Clinical Data Acquires Epidauros Biotechnologie AG, Significantly Enhancing Proprietary Genetic Biomarker Portfolio

Genetic Biomarker Portfolio to Have Important Role in Targeted Drug

Development, Dosing Determination, and Pharmacogenetic Testing

Purchase Expands European Presence, Advances PGxHealth Test

Commercialization and Broadens Geographic Reach of Cogenics'

Pharmacogenomics Services

    NEWTON, Mass., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Clinical Data, Inc.
 ( CLDA) announced today that it has acquired privately held
 Epidauros Biotechnologie AG of Bernried, Germany, in a cash transaction
 valued at 8.75 million euros (or approximately $11.84 million). Epidauros
 brings to Clinical Data an established portfolio of proprietary genetic
 biomarkers, expertise in genetic biomarker discovery, relationships with
 leading diagnostic companies, and a fast-growing pharmacogenomics services
 business.
     Among the strategic assets acquired by Clinical Data in the transaction
 is a significant intellectual property portfolio that includes biomarkers
 in genes relating to prominent drug transporters such as MDR1(1), OCT1(2),
 MRP1(3), and important cytochrome P450 drug metabolizing genes, such as
 CYP2B6(4) and CYP2D6(5). MDR1 encodes P-glycoprotein, a key protein
 involved in drug transport that is known to modulate drug disposition. In
 addition, the genes CYP2B6, OCT1, and MRP1 are implicated in the
 absorption, distribution, and metabolism of many drugs that span a variety
 of therapeutic classes and indications, and are likely to be important in
 both response and safety profiles for these drugs.
     Clinical Data's President and CEO, Drew Fromkin, said, "We are pleased
 to have completed this highly strategic transaction, which we believe will
 enhance Clinical Data's ability to bring valuable, proprietary
 pharmacogenetic tests to market. Epidauros' intellectual property portfolio
 holds great promise in critical areas related to drug transport and
 distribution. In turn, these genetic markers should play a significant role
 in better understanding drug response in individuals."
     "The acquisition of Epidauros also brings to us the assets, know-how,
 and staff for which Epidauros is so well-respected. In particular,
 Epidauros will provide Clinical Data with additional scientific expertise,
 biotechnology partnering capabilities and a deep understanding of European
 clinical markets. Epidauros has grown its pharmacogenetic services business
 in support of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and earned a
 reputation for excellence throughout Europe and the US. We expect the
 capabilities of Epidauros' laboratories to complement those of Clinical
 Data and to contribute a strong local presence in the important German
 market. With our operations in the UK and France, this transaction provides
 Clinical Data with laboratories in three top European markets."
     To further advance the combined abilities of the two companies and to
 expand Clinical Data's clinical testing and targeted therapeutics programs,
 Michael Lutz, Ph.D., the current CEO of Epidauros, has agreed to join
 PGxHealth as the Senior Vice President of Pharmacogenetic Partnerships. Dr.
 Lutz commented, "We welcome the opportunity to become a part of Clinical
 Data and are excited to join forces and work toward building the world's
 leading pharmacogenetic enterprise. At Epidauros, we are proud of our
 history of innovation and our track record with respect to providing
 pharmacogenetic solutions to many partners. We can now further leverage
 Epidauros' and Cogenics' support of pharmaceutical trials with our leading
 pharmaceutical clients. Together, the companies have supported more than
 1,000 clinical trials over the past several years. Moreover, the
 combination of Clinical Data's and our expertise and intellectual property
 will greatly enhance the collective ability of the companies to develop
 companion diagnostics to guide drug development and prescribing."
     "This acquisition parallels what has been happening in the
 pharmaceutical industry for many years and should be regarded as being
 highly positive," said Professor Munir Pirmohamed, Professor of Clinical
 Pharmacology at The University of Liverpool. "It combines the forces of two
 well-known companies in this field and provides the infrastructure and
 expertise to improve the evidence base that is needed to incorporate
 pharmacogenetic diagnostics into clinical practice. I collaborate with both
 companies as academic-industrial collaborations are important in keeping
 with the research strategies of most governments and are ultimately needed
 to show the clinical validity and utility of pharmacogenetics for the
 management of expensive and complex disease areas. Hence, genes for drug
 transporters, such as MDR1 and OCT1 will prove to be as important as the
 Cytochrome P450 system in determining plasma and tissue levels of drugs,
 and thereby the efficacy and toxicity of drugs in disease areas including
 but not limited to oncology, cardiology, CNS, metabolic, and inflammatory
 diseases and pain."
     About Clinical Data, Inc.
     Clinical Data, Inc. is a global biotechnology company unlocking the
 potential of molecular discovery, from targeted science to better
 healthcare. Its PGxHealth division focuses on genetic test and biomarker
 development to help predict drug safety and efficacy, thereby reducing
 health care costs and improving clinical outcomes. Its Cogenics division
 provides molecular and pharmacogenomics services to both research and
 regulated environments. Its Vital Diagnostics division offers in vitro
 diagnostics solutions for the clinical laboratory. Through these divisions,
 Clinical Data is leveraging advances in molecular discovery to provide
 tangible benefits for patients, doctors, scientists and health plans
 worldwide. Visit the company's website at www.clda.com for more
 information.
     About Epidauros (www.epidauros.com)
     Epidauros investigates the genetic factors that influence a person's
 response to a drug and makes drug development and therapy safer, more
 efficient and more predictive. The company has established itself as a
 worldwide leading Pharmacogenetic Research Organization (PRO) providing
 innovative, integrated and value-added solutions to an international
 customer base consisting of pharmaceutical companies, CROs and other
 companies acting in the field of health care.
     Thanks to the pharmacogenetic expert knowledge of its qualified
 scientific team, Epidauros is a competent partner for contract research to
 reveal new pharmacogenetic targets and polymorphisms that impact drug
 response. In addition, Epidauros has brought together a network of
 competent partners to do research and has established its own intellectual
 property base in the field.
     The company is located in Bernried near Munich and was founded as a
 pioneering company in the field of pharmacogenetics in 1997.
     For More Information
 
      Clinical Data
      John Schultz
      +1-617-527-9933 ext. 3350
      jschultz@clda.com
 
      Epidauros
      Michael Lutz, Ph.D.
      +49 (0)8158 9985 71
      michael.lutz@epidauros.com
 
      The Ruth Group
      Sara Ephraim (investors)
      +1-646-536-7002
      sephraim@theruthgroup.com
 
      Jason Rando (media)
      +1-646-536-7025
      jrando@theruthgroup.com
     SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM
 ACT OF 1995
     This press release contains certain forward-looking information about
 Clinical Data that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for
 "forward- looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation
 Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements
 that are not historical facts. Words such as "expect(s)," "feel(s),"
 "believe(s)," "will," "may," "anticipate(s)" and similar expressions are
 intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include,
 but are not limited to statements regarding: our ability to successfully
 integrate the operations, business, technology and intellectual property
 obtained in our acquisitions; our ability to obtain regulatory approval
 for, and successfully introduce our new products; our ability to expand our
 long-term business opportunities; our ability to maintain normal terms with
 our customers and partners; financial projections and estimates and their
 underlying assumptions; and statements regarding future performance. All of
 such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of
 which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of the
 Company, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
 expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward- looking information
 and statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited
 to: whether our PGxPredict(TM) tests will gain wide acceptance in the
 market; the extent to which genetic markers (haplotypes) are predictive of
 clinical outcomes and drug efficacy and safety; our ability to achieve the
 expected synergies and operating efficiencies from all of our acquisitions;
 the strength of our intellectual property rights; competition from
 pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostics companies; the development of
 and our ability to take advantage of the market for pharmacogenetic and
 biomarker products and services; general economic downturns; and other
 risks contained in our various SEC reports and filings, including but not
 limited to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March
 31, 2007, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended
 June 30, 2007, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the
 Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place
 undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of
 the date hereof, and we do not undertake any obligation to revise and
 disseminate forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
 after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of or non-occurrence of
 any events.
     (1) Multidrug Resistance 1, aka ABCB1 or ATP-Binding Cassette, Subfamiliy
         B, Member 1
     (2) Organic Cation Transporter 1
     (3) Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 1, aka ABCC1 or ATP-Binding
         Cassette, Subfamily C, Member 1
     (4) Cytochrome P450, Subfamily IIB, Polypeptide 6
     (5) Cytochrome P450, Subfamily IID, Polypeptide 6
 
 

SOURCE Clinical Data, Inc.