1st October, 2005, St. Louis, MO, SAFC, a member of the Sigma-Aldrich Group (Nasdaq: SIAL), has completed the integration and rebranding of the former Proligo Reagents site in Hamburg, Germany, within the SAFC Specialties business unit.

Acquired from Degussa AG in April this year as part of the Proligo Group purchase, the business will expand SAFC Specialties product offering to include high-quality DNA and RNA reagents for superior oligonucleotide synthesis.

The reagents business will benefit from increased sales presence in the US through the global SAFC specialties organization, the world's largest market. Prior to the acquisition, the cost of shipping solvents from Hamburg to the US would have been prohibitive but with new conjugated SAFC's established production capabilities and supply chain, SAFC Specialties is now in a position to supply all the reagents needed for oligonucleotide synthesis in the US.

SAFC President, Frank Wicks, comments, 'SAFC's Hamburg site possesses world-class expertise in nucleic acid chemistry and over 15 years experience in the production of quality reagents for DNA and RNA synthesis. The integration of the business into the SAFC model means that our global customer base will now have access to the highest quality phosphoramidites in the industry, complementing and further expanding our current pharma offering.'

The former Proligo Reagents business was established in 1986 when Dr. Hubert Köster first commercialised the synthesis of β-cyanoethylphosphoramidites. The company subsequently refined and perfected the production of DNA and RNA phosphoramidite monomers. Manufactured to DIN EN ISO 9001 : 2000 protocols, the product range includes DNA phosphoramidites and CPG, liquid reagents, RNA and 2'O Methyl phosphoramidites and modifications and linkers.

In April 2002, the site expanded its annual production capacity to in excess of five tons.

About SAFC:

SAFC is the custom manufacturing group within Sigma-Aldrich that focuses on both biochemical production and the manufacturing of complex, multi-step organic synthesis of APIs and key intermediates. SAFC has manufacturing facilities around the world dedicated to providing manufacturing services for companies requiring a reliable partner to produce their custom manufactured materials.

About Sigma-Aldrich:

Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Our biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. We have customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use our products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 34 countries and has over 6,000 employees providing excellent service worldwide. We are committed to the success of our Customers, Employees and Shareholders through leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service.

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