MPI Research and Shanghai Medicilon Announce Shanghai-Based Joint Venture

MPI Research and Shanghai Medicilon are pleased to announce a new
joint venture to form Medicilon-MPI Preclinical Research (Shanghai)
LLC. Located initially at the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Shanghai,
China, the company will open a 50,000 ft(2) preclinical testing
facility in the Chuansha Economic Park in early 2008. This new
facility will meet the regulatory standards set forth by the US FDA
and other regulatory agencies worldwide.

With the joint venture, customers of both parent companies will
have the advantage of conducting research at the Shanghai site for
preclinical development, with potential for worldwide release. Current
and future customers of Medicilon and MPI Research will now have
access to a broader range of both GLP and non-GLP preclinical
services. By 2009, the new company will be fully operational, in terms
of conducting FDA/IND enabling studies, offering additional
preclinical support services, submitting INDs and NDAs, and will have
AAALAC accreditation.

"With one fourth of the world´s population, China is an important
force in shaping the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets,"
says MPI Research´s Chairman and CEO, William U. Parfet. "We have
carefully looked for more than three years to find a CRO partner that
shares our values and commitment to excellence, and we have finally
found one in Shanghai Medicilon. We look forward to forging a future
together as a worldwide leader of preclinical research services."

Dr. Chun-Lin Chen, co-founder of Medicilon, Inc. as well as
Shanghai Medicilon will serve as the CEO of Medicilon-MPI Preclinical
Research. Dr Chen is a highly published thoughtleader in the
pharmaceutical industry with extensive experience in academia,
pharmaceutical, and regulatory evaluation. Dr. Chen received his PhD
from Oklahoma State University, and completed post-doctoral training
in the United States. Dr. Chen has held numerous leadership positions
in professional scientific trade organizations in China as well as
other parts of the world.

"On behalf of our entire organization, we are eager to collaborate
with such a high-quality preclinical CRO as MPI Research," says
Shanghai Medicilon CEO, Dr. Chen. "Both companies are committed to
learning from each other. As we incorporate the scientific expertise,
high GLP standards and broad range of services offered by MPI
Research, we also look forward to sharing our knowledge."

A multidisciplinary team of experts originating from MPI Research
headquarters will relocate to Shanghai and form a GLP Advisory Board
to oversee the US FDA GLP compliance process. This team has a broad
range of experience in areas such as small and large animal
toxicology, safety pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, animal care,
quality assurance, report writing, pathology, and study direction. In
partnership with the MPI Research team, over 70 Shanghai Medicilon
professionals will be joining the newly formed organization.

Headquartered in Michigan, USA, MPI Research has over 1600 people
that provide a comprehensive range of preclinical drug discovery and
development research. Known for its quality and timeliness, the
company serves the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in
advancing their drug development programs, from early proof of concept
testing to regulatory submissions.

Shanghai Medicilon was founded in 2004 to provide fully integrated
drug discovery services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
industries. Medicilon has been recognized as one of the top drug
discovery CROs in China. Located in Shanghai at the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech
Park, Medicilon´s 250+ employees provide integrated drug discovery and
development services, incorporating medicinal chemistry, lead
optimization, custom chemical synthesis, biology services
pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and other key services such as, animal
toxicology, efficacy and disease model studies.

MPI Research and Medicilon will remain as independent parent
companies to the newly formed joint venture. For further information
on each, visit their respective websites at www.mpiresearch.com &
www.medicilon.com.