3, 2003 - Orchid Cellmark,
Inc. (Nasdaq: ORCH) today announced that its European Cellmark business
has been selected by London’s Metropolitan Police Service to provide
scene-of-crime forensic DNA testing services. The three-year contract,
extendable for an additional two years, was awarded through Orchid’s
strategic partner Forensic Alliance and is expected to generate the equivalent
of several million dollars U.S. annually in revenue for Orchid. The Metropolitan
Police Service, headquartered at New Scotland Yard, London, is the U.K.’s
largest police force and is responsible for approximately 20% of all forensic
testing in England and Wales.
"We are honored to be awarded this important contract with Forensic
Alliance, which we believe is testament to our well-established reputation
for innovation, quality and analytical excellence, as well as our commitment
to deliver a swift, responsive service to assist in the rapid resolution
of criminal cases," said Graham Vitty, managing director of Orchid Cellmark Europe.
Orchid Cellmark is the largest independent supplier of scene-of-crime
DNA analysis to U.K. police forces, providing a full range of forensic
DNA services from the routine analysis of DNA samples for submission to
the National DNA Database® to the analysis of evidence for the most
serious crimes. This contract, which represents a significant proportion
of the Metropolitan Police forensic DNA work, is the largest ever awarded
to a private forensic laboratory in the U.K. Further details of the agreement
were not disclosed.
"Award of this multi-year contract is a key milestone as we continue
to build our DNA testing leadership in the U.K. and Europe," said
Paul J. Kelly, M.D., chief executive officer of Orchid Cellmark, Inc.
"The U.K. is recognized globally as a leader in applying DNA analysis
to solve crimes, and we are delighted that together with our partner Forensic
Alliance we will now be working with the Metropolitan Police, the single
largest U.K. consumer of forensic DNA services and an institution at the
forefront of maximizing the value of forensic DNA analysis."
U.K. Government funding for DNA analysis has increased significantly in
recent years through its DNA Expansion Plan. Working with Forensic Alliance,
Orchid Cellmark is increasing its forensic DNA business by focusing on
quality while driving down processing time, and has recently expanded
its U.K. headquarters in Abingdon to accommodate the rapid growth in its
service businesses.
About Orchid Cellmark Europe
Orchid Europe offers DNA testing services to verify relationships for
a variety of applications and is one of the largest providers of paternity
testing services in Europe. It is a leading supplier of forensic DNA profiling
for criminal investigation, a rapidly growing area in which the U.K. is
a world leader. It is also the major supplier of genotyping services to
the U.K. Government’s National Scrapie Plan, delivering high throughput
DNA testing services to help British farmers breed sheep with reduced
susceptibility to this prion disease. More information about the range
of DNA testing services and products available from Orchid Cellmark
Europe can be found at www.orchideurope.com.
About Orchid Cellmark, Inc.
Orchid Cellmark is the leading provider of services and products for
profiling genetic uniqueness. Orchid’s interlocking strategic business
units address distinctive markets that together represent a unique balance
of established, predictable growth, such as forensic and paternity DNA
testing, and large upside potential, like pharmacogenetics-based personalized
healthcare. All leverage Orchid’s network of accredited genotyping
laboratories, its leading technologies and its expertise in genetic analysis.
Orchid provides identity genomics testing for forensics and paternity
through Orchid Cellmark and Orchid GeneScreen, and also provides public
health genotyping services. Orchid GeneShield is developing pharmacogenetics-based
programs designed to accelerate the adoption of personalized healthcare.
More information on Orchid can be found at www.orchid.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 as amended, including statements
regarding the fact that immigration related genetic testing is a rapidly
growing global market. Such statements are subject to 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 Orchid’s listing on the Nasdaq National Market. 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, 2002, and Orchid’s Registration Statement
on Form S-3 and the prospectus contained therein dated June 6, 2003, each
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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