Corporate News 2007

Bristol- Myers Squibb Sign Further Agreements For Access to Asterand Products And Services

May 10, 2007

Asterand plc (LSE: ATD), announced today that it has entered into an extended collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) ("BMS") for access to Asterand's products and services for up to three years. The agreement will focus on access to Asterand's PhaseZERO® drug discovery services and Asterand's XpressBANK^TM of human tissue and clinical samples for the continued validation of early drug targets and support for compound optimization. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"This decision by Bristol-Myers Squibb is an important validation of Asterand's products and services," says Asterand CEO Martyn Coombs. "Our goal is to assist Bristol'Myers Squibb and other pharmaceutical companies in making the drug development process more effective and we want to help them reach the clinic with less cost and more confidence. We are particularly proud that Bristol-Myers Squibb has renewed its relationship with Asterand because of the importance they place on collaborating with highly qualified research partners". Coombs adds, "Access to Asterand's human tissue-based approach through PhaseZERO® Services and XpressBANK^TM. Samples can help assist in the early identification of possible adverse events in humans, and thus may help reduce the high attrition rates and costs associated with drug discovery and development."

Under the extended collaboration, Asterand will continue to undertake a range of PhaseZERO® studies for Bristol-Myers Squibb in the areas of compound profiling and target validation. PhaseZERO® studies include gene and protein expression profiling and cell-based pharmacology assays. Likewise, Bristol-Myers Squibb will be granted access to Asterand's XpressBANK^TM of human tissue, bio-fluid, and cell lines and may also utilize Asterand's ProCURE^TM custom clinical sample collection service. Contact information:

Contact information:
Martyn Coombs, Chief Executive Officer
David Lee, Chairman
Tel No: UK: 01763 211600
Tel No: US: 001 (313) 263-0960
www.asterand.com

Registered and Head Office: 2 Orchard Road
Royston
Hertfordshire
SG8 5HD
United Kingdom
www.asterand.com

Note to Editors
Asterand's Target Validation Capabilities
The sequencing of the human genome has identified a vast number of potentially interesting targets. The challenge now is to evaluate these targets and select those that are relevant to human disease. Asterand's target validation capabilities provide information on gene and protein expression in diseased and normal human tissues to select and stratify targets of interest, and to identify those representing the greatest opportunity for further development.

Asterand's Compound Profiling Capabilities
Asterand applies a broad suite of technologies to its comprehensive human tissue resource, thus enabling the more rigorous profiling of drug candidates during lead optimisation. Asterand therefore provides more confidence in the development of candidates prior to committing to human clinical trials. Asterand's approach can be applied before, during, or after the clinical development process to address specific questions concerning a product's safety, efficacy and commercial viability.