MDS Pharma Services Symposium in Zürich Brings Together Leading Bioanalysis Experts

(Montreal, Canada. June 19, 2003) — MDS Pharma Services recently hosted the latest symposium in its Scientific Leadership Series, "Novel Bioanalytical Technologies: Accelerating Clinical Drug Development and Improving Pipeline Efficiency," in Zürich, Switzerland. The symposium featured a significant number of industry thought leaders, while showcasing MDS Pharma Services' expanded bioanalysis facility in Zürich and the company's breadth of bioanalysis experience in drug, metabolite and biomarker services. The event was highlighted by a keynote address from the 2002 Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry, Kurt Wüthrich, Ph.D., professor of Biophysics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics ETH, Zürich.

"Through this Scientific Leadership Series event, we demonstrate our commitment to scientific excellence in the industry while reaffirming MDS Pharma Services' leadership in presenting our European colleagues with the information, methods and facilities that bring efficiency and speed to the drug development process," said James Hulse, Ph.D. senior vice president and general manager, Bioanalysis.

Dr. Hulse said that MDS Pharma Services designed the symposium program to build upon the company's growing European bioanalysis presence, evidenced by the recent expansion in Zürich and development in progress on a new bioanalysis facility in Sittingbourne, U.K.

Topics and presenters included:

• NMR in Structural Proteomics and Drug Design," Professor Kurt Wüthrich, Ph.D., 2002 Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry.
• "Advances in Drug Development," Nigel Brown, Ph.D., MDS Pharma Services
• "Overview of Novel and Emerging Technologies for Life Sciences, Drug Discovery and Drug Development," Gerard Hopfgartner, Ph.D., University of Geneva.
• "Trends in Biomarker Research for Drug Development," Jean W. Lee, Ph.D., MDS Pharma Services.
• "New Protein Characterization and Identification Strategies Using Protein Biochip MS Technology," Scot R. Weinberger, Ph.D., Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.
• "Multiplex Assays Using the Luminex Technology," Rabia Hidi, Ph.D., Pfizer Ltd. (U.K.)
• "Monolithic Columns in the Bioanalytical Laboratory: Advantages and Pitfalls," Philip Timmerman, Johnson & Johnson PRD.
• "The Bioanalytical Potential of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry," Scott D. Tanner, Ph.D., MDS Sciex.
• "Developing More Advanced Microfluidic Platforms for Bioanalytical Applications," Dr. Sabeth Verpoorte, Institute of Microtechnology, University of Neuchatel.

"I was excited to learn more about the innovative technologies that are being explored and their potential for bringing drugs to market faster and more efficiently," remarked a participant. "The level of interaction between delegates during the symposium was invaluable."

A symposium manuscript is available for order free of charge.

MDS Pharma Services offers a full spectrum of resources to meet the drug discovery and development needs of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. With numerous facilities strategically located around the world, the company applies advanced scientific and technological expertise to each stage of the drug discovery and development process – early stage: lead optimization, pre-IND research and development, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical development, early clinical research (bioequivalence, phases I-IIa) and bioanalysis; and late stage: global clinical development (phases IIb-IV) and central lab.

MDS Pharma Services is part of MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ), an international health and life sciences company. In many of its products and services, it is among the largest and most respected companies in the world. MDS is focused on enhancing the health of people around the world. It does this by providing laboratory testing, imaging products and research services to speed discovery and development of new drugs, therapy systems for planning and delivery of cancer treatments, analytical instruments to assist in the development of new drugs, and medical/surgical supplies. MDS employs more than 11,000 highly skilled people in its global operations on five continents. Detailed information about the company is available at the MDS Web site at www.mdsintl.com or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day.

For further information, please contact Kevin Langin, MDS Pharma Services, 621 Rose Street, Lincoln, Neb., Tel: (402) 476-2811.