PREMIER Biosoft International today announced an alliance with MRC-Holland to   develop a software package for designing custom MLPA® probes
                          Palo Alto, California--October 16, 2006, PREMIER Biosoft International, a leading bioinformatics company, and   MRC-Holland, the inventors of MLPA® technology, announced an alliance. Multiplex   Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA®) is a method to establish the copy   number of up to 45 nucleic acid sequences in a single reaction. Detecting copy   number changes in the genome, the primary application of MLPA® technology, is a   widely researched area. Current efforts are directed towards more comprehensive   cataloging and characterization of these changes. MLPA® probes are able to   discriminate between sequences that differ by just one nucleotide, making them a   highly sensitive and precise tool for detecting the changes. It is rapidly   becoming the most favored among the currently used methods.  
                             
                          The alliance   will help MLPA® users design custom oligos for genes that do not have kits   available. Currently, no such design tool exists. "With this collaboration, both   PREMIER Biosoft and MRC-Holland will use their core competencies and expertise   to develop a powerful bioinformatics tool for MLPA® users." commented Kay Brown,   V.P. Business Development and Marketing. 
                          About PREMIER Biosoft International: 
                            Founded in 1994, the company is a   group of computer scientists and molecular biologists dedicated to producing   cutting-edge intuitive software for the molecular biologist. The goal of the   company is to study the most recent innovations in molecular biology and   translate them into software products that aid biologists. Additional   information about PREMIER Biosoft International is available at http://www.premierbiosoft.com 
                             
                            About MRC-Holland 
                            MRC-Holland published its first   article about MLPA® technology in 2002 and since then, its product range has   grown explosively. The company now offers well over a 100 different MLPA® tests   for a wide range of applications, from rare genetic diseases to tumor analysis.   MRC-Holland aims to make the MLPA® technology available to all scientists and   works in close collaboration with researchers around the world. More information   about MRC-Holland can be found on www.MLPA.com.  
                             
                            Contact: 
                            Arun Apte 
                            PREMIER Biosoft   International 
                            650-856-2703 
                        http://www.premierbiosoft.com                            |