Cambridge Discovery Chemistry Limited

ROHM AND HAAS COMPANY ANNOUNCES RESEARCH PROJECT WITH CAMBRIDGE COMBINATORIAL IN AGROCHEMICAL DISCOVERY

Rohm and Haas Company, a US$4 billion specialty chemicals company headquartered in Philadelphia PA. has reached an agreement with Cambridge Combinatorial Limited, a UK-based chemistry services provider, to extend its discovery programmes. Cambridge Combinatorial will provide Rohm and Haas with novel lead discovery libraries for a number of agrochemical targets.

The research collaboration will focus on the generation of high-purity single compound libraries and will include the investigation and technology transfer of novel solid phase, solution, linker approaches to library production. The project involves an initial payment, ongoing research fees and royalties from any compounds, which ultimately make it to the market.

'We have selected Cambridge Combinatorial for the collaboration because of its outstanding design and synthesis capability, which will complement our internal efforts to screen and discover innovative and, ultimately, profitable compounds," says Dr. James S. Clovis, Research Director for Rohm and Haas's Agricultural Chemicals business. "And we expect the collaboration to shorten the cycle time for new product discovery and introduction."

Dr Allan Marchington, Chief Executive of Cambridge Combinatorial, said "We are delighted to be working with a company such as Rohm and Haas, with an outstanding international reputation in the agrochemical industry. This agreement strengthens our global reputation, with current discovery programmes spanning Japan, Europe, and the United States."

For further information, please contact:
David Phillips, Vice President, Business Development, Cambridge Combinatorial
Tel: 01223 722400 (UK) or
Steve Ozer, Agricultural Chemicals Communications Manager, Rohm and Haas Company Tel: 00 1 215 592 6922

Ian Bailey, Square Mile Communications
Tel: 0171 583 4567

Notes to editors

Cambridge Combinatorial Limited
Cambridge Combinatorial provides world-class, innovative chemistry services to accelerate discovery and process research, servicing the pharmaceutical, agrochemical and biotechnology industries. The company was founded by Professor Steven Ley and Professor Alan Fersht of Cambridge University and former Pfizer medicinal chemists Dr. Allan Marchington and Dr. Ryszard Kobylecki. Oxford Molecular Group provided an initial Ł2 million investment. The University of Cambridge, through its intellectual property company, Cambridge University Technical Services Limited, is also a key stakeholder.

Rohm and Haas Company
Rohm and Haas is a specialty chemical company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA). Its products are those "invisible" ingredients that quietly improve the quality of every day life. The company's expertise in agricultural chemicals, acrylic polymer design, electronic materials and other technologies make it one of the world's premier suppliers of specialty chemicals. In addition to its renowned portfolio of agricultural products, Rohm and Haas produces essential materials for laundry detergents, house paints, industrial coatings, food packaging, computer equipment, cellular phones, window frames, diapers, refined sugar, construction materials and magazines.