CMC Acquires Former ICOS Biologics Operation in Bothell, Washington State, USA

12-05-2007: CMC Biopharmaceuticals A/S (CMC) announced that it has reached an agreement to buy the biologics development and manufacturing operation that Eli Lilly and Company acquired when it purchased ICOS Corporation in January 2007. CMC, a Copenhagen based leading provider of contract biomanufacturing services, will purchase the biologics facility in Bothell, Washington State, USA. The new operation, CMC ICOS Biologics Inc., which shall expand the Danish company's operations into the United States, will continue to develop and manufacture therapeutic proteins for early clinical trials for its customers. CMC is planning significant investment in the facility to enable production of late stage clinical trial and commercial biopharmaceuticals. As a part of the agreement, CMC will retain the existing 127 employees working at the biologics facility in Bothell, which continued to operate after being purchased by Lilly. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We're extremely excited about our acquisition of ICOS Biologics. We feel strongly that the skills inherent in the employees that work here are of great value to the biologics industry and will complement the abilities of our expert workforce in Europe," said David Kauffmann, Chairman, CMC. "Our plans to upgrade the facility in order to manufacture commercial product will mean that we can provide additional services to both existing and new clients. Moreover, by establishing a presence in the USA, we've placed CMC in an enhanced position to actively seek opportunities to grow our business," said Mads Laustsen, CEO, CMC.