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Exhibit 99.20
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACTS:
LJL BIOSYSTEMS, INC.: MEDIA RELATIONS:
LARRY TANNENBAUM FRIESTEDT INTERNATIONAL
CFO AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT SUSANNE FRIESTEDT
408-548-0542 858-581-1199
[email protected] [email protected]
LJL BIOSYSTEMS AWARDED KEY SMARTOPTICS-TM- PATENT
SUNNYVALE, CA - JUNE 15, 2000 - LJL BioSystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: LJLB) announced
today the award of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patent No. 6,071,748
covering its SmartOptics-TM- light detection technology, a key element of LJL's
instrument product line.
"We believe our SmartOptics' superior performance in both SNP genotyping and
drug discovery is now covered by issued patents," commented Lev J. Leytes,
Chairman and CEO of LJL. "We are very pleased with the award of this patent,
which we believe broadly covers this technology. Our growing intellectual
property portfolio now includes more than 65 issued, pending, and provisional
patents. This patent pipeline demonstrates our continued leadership in the
rapidly expanding life science markets."
"SmartOptics provides the ability to extract maximum signals from very small
volume samples, while maintaining sensitivity. Therefore, we believe scientists
using our technology are able to miniaturize assays to a greater extent than
otherwise possible, which enables greater throughput at lower costs. In
addition, with SmartOptics we are able to achieve better results with our
HEFP-TM- detection technology," continued Mr. Leytes.
In addition to the patent issued today, LJL recently has received other patents
covering various features of its instrument platform, including a patent for
improving operations within integrated robotic systems.
"These newly issued patents reflect the breadth of our emerging patent
portfolio, which ranges from innovative optical detection systems to
fluorescence assays and micro-fluidics, as well as automated instrumentation,"
concluded Leytes.
ABOUT LJL BIOSYSTEMS, INC.
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LJL BioSystems designs, produces and sells infrastructure tools that accelerate
and enhance the process of discovering new drugs in the genomics and
post-genomics era. Our products, including instruments and consumables, are
designed to provide flexible, cost-efficient, high throughput solutions that can
be used across all stages of the drug discovery process, including screening and
genotyping. Our worldwide customers include pharmaceutical, biotechnology and
genomics companies as well as research institutions. LJL's customers include,
among others, AstraZeneca, Aventis, Bristol Myers Squibb, SmithKline Beecham,
Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Merck, Johnson and Johnson, Tularik, Millennium
Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, and Incyte. LJL is headquartered in Sunnyvale,
California and has a subsidiary in the United Kingdom. Additional information
can be found at www.ljlbio.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements made in this news release, other than statements of historical
fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act, including statements regarding LJL's "expectations",
"goals", "beliefs", "hopes", "designs", "intentions", "strategies" or the
like. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially, including such factors, among others, as
the impact of competitive products and pricing, the timely development and
market acceptance of new products, the ability to raise capital,
concentration of HTS and Ultra-HTS markets, market conditions, the mix
between domestic and international sales, manufacturing and cost of LJL's
products, dependence on collaborative partners, the enforcement of
intellectual property rights, and uncertainties relating to sole source
suppliers, technological approaches, FDA and other regulatory approvals.
These and other risk factors are discussed in LJL's Annual Report on Form
10-K, filed February 16, 2000, its Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed
on March 14, 2000, and Form 10-Q filed on May 12, 2000 (see, in particular,
Risk Factors and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations). LJL disclaims any intent or obligation to update
these forward-looking statements. As a result of these and other factors, LJL
expects to experience significant fluctuations in operating results, and
there can be no assurance that LJL will become or remain consistently
profitable in the future. For information on LJL BioSystems, Inc., contact
Larry Tannenbaum, Chief Financial Officer, at 408-548-0542 or
[email protected].
