Paradigm Signs $8.4 Million Addition to $23.8 Million Contract With NIEHS

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Paradigm Signs $8.4 Million Addition to $23.8 Million Contract With NIEHS
     $2 Million of Additional Funds Earmarked for Toxicogenomics Studies
                              For the NTP

    RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
    Paradigm Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDGM) today announced that the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has exercised an option in
its existing five-year $23.8 million contract (Contract NO1-ES-25497) with
Paradigm, providing for an additional $8.4 million for toxicogenomics studies.
Two million dollars of this modification is currently allotted and earmarked
for Paradigm to perform research for the National Toxicology Program (NTP).
Data generated from this toxicogenomics research will be included in the NTP's
program to better understand the effects of short and long-term exposures to
chemicals. The data will become part of the Chemical Effects in Biological
Systems (CEBS) database, a publicly accessible relational database that will
contain information on the biological effects of chemicals and other agents
and their mechanism of action.
    "Part of the NTP's mission is to strengthen the science base in toxicology
and provide information about potentially toxic chemicals to health regulatory
and research agencies, the scientific and medical communities, and the
public," said Kenneth Olden, Ph.D., Director, NIEHS and NTP. "Working with
Paradigm Genetics, we seek the best possible biological information to fulfill
our mission."
    "We are proud and honored that the NTP recognizes our expertise in DNA
microarray analysis and chose to work with us for its toxicogenomics
research," said Heiri Gugger, Ph.D., President and CEO of Paradigm Genetics.
"This additional $8.4 million modification is a great confirmation of our
momentum in the field of toxicogenomics and our growing presence in human
health."
    The NTP is an interagency program consisting of relevant toxicology
activities among the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the
Food and Drug Administration's National Center for Toxicological Research.

    About Paradigm Genetics
    Paradigm is a biotechnology company aiming to increase R&D productivity by
focusing its integrated suite of technologies on the product development
cycle, from target discovery to subsequent enhancement of the safety and
efficacy profiles of development candidates in agriculture and human health.
Paradigm chooses a systems biology approach to understand gene function in the
context of biological pathways, to develop assays and biomarkers for molecular
diagnostic solutions tailored to the needs of our partners. Paradigm's
proprietary Gene to Cell to System(TM) approach has three major components:
gene expression profiling, biochemical profiling (also known as metabolomics)
and data integration and coherence. For more information, visit
http://www.paradigmgenetics.com.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding the use and impact of data generated from the
toxicogenomics research. Such forward-looking statements are based on
management's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks,
factors and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events and
performance to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking
statements. These risks, factors and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to, Paradigm's early stage of development, history of net losses,
technological and product development uncertainties, reliance on research
collaborations, uncertainty of additional funding and ability to protect its
patents and proprietary rights. Certain of these and other risks are
identified in Paradigm's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not intend to
update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release to
conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations,
except as may be required by law.
SOURCE Paradigm Genetics, Inc.
http://www.paradigmgenetics.com
CONTACT:
Melissa Matson, Director, Corporate
Communications of Paradigm Genetics, Inc., +1-919-425-3000, or
media, Prateek Patnaik, or investors, Amy Garay, of Noonan Russo
Presence Euro RSCG, +1-212-845-4200, for Paradigm Genetics, Inc.