PACIFIC BIOMETRICS AWARDED MAJOR RESEARCH CONTRACT

Pacific Biometrics (PBI) has been awarded a research contract worth an estimated $2 million from a top multinational pharmaceutical company.

This contract, part of a series of previously announced contracts related to a biological treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, will provide essential clinical data for a pivotal, global Phase III program.

PBI is specifically contracted to provide arthritis biomarker testing to support three new studies in the sponsor's Phase III clinical development program. The sponsor ultimately hopes to submit a new drug application filing with the FDA and equivalent filings with regulatory agencies in other jurisdictions. Testing for the newly awarded contract is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2006 and will continue for 36 months.