Large Scale Biology Corporation (NASDAQ: LSBC) and Icon Genetics AG (Munich, Germany) announced today that they have targeted up to 200 genes, identified through LSBC's GENEWARE® functional genomics technology, for direct introduction into commercial plant varieties using Icon Genetics' proprietary Transgene Operating System™ technology. The announcement was made today at an international conference held in Norwich, England during a presentation by Guy della-Cioppa, Ph.D., Vice President of Genomics for LSBC. The conference entitled "Global Agriculture 2020: Which Way Forward?" is being held at the John Innes Centre from April 18 through April 20, 2001.

"We believe Icon Genetics' proprietary gene transfer and line conversion systems provide freedom to operate in otherwise restricted areas such as soybean and maize transformation. This can be important for antibody and vaccine manufacturing opportunities," said Robert L. Erwin, CEO of LSBC.

"Our GENEWARE functional genomics technology allows us to rapidly determine the function of completely uncharacterized gene sequences via high-throughput robotic cloning and transfection of mature plants. With our new GENEWARE monocot vectors, we can now directly determine gene function in the commercially important monocotyledonous plants (cereals) via systemic overexpression or gene silencing," said Dr. della-Cioppa.

"Although many companies are able to transform plants, we believe that Icon Genetics is able to qualitatively and cost-effectively perform this research, through our Transgene Operating Systems, and contribute a level of expertise that saves companies the expense of establishing transformation teams for high-throughput gene testing. Our Transgene Operating System technology, combined with LSBC's GENEWARE technology, is expected to provide a superior approach to rapid progress in both medical and agronomic research and product development," said Dr. Newell Bascomb, President of Icon Genetics.

Large Scale Biology uses its proteomics, functional genomics and biomanufacturing technologies to develop and manufacture personalized drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for rapid identification and effective treatment of disease. Corporate offices and the Genomics and Antigenics divisions are headquartered in Vacaville, California; the Company's Proteomics subsidiary is located in Germantown, Maryland; and the Company's bioprocessing and manufacturing facilities are located in Owensboro, Kentucky.