Prionics acquires Pfizer Animal Healths diagnostic products Promising products for the Swiss success company

Zurich, Switzerland, 24. 10. 2005 (PROTEXT/ots) - PrionicsAG, the world leader in prion diagnostics and Pfizer AnimalHealth, the worlds leading animal health company, agreed todaythat Prionics will acquire Pfizer Animal Healths diagnosticproducts. Terms were not disclosed.

The product line includes tests for the detection of Bovinetuberculosis (Bovigam) and Paratuberculosis (Parachek) inanimals raised as a food source. Both diseases cause majoreconomic damage to the farm industry and also have implicationsto human health.

Bovigam and Parachek are among the leading products in theirfield with significant shares in existing markets and anattractive potential for the development of new markets. Withthis expansion of our product portfolio, we are confident thatwere well positioned to further grow sustainably in the farmanimal diagnostics business, says Ernst Zollinger, Head ofMarketing & Sales at Prionics.

Prionics will fully integrate the diagnostic tests into itsproduct portfolio through a one year transition phase to ensurea smooth changeover. We are confident, that our new clients willprofit from Prionics specialized customer service. We willcontact these customers directly to inform them about the plannedsteps, explains Zollinger. Moreover, we intend to use ourinnovative development know-how to further improve the two testsin order to offer our clients even better solutions.

Tuberculosis and Paratuberculosis Bovine tuberculosis andParatuberculosis are major farm animal diseases that cause severeeconomic damage in breeding stock, milk and meat producinganimals worldwide with severe implications to human health.Diagnostic tests for Bovine tuberculosis and Paratuberculosiscan help to reduce the risk of infection in humans as well ascontribute to targeted eradication and control of these diseases. Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that iscaused by the bacteria Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). Bovine TBprimarily affects cattle, however, other animals may becomeinfected. Disease due to M. bovis in animals most often occursin the lungs but may also occur in the intestines and other partsof the body. M. bovis is transmitted to humans primarily throughconsumption of raw milk or dairy products but can also betransmitted through the respiratory route.

Paratuberculosis leads to Johnes Disease in cattle, goat andwild animals and has been implicated as a causal agent forCrohns Disease in humans a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

About Prionics The world market leader for rapid priontesting was founded in 1997 as a spin-off from the University ofZurich. Prionics carries out research and development indiagnostics for prion diseases (such as BSE) and other zoonoticdiseases. The recipient of the Swiss Economic Award 2002 asCompany of the year and winner of the European Biotech Award2004 for Excellence in Biotech Business is driving its businessthrough a combination of outstanding research, high-qualityproducts and new marketing concepts.

For more information please visit www.prionics.com orcontact: Stephanie Musshafen; Director of CorporateCommunications; tel. : +41 44 200 20 95 ; e-mail :press.relations@prionics.ch

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