TUCSON, Ariz., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: VMSI); the leading global supplier of automated instrument reagent
systems to histology labs, today announced its entry into the genomics market
with the successful launch of its Discovery instrument reagent system.
    "Genomic discoveries are causing a revolution in the development of new
drugs and diagnostic tests," stated Chris Gleeson, Ventana's President and
CEO.  "Drug makers would like to launch future drugs with complementary
diagnostic tests that let physicians and patients know whether the drug will
benefit them.  Genomics makes this possible.  We see our recent Food & Drug
Administration submission for CB11 pre-marketing approval (PMA) being the
first of many diagnostic tests that will be directly tied to drug therapy,"
added Gleeson.  Ventana announced the submission of its PMA for CB11 on
January 21, 2000.  The antibody will be used by oncologists and pathologists
in deciding whether breast cancer patients should receive the drug
Herceptin(R).  Herceptin(R) is marketed by Genentech for metastatic breast
cancer patients.
    Gleeson commented, "Our Discovery instrument reagent system was designed
to enable Ventana to participate in this rapidly expanding genomics market.
The system was launched in North America, Europe and Japan in December 1999
and has been well received by customers.  The Discovery will perform in-situ
hybridization (ISH) tests on gene chips, micro arrays, tissue arrays and
cytological and histological patient samples.  A software release planned for
mid-2000 will enable the instrument to also perform immunohistochemical (IHC)
tests.  A broad range of customers including genomics companies, the discovery
and development divisions of large pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies
and leading medical schools have all indicated interest in the Discovery
system."
    One of the first customers for the Discovery system is Associate Professor
Satoru Takahashi, M.D., Ph.D. of the Center for Tsukuba Advanced Research
Alliance at the University of Tsukuba in Japan.  Professor Takahashi
commented, "The Discovery performed superbly in trials in our lab... we plan
to use the Discovery for routine tests and for mRNA detection using RNA
probes.  We believe the Discovery will provide much faster results while
contributing labor savings, standardization and consistency to our lab."
    Professor Philipp U. Heitz, M.D., Head of the Department of Pathology at
the University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, is another early Discovery
customer.  Professor Heitz sees two clinical application areas for the
Discovery, "the automation of ISH in clinical pathology for the detection of
infectious agents as well as for cancer diagnosis and prognosis.  Clinical
automation will lead to better reproducibility and faster results, shortening
the time between receipt of a tissue specimen and definitive diagnosis."
Professor Heitz also plans to use the Discovery for research as "the
versatility of the instrument permits the use of user-designed probes and
automation allows high throughput and man power savings."
    Safe Harbor Statement: Statements in this press release which are not
strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements that are made pursuant to
the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.  Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, which may
cause the company's actual results in the future to differ materially from the
expected results.  The risks and uncertainties that may affect the results of
the company's business may include general economic conditions, market
acceptance of new automated histology products, continued success in asset
management and other factors that are described in the company's specific
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
    Ventana develops, manufactures and markets instrument/reagent systems that
automate tissue preparation and slide staining in histology laboratories
worldwide.  Ventana's systems are important tools used in the diagnosis and
treatment of cancer and infectious diseases.
    For more information on Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. via facsimile at no
additional cost, simply dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter the stock symbol "VMSI."

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