TRANS GENIC INC. (HO: Mashiki-machi, Kamimashiki-gun, Kumamoto, CEO: Masahiro Koreishi, hereinafter referred to as "TRANS GENIC") concluded an agreement with Immunokick Incorporation(HO: Kumamoto, CEO: Tamami Sakamoto, hereinafter referred to as "Immunokick")on exclusive license regarding production of antibodies with high affinities on March 24, 2004, and has since started a newly high-value added Antibody Business.

Immunokick Incorporation has granted the right exclusively to TRANS GENIC regarding the technology to produce antibodies with high affinity with modifying a GANP gene (International Patent Application Number: PCT/JP03/14221) (hereinafter referred to as "the technology") effective in countries such as Japan, USA, Canada, and Europe etc.

The technology was invented by Professor Nobuo Sakaguchi, M. D. from the Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kumamoto University and his colleagues, and has been with Kumamoto Technology and Industry Foundation (President: Yoshiko Shioya) for collaborative research since March 2003. The license has since been transferred to Immunokick.

The "GANP gene modified Transgenic animals" is distinctive for its ability to produce antibodies with high affinity for antigens. Utilizing the technology makes it possible to produce monoclonal antibodies with remarkably higher affinity than has been previously possible. These antibodies with high affinities are expected to be applied to the development of antibody drugs, clinical diagnostic products, assay systems with antibodies, and/or reagents for researches. Especially, antibody drugs are under development to combat the ever-widening area of recognized diseases, and it is believed that this technology has great potential in the various basic technology fields necessary for developing new antibody drugs.

Immunokick Incorporation is a university-born venture company and was established for the business of utilizing "GANP gene modified Transgenic animals" producing antibodies with high affinity.

TRANS GENIC intends to commence the new business using the said technology after obtaining the license such as for sub-licensing the technology to pharmaceutical companies, developing various products with monoclonal antibodies by themselves or by collaborative researches, and producing and marketing monoclonal antibodies from April 2004. TRANS GENIC believes that the technology is a new business model that will add high-value to their Antibody business, and that it will become a main pillar of TRANS GENIC INC.

At the present time, any effect that this agreement may bring is unknown.

Immunokick Incorporation Profile

1.Name	Immunokick Incorporation
2.Business	1.Development and marketing of medicinal products, medicaments for animals, cosmetics, agricultural chemicals, food items, and reagents 2. Consultation service incidental to the items above 3.Full services incidental to all items above
3.Established on	March 1, 2004
4.Head office	30-69 1-chome, Takahira, Kumamoto
5.CEO	Tamami Sakamoto
6.Capital	10,000,000 yen
7.Number of board members	4
8.Main shareholder	Kikuyo Sakaguchi(70%) TRANS GENIC INC.(30%)

*monoclonal antibody
Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies that are produced by monoclonal antibody-producing cells. Generally they are produced using mice. Contrary, Polyclonal antibodies are produced with the blood serum from the animals which are conferred immunity with antigens, meaning that polyclonal antibodies are antibody compounds having various levels of specificity. On the other hand, monoclonal antibodies have uniform specificity of antigens due to their primary structures being uniform. Also, they are characterized as those antibodies that can be produced continually with antibody-producing cells. In addition, monoclonal antibodies are put to practical use, in the field of medical care and/or food sanitation, into the diagnosis of cancer, screening and detection of disease-causing bacteria and/or food-poisoning bacteria.