bioMérieux Recognized by Frost & Sullivan for Market Leadership in In vitro Diagnostics for Clinical and Industrial Applications

Palo Alto, Calif. — July 27, 2006 — Frost & Sullivan selected bioMérieux as the recipient of the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Award for Market Leadership in the field of infectious disease in vitro diagnostics (IVD). bioMérieux’s leadership in market share, revenue growth rate, profitability, and technology innovation is acknowledged with this Award.

bioMérieux, a leading international company, is the single largest participant in the infectious disease diagnostics market. The company provides products and services to a worldwide customer base of clinical laboratories.

“bioMérieux is a global leader in the infectious disease IVD market in terms of substantial penetration into every market segment and overall market share,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Martin Nejat. “The company enjoys a significant market share due to its strategic focus on lucrative growth areas of the IVD market. As a result, this company is expected to increase its market share.”

To counter the most compelling pressures affecting the clinical laboratories in the U.S., namely high costs and shortage of labor, bioMérieux offered a comprehensive solution. bioMérieux’s integrated and automated testing systems allow improvements in turn-around-time, throughput, and a reduction in dedicated technician time.

bioMérieux’s solution for the microbiology laboratory includes high quality media and consumables, infectious disease antibiotic susceptibility testing (ID/AST), and data analysis and advice. Rapid turn-around-time is critical in ID/AST and bioMérieux’s automated and semi-automated platforms, the ATB and VITEK, produce clinical results in four to eight hours.

The company understands that the addition of molecular technology can add value to its current line of products. It has consequently introduced the NucliSENS® instruments with key assays, which illustrates its commitment to providing customers with innovative technologies.

“bioMérieux’s success is demonstrated by the 60 percent market share maintained in the high margin segment of automated ID/AST testing,” notes Nejat. “They have continuously posted market leading growth rates in various segments of the infectious disease IVD market.”

Based on these factors, Frost & Sullivan is pleased to present the 2006 Market Leadership Award to bioMérieux.

Each year Frost & Sullivan presents the Market Leadership Award to a company that has exhibited market share leadership through the implementation of market strategy. The recipient has displayed excellence in all areas of the market leadership process, including the identification of market challenges, drivers and restraints, as well as strategy development and methods of addressing these market dynamics.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

About bioMérieux

bioMérieux is a leading international diagnostics group that specializes in the field of in vitro diagnostics for clinical and industrial applications. bioMérieux designs, develops, manufactures and markets systems (i.e. reagents, instruments and software) used in:

Clinical applications: the diagnosis of infectious diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis and respiratory illnesses, as well as pathologies such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, based on the analysis of biological samples (such as blood, saliva or urine); and

Industrial applications: the microbiological analysis of food, environments (such as water and air), surfaces and pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, based on the analysis of product or environmental samples.

In 2005, bioMérieux sales reached 994 million euros. The company is present in more than 130 countries through 35 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors, which positions the company well to benefit from the growth potential of the in vitro diagnostics market. Some important drivers that underpin this growth are aging populations and age-related illness, illnesses related to life-style and eating habits, emerging new pathogens, the development of antibiotic -resistant bacteria, the fight against bio-terrorism, the recognition of the importance of the quality of food products. bioMérieux is listed on the Eurolist of Euronext, Paris (FR0010096479 – BIM). Other information can be found at www.biomerieux-usa.com

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company’s industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.awards.frost.com or http://www.healthcare.frost.com

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Stacie Jones

Frost & Sullivan

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