Financial News 2007

Supplies of Tissue From Russia Resumed

August 8, 2007

Asterand (ATD: LN) a leading supplier of high quality human tissue and tissue-based research services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, is pleased to announce that the restrictions placed on the export of human biological materials by the Russian Federal Customs Service have been lifted and that biomaterial imports from that region have recently resumed. The Company anticipates that all shipments temporarily delayed by the ban will now be received and does not expect any material adverse financial impact as a result of the delay.

Martyn Coombs, Chief Executive Officer of Asterand plc, commented: "Since the ban we have taken action to diversify our global procurement network with alternative sites outside of Russia. New collaborations have already been established and others are expected to form over the next year. Going forward, we aim to ensure that the delivery of biomaterials will be as free as possible from interruptions due to international regulatory changes."

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

Buchanan Communications
Lisa Baderoon
Mark Court
Rebecca Skye Dietrich
Tel No: 020 7466 5000

Note to Editors:
Asterand is a leading supplier of high quality human tissue and tissue-based services. Our comprehensive approach to human tissue and research services offers pharmaceutical, biotech and diagnostic companies the unique opportunity to have one company meet all of their human biomaterial needs along the continuum of drug discovery and development. Our mission is to accelerate target discovery and compound validation and enable pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to take safer and more effective drugs into the clinic.

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange