April 5, 2006

OpGen Technologies, Stratos and Micronics To Collaborate in Developing OpGen's Optical Mapping Instruments and Disposables

Madison, Wisconsin and Seattle, Washington– April 5, 2006 – OpGen Technologies, Inc., the leader in single molecule DNA analysis technology, announced today it entered into agreements with Stratos Product Development, LLC and Micronics, Inc. for the development of its first commercial product.  The companies each bring unique capabilities to the innovation of cost-effective, high-throughput instruments and disposables employing OpGen’s Optical Mapping technology platform.  The company intends to market these systems worldwide to genome analysis and clinical microbiology research laboratories.  Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

“Partnering with Stratos and Micronics, two world-class life-science systems experts, perfectly combines all of our business assets,” said Colin Dykes, Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice-President of Corporate Development for OpGen Technologies, Inc.  “This collaboration will translate into real value for our customers, making Optical Mapping systems directly available to research scientists and allowing clinical microbiologists to identify infectious agents and appropriate treatments within a single six-hour shift.”

Optical Mapping technology is a unique platform that enables whole genome analysis that is both complementary and additive to existing microarray and SNP genotyping systems.  Where current technologies are best at detecting small changes in DNA sequence, Optical Mapping detects genome rearrangements, including insertions/deletions (“indels”), translocations, inversions, repeats and gene amplification.  The combined partnership is expected to enable OpGen Technologies to introduce a first-of-its-kind product, allowing researchers to utilize the Optical Mapping technology in-house.

Under the terms of its agreement, Stratos, a world-class systems solution provider, will apply its extensive knowledge and experience in technology commercialization, systems integration, instrumentation development and regulatory compliance.  Stratos will also employ a comprehensive product strategy, including full utilization of its research, design, engineering and project management skills in the development of OpGen’s genome and clinical microbial analysis Optical Mapping instruments.

“Optical Mapping is a unique technology which will successfully migrate into state-of-the-art genomics and clinical microbiology systems,” said Sean MacLeod, President of Stratos Product Development.  “We look forward to working in partnership with OpGen Technologies and Micronics and are pleased to offer this collaboration our systems solution expertise across the entire development and commercialization process.”

Micronics, a leading developer of point-of-care in vitro diagnostic products, will provide its expertise in the development of the disposable device on which the fluidics assay of the Optical Mapping technology is performed.  Micronics is regarded worldwide as one of the premier providers of microfluidics-enabled products in which sample preparation, biological assays, surface chemistries and materials science are combined with its established intellectual property portfolio, including 50 issued patents.

“We are pleased to partner with OpGen Technologies and Stratos for the development of the Optical Mapping systems,” said Karen Hedine, President and CEO of Micronics, Inc.  “Micronics’ strengths in rapid prototype development, molecular assay optimization, sample and reagent integration and commercial production of disposable devices provide OpGen Technologies complementary skills to those offered by others on this team.”

About OpGen Technologies, Inc.
OpGen Technologies, Inc. is commercializing a novel single molecule DNA analysis technology, “Optical Mapping”, for rapid, cost-effective comparison of whole genomes. The system can be used to obtain detailed genetic information from any organism, with no requirement for prior sequence information, PCR, cloning, or probes.  Optical Mapping has been used for comparative genomic analysis of a range of organisms that lack pre-existing DNA sequence information.  Planned commercial applications include clinical microbial analysis, forensic microbiology and the development of novel molecular diagnostic products.  For more information, please visit the Web site at www.opgen.com or call 608-441-8100.

Visit OpGen Technologies in booth #1231 at BIO 2006 in Chicago, April 9-12, 2006.

About Stratos Product Development, LLC
Based in Seattle, Washington, Stratos is a full-service product development firm with comprehensive research, product positioning, design, engineering, program management, marketing, and incubation capabilities all under one roof.  With a 19-year history of designing products that maximize Return on Investment, Stratos has helped companies like Abbott Laboratories, Microsoft, Novo Nordisk, Agilent Technologies, Hewlett Packard and Medtronic with their most difficult development challenges. Through innovative design for manufacturability, Stratos’ understanding of product strategy and the need for aggressive execution makes them comprehensive consultants that not only minimize risk, but also directly influence a company’s bottom line.  For additional information, see www.stratos.com.

About Micronics, Inc.
Based in Redmond, Washington, Micronics is a leading provider of laboratory-on-a-card (“lab card”) design, development and production services on behalf of clients worldwide. Micronics' patented microfluidics and microplumbing technologies, coupled with its expertise in integrating molecular and immunoassays on card, allow it to fundamentally modify the way in which fluids are processed and diagnostic assays are performed at greatly reduced volumes, time and cost.  Micronics uniquely integrates other components into its lab cards as well, such as printed reagents, membranes, sensors and electrodes, in order to enable devices that allow rapid, user friendly, point of use detection, monitoring and diagnosis.  Micronics is believed to offer the most sophisticated and rapid lab card prototyping facility in the world today.  For additional information, see www.micronics.net.