Sanofi Synthelabo

LIFESPAN BIOSCIENCES ADDS SANOFI-SYNTHELABO AS FIFTH SUBSCRIBER TO GPCR LOCALIZATION DATABASE; GENE COUNT WILL NOW REACH 320

Expanded Database Will Give All Subscribers More Gene Targets For Drug Discovery

SEATTLE (September 4, 2001)— LifeSpan Biosciences, Inc., a leading genomics company that uses molecular pathology to profile and localize gene expression in human diseases, announced today that Sanofi-Synthelabo has become the fifth subscriber to its database of information on the expression and localization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).  The contract calls for the number of GPCRs in the database to double from 160 to 320, giving subscribers access to information on all major non-olfactory GPCRs for use in identifying and validating new gene targets for drug discovery.

Sanofi-Synthelabo joins Pfizer, Merck & Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb and Novartis Research Foundation in contracting to receive early access to LifeSpan's database as a means of prioritizing the best potential drug targets from among the many candidates that have been identified by the genomics revolution.  The size of the database has increased, as each subscriber selects for investigation specific GPCRs according to their particular therapeutic focus.

“The value of our GPCR database will increase significantly with the addition of Sanofi-Synthelabo to our subscribers, because it will enable us to complete the work of mapping virtually all GPCRs that are of interest as targets for drug development,'' said Dr. Joseph P. Brown, President and CEO of LifeSpan Biosciences.  "This large body of data has the potential to have important consequences in the treatment of a wide variety of illnesses.”

GPCRs are a large family of cell-surface molecules that act as receptors for many biologically active compounds and important pharmaceuticals.  LifeSpan is generating specific antibodies to GPCRs and is using immunohistochemistry to determine the expression and localization of individual GPCRs in a wide range of normal and diseased tissues from its extensive bank of tissue specimens.  LifeSpan's approach, termed molecular pathology, requires highly trained pathologists to interpret the staining patterns, and it provides a degree of detail that cannot be achieved by high- throughput methods such as gene chips.

The detailed GPCR expression and localization information is being compiled in an easy-to-search relational database that includes high-resolution digital images, along with public DNA and protein sequence data.  By shedding new light on the expression and function of GPCRs, this comprehensive database is intended to assist the pharmaceutical industry in pinpointing the most productive areas for drug research and identifying potential side effects early in the drug development process.

"With the thousands of new genes that have been identified in recent years, the challenge for pharmaceutical chemists is to zero in on those that hold the greatest promise for curing or controlling disease," said Dr. Glenna C. Burmer, LifeSpan's Chief Scientific Officer.  "Our GPCR database can make a significant contribution in identifying which genes to investigate and to determine exactly where in the human body a given compound may act, thereby helping pharmaceutical companies speed time to market for drugs that can improve or even save lives."

For more information on LifeSpan Biosciences, contact Joseph P. Brown, CEO, at (206) 464-1554 or joe@lsbio.com, or visit www.lsbio.com.

About Sanofi-Synthelabo

With annual sales in excess of $5 billion in 2000 and 30,000 employees in more than 100 countries, Sanofi-Synthelabo is the seventh largest pharmaceutical company in Europe and among the top 20 worldwide.  Sanofi- Synthelabo products primarily focus on cardiovascular disease/thrombosis, disorders of central nervous system, oncology and internal medicine.  Sanofi- Synthelabo has a portfolio of 49 compounds in development with 23 of those compounds in phase II or III. Corporate headquarters are in Paris, France.  The company's Web address is www.sanofi-synthelabo.com.

About LifeSpan Biosciences, Inc.

LifeSpan Biosciences, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, is a privately held genomics company founded in 1995 that utilizes proprietary molecular pathology and bioinformatics technology to profile and localize gene expression in normal and diseased human tissues for its more than 50 pharmaceutical company customers in Europe, Asia and North America.  LifeSpan is currently applying its technology and expertise to the production of a comprehensive atlas on the expression of each of the 30,000 human genes in both normal and diseased tissues.  The company's Web address is www.lsbio.com.