Inv. in eBioinformatics-Amend

Intl. Biotechnology Trust PLC 26 May 2000 The issuer has made the following amendment to the Investment in eBioinformatics announcement released today at 13.00 under RNS No 2657L. The first sentence of the second paragraph should read 'eBioinformatics is the first ASP to focus on providing bioinformatics services to...' All other details remain unchanged. The full corrected version is shown below. ------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information please contact: Jeremy Curnock Cook, Director International Biotechnology Trust plc Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7634 2881 E-mail: tanneke.zeeuw@ramasset.co.uk Katja Stout HCC.De Facto Group plc Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7496 3300 E-mail: k.stout@hccdf.co.uk IBT MAKES INVESTMENT OF $3 MILLION IN EBIOINFORMATICS - A LEADING BIOINFORMATICS PLAYER Friday, May 26, 2000 London, UK... International Biotechnology Trust, (LSE: IBT), announced today that it has invested US$3 million in US-based eBioinformatics, a leading bioinformatics Application Services Provider (ASP). IBT was a co-lead investor as part of a US $10 million second round private equity financing of Series C preferred stock. eBioinformatics is the first ASP to focus on providing bioinformatics services to the academic and biotechnology communities. Bioinformatics, the use of computers to analyse biotechnological data, is now a key element of both basic scientific research and new drug development. Outside of the world's largest and well-funded genome research centres, researchers often find themselves without access to the specific bioinformatics data or software applications they need to carry out their work, due to burdensome licensing costs, specialized computing requirements, and maintenance expenditures. eBioinformatics enables any researcher to take advantage of state-of-the art bioinformatics resources over the Internet, using a unique, low-cost, pay-as-you-go access model. The company is headquartered in Pleasanton, California and has a fully-owned subsidiary in Sydney, Australia. Jeremy Curnock Cook, Director of IBT said: 'The life-sciences industry is in a desperate need for information technology solutions that can facilitate the interpretation of complex data, and there is an increasing need to combine early stage data with that from clinical trials to improve the success and speed of drug development. eBioinformatics is offering lab scientists worldwide access to databases and analytical tools that were previously only available at high cost and through licensing agreements. 'We are pleased to be making an investment in this innovative bioinformatics company, occupying a niche market, which we expect to yield a significant return on investment for our shareholders,' he added. Dr Jonathan Hepple of the bioscience unit at Rothschilds will be joining the Board of Directors as part of this transaction. Howard Goldstein, CEO of eBioinformatics, commented, 'I am delighted that IBT has come in as an investor to provide us with the financial support and industry expertise that we need to expand our competitive marketing worldwide, increase corporate and operational staffing, expand our supplier base as well as quicken development of future products and services.' The new investors to the Company are International Biotechnology Trust, Colonial First State Private Equity and CSL Limited, whilst several current investors participated in the round including Rothschild's Australian Bioscience Trust, Allen & Buckeridge and 3iBioscience Investment Trust (previous Biotechnology Investments Limited). This is IBT's sixth investment in 2000 as the company continues to reinvest gains realised by some recent divestments. IBT's Top 10 core holdings as at 18th May 2000 were: Value (£) Proportion of NAV as at 18th May 2000 Targeted Genetics Corporation 25,022,543 10.08% Cell Therapeutics Inc 18,338,588 7.39% Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc. 17,070,483 6.87% Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals Inc. 16,645,304 6.70% Corvas International Inc. 14,506,068 5.84% Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. 11,861,625 4.78% Biocompatibles International plc 8,452,790 3.40% Delsys Pharmaceutical Corporation 6,751,282 2.72% OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. 5,084,559 2.05% NetGenics Inc. 4,283,734 1.73% Further information on IBT at www.internationalbiotrust.com Issued by International Biotechnology Trust plc and approved by Rothschild Asset Management, which is regulated by IMRO. As IBT invests in the biotechnology sector, investments in IBT should be regarded both as long term and as carrying a high level of financial risk. Accordingly share value may fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount invested. Notes to editors 1. International Biotechnology Trust plc www.internationalbiotrust.com International Biotechnology Trust PLC (IBT) was launched to take advantage of the investment opportunities arising in mid-stage life science companies, with emphasis on investing a larger amount in relatively fewer companies, and involving a close working relationship with investee companies through the provision of strategic management support and sector expertise. International Biotechnology Trust - Key Data * Founded in 1994 * £ 248 million net asset value of investment at 18th May 2000 * Listed on London Stock Exchange (LSE.L) * Managed by the bioscience unit at Rothschild Asset Management * Invests primarily in mid-stage biotechnology companies * Investment criteria - sound technology platform - under-resourced - good prospects for commercialisation * Further financing may be invested where appropriate * Strategic support and management development provided * 21 core investments (including eBioinformatics) 14 in US, 3 in UK, 1 in Germany, 3 in Canada 2. eBioinformatics eBioinformatics was established in April 1998 to provide web-based, per-use access to bioinformatics and biotech related e-commerce for life scientists in pharmaceutical, biotech, agricultural, government and university laboratories. eBioinformatics is a spin-off of the highly successful ANGIS (Australian National Genomic Information Service) bioinformatics service, which has provided bioinformatics resources to more than 3,000 Australian academic, biotechnology, agriculture and pharmaceutical R&D scientists since 1991. The company offers application access, hosting product procedure and management services via the Internet. eBioinformatics website, BioNavigator.com, acts as a portal for life science researchers to obtain access to public and commercially available analytical tools, databases and to order laboratory reagents. For the suppliers of databases, analysis tools and reagents, BioNavigator is a web-based distribution channel with the potential to reach any researcher who can access the Internet. eBioinformatics, which currently employs 43 people, is led by Howard Goldstein, CEO, who has previously served as Vice President of Sales at Incyte Pharmaceuticals and Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Customer Services at Molecular Devices Corporation. Tim Littlejohn, who is the founder and currently serves as Chief Scientific Officer, is recognised worldwide as a leader in the creation of Internet accessible bioinformatics. For more information about eBioinformatics and to preview BioNavigator free-of-charge, visit www.eBioinformatics.com.
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