Eckert & Ziegler steps up biotechnology business

Eckert & Ziegler steps up biotechnology business START_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGBerlin, December 13, 2001. The Supervisory Board of Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG has authorized the Managing Board to invest up to EUR 10 million as a capital contribution in the Berlin company NEMOD Immuntherapie AG in the coming two years. The payments are milestoned and can later be converted into a majority interests in that Berlin-based glycoprotein company. START_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAG'After having established a profitable company that achieved earnings per share of one euro in 2001, it is painful to reduce earnings to 30 cents per share starting in 2002 as a result of additional research expenditures', said Dr. Andreas Eckert, chairman of the company's managing board. 'However, the valuation slump in the biotechnology sector offers the unique opportunity to acquire a complete development and patent portfolio in the cancer segment. We do not want to pass up this opportunity for portfolio expansion and lasting increase in value'. START_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGThe oncology division of Eckert & Ziegler AG had already commissioned NEMOD with the development of antibodies marked with a radioactive tracer against blood cancer in the summer of 2001. The expansion adds six cancer medications in an advanced pre-clinical stage to the development portfolio. They include a vaccine against breast cancer and ovarian cancer, a liver metastasis inhibitor and a adjuvants based on fully functional dendritic cell lines. At least three of these development projects are expected to be transferred to Phase I in clinical tests by the end of 2003. Further development in Phase II and onwards is to be carried out with Eckert & Ziegler AG's various pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners. START_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGThe company expects turnover of EUR 30 million and earnings per share of one euro for the 2001 business year. START_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGThe Board of DirectorsSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGFor further information please contact:START_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGKarolin RiehleSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGInvestor RelationsSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGEckert & Ziegler AGSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGRobert-Rössle-Str. 10START_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGD - 13125 BerlinSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGwww.ezag.comSTART_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGTel.: +49 (0) 30 / 94 10 84-138START_OF_TAGBREND_OF_TAGFax.:+49 (0) 30 / 94 10 84-112