TUCSON, Ariz., April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: VMSI); the leading company in supplying automated instrument-reagent
systems to histology labs, today announced the acquisition of all of the
assets of Quantitative Diagnostics Laboratories, Inc. (QDL), a specialty
reference lab that provides quantitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) services
to pathologists and is also involved in cancer research.
    "We view our acquisition of QDL as a key element of our strategy to enter
the automated cellular image analysis market," commented Chris Gleeson,
Ventana's President and Chief Executive Officer.  "The acquisition of QDL
enables us to partner with Dr. Sarah Bacus, QDL's founder and President, who
is one of the pioneers in the field of quantitated IHC.  Dr. Bacus' expertise
and experience in image analysis is critical to the successful development of
our automated cellular image analysis system.  QDL has a tissue bank of
patients' specimens that are highly characterized and quantitated and a
database that will be invaluable in developing a highly accurate and
reproducible imaging system."  Last week Ventana separately announced an
agreement with AccuMed International, Inc. to develop an automated image
analysis system for quantitating IHC and in-situ hybridization (ISH) stains.
    "I am very excited by the opportunity to work with Ventana on automated
cellular image analysis," said Dr. Sarah Bacus, QDL's President.  "I have
spent the past 15 years working with automated image analysis systems and
providing quantitative IHC services.  Ventana is committed to achieving my
goal of bringing high-quality cellular imaging automation to every histology
lab that stains IHC slides.  Further, I believe Ventana has selected the right
partner in AccuMed to develop an image analysis system.  AccuMed has an
outstanding hardware platform combined with advanced software programs."
    Mr. Gleeson expanded on QDL's important role in Ventana's genomics
strategy -- "QDL has a strong commitment to cancer research and an affiliation
with a number of leading medical schools.  Leveraging these capabilities will
help Ventana implement its strategy of providing products and services to the
drug discovery divisions of large pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology
companies, and its strategy of partnering with drug companies to develop
diagnostic tests for drugs in late stage human clinical trials.  We believe
the revolution in understanding the genetic changes in cancer will more
closely link diagnostic tests and drug therapy creating an exciting
opportunity for Ventana.  QDL will help us capitalize on this opportunity."
    QDL was previously owned by BioCyte Therapeutics, Inc., a corporation
focused on commercializing products for cancer and other life-threatening
diseases.
    Mr. Gleeson noted that the purchase price paid by Ventana for QDL was not
a financially material event for Ventana.
    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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