| COVANCE ANNOUNCES NONCLINICAL FLOW CYTOMETRY SERVICES TO BE INTRODUCED IN NORTH AMERICA |
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Princeton, New Jersey, April 21, 2003 — Covance Inc. (NYSE: CVD) announced today the addition of flow cytometry services to its North American nonclinical safety assessment service offerings. The new service builds upon similar offerings already available at its nonclinical laboratories in the United Kingdom and Germany and further enhances the established immunotoxicology business at Covance. Flow cytometry's application in immunotoxicology rapidly and accurately provides data to help evaluate a new drug's immunotoxic potential. Demand for flow cytometry services has increased sharply due to the growing development of immunomodulatory and biotechnology-derived molecules, and an increase in immunotoxicity testing guidelines from the major worldwide regulatory organizations.
To address the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry's rising demand for nonclinical flow cytometry services, Covance has invested in a Becton Dickinson FACSCalibur flow cytometer, an industry standard. Utilizing this instrument, Covance is developing a standard panel of GLP-compliant immunophenotyping assays, consisting of T-lymphocytes (CD4 and CD8 subsets), B-lymphocytes, natural killer cells, monocytes, and macrophages, which will be validated and available during the second quarter of 2003. Assays for lysis, phagocytosis, cytokines, and monoclonal antibodies are expected to be developed and validated throughout 2003.
"The addition of flow cytometry to our North American immunotoxicology program allows us to respond to our clients increasing demand for this type of testing," said Robert Caldwell, Ph.D., who directs Covance's North American Immunotoxicology Services. "We will be able to provide our clients with rapid data turnaround times, seamless sample processing and data analysis, and integrated reporting. This will save our clients time and money by quickly providing them with the quality data they need to assist in the evaluation of their compound's immunotoxic potential."
Covance has broad expertise and experience in all major aspects of immunotoxicity testing including structural integrity, humoral immunity, cell-mediated immunity, nonspecific host defense, and host resistance. Covance, the world's leading provider of contract toxicology services, offers the most comprehensive safety assessment service portfolio available to the drug development industry, including specialty services such as primate toxicology, reproductive and developmental toxicology, safety pharmacology, infusion toxicology, and inhalation toxicology. The investment in nonclinical flow cytometry services demonstrates Covance's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the drug development industry.
Covance, with headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, is one of the world's largest and most comprehensive drug development services companies with 2002 net revenues of $883 million, global operations in 17 countries, and approximately 6,900, employees worldwide. Information on Covance's products and services, recent press releases, and SEC filings can be obtained through the website in the About Covance area. |
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