No 7-2000

February 21, 2000
For Immediate Release

TEST TO DETECT DIOXIN LEVELS BEING DEVELOPED UNDER TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFER AGREEMENT WITH NORTH CAROLINA CORP.

Research Triangle Park, NC- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Research
Triangle Park, NC, announced today that it has signed a Cooperative Research and Development
Agreement with Hybrizyme Corporation of Raleigh, N.C. Under the agreement, the EPA and
Hybrizyme Corporation will conduct collaborative research to develop a cost-effective test to
analyze the amount of dioxins found in humans, animals and the environment.

Hybrizyme is developing an inexpensive test that measures the levels of dioxin-like chemicals.
Currently, dioxin analysis costs range from $900 to $1,800 per sample and can only be
performed in highly specialized laboratories. During a recent dioxin crisis in Belgium where
citizens were exposed to dioxin-tainted meat, the need for low cost health assessment studies
and environmental monitoring was clearly demonstrated. A cost-effective test also would enable
scientists to expand research efforts to study the health effects of dioxins.

Dioxin is an unintended byproduct of a variety of processes including forms of chemical
manufacturing, incineration of municipal garbage and medical waste, open burning and the
manufacture of chlorine-bleached paper products. Exposure to certain dioxins in animals and
humans has been associated with biochemical and toxicological effects. The EPA is currently
conducting a major reassessment of dioxin service. EPA scientists are providing much of the
data needed to assist in the risk assessment.

"We look forward to this opportunity to collaborate with Hybrizyme," said Mike
DeVito, Ph.D., lead scientist for the project at the EPA's National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory. "The work with Hybrizyme will allow our lab to do chemical
analysis at a greatly reduced cost, aiding in the amount of research we can conduct to gain
further information on the health effects of these chemicals."

Hybrizyme Senior Scientist and project leader, Jeff Willey, Ph.D. adds, "we are excited
about using the jointly derived data to advance dioxin testing to a cost-effective, high-throughput
format."

Hybrizyme's technology measures levels of dioxin compounds in a sample using a recombinant
Ah receptor. The Ah receptor present in humans and animals mediates most, if not all, of the
harmful effects associated with exposure to these compounds. Once in the body, dioxin-like
compounds bind to Ah receptors and initiate a cascade of biochemical effects leading to
toxicological consequences. How tightly or loosely these compounds bind to the Ah receptor is
one of the determining factors of their toxicity.

"The Ah receptor is nature's perfect device for testing these sorts of compounds," said
Hybrizyme CEO, Randy Allen Ph.D. "The exciting part of this research is the fact that this
agreement allows for the use of a genetically engineered Ah receptor as an analytical tool,
delivering dioxin analysis in a kit that can be packaged and shipped throughout the
world --something that has never been done before."

Larry Fradkin, coordinator of EPA's Federal Technology Transfer Act Program,
added, "working with Hybrizyme gives researchers the ability to test a greater number
of samples in a relatively short period of time. The reduction in time and increase in sample
size, greatly reduces costs normally associated with this type of research. These are
important factors that will contribute to furthering research in this area."

For further information on innovative technologies being developed at the U.S. EPA
laboratories, contact Cynthia Gravino at the Environmental Technology Commercialization
Center (www.etc2.org) at (440) 734-0094. The Environmental Technology Commercialization
Center, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio is managed by Battelle to work in cooperation with
the U.S. EPA's Federal Technology Transfer Office in Cincinnati, Ohio to identify, analyze, and
market the U.S. EPA's expertise, resources, and intellectual property to private-sector firms.

EPA Office of Research and Development
Ann Brown, Public Affairs