Epigenomics AG Presents Data on Novel Prostate Cancer Biomarkers at AACR

Genome-wide discovery successfully identifies novel DNA methylation
biomarkers with high specificity for prostate cancer versus benign
prostate conditions

Berlin, Germany, and Seattle, WA, USA, April 14, 2008 - Epigenomics
AG (Frankfurt Prime Standard: ECX), a molecular diagnostics company
focusing on the development and commercialization of in-vitro
diagnostic tests for cancer, updates on its program for the
development of test for prostate cancer screening and diagnosis. The
company presented recent data at this year's Annual Meeting of the
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in San Diego, USA.

Epigenomics had previously demonstrated that its proprietary DNA
methylation biomarkers can be measured in urine samples to
distinguish prostate cancer patients from healthy individuals. In a
subsequent clinical study in 2007 Epigenomics further confirmed the
feasibility of a urine-based prostate cancer test.

In a systematic genome-wide screen using Epigenomics' proprietary
differential methylation hybridization (DMH) technology, Epigenomics
has now identified novel biomarkers in its prostate cancer program.
The study included tissue samples from patients with prostate cancer,
benign prostate conditions, and age-matched normal controls.
Biomarkers discovered by DMH were subsequently validated by real-time
PCR technology in an independent sample set. A total of 26 novel
biomarkers were successfully validated in this study, a number of
which specifically discriminate prostate cancer from benign prostate
conditions such as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). These
biomarkers have the potential to augment diagnostic specificity of
the best-characterized prostate cancer methylation biomarker, GSTP1.
The discrimination of prostate cancer from benign prostate conditions
is one of the major shortfalls of PSA (prostate specific antigen)
testing, the current standard in prostate cancer screening.
Epigenomics will now further optimize analytical PCR assay
performance and validate the most promising candidate biomarkers in a
clinical study on urine samples.

"We are all very excited about the progress in our prostate cancer
program. The data on these novel biomarkers look very promising.
Prostate cancer screening biomarkers with the diagnostic ability to
discriminate prostate cancer from BPH in patients with elevated PSA
levels would be an invaluable tool for the public health management
of prostate cancer," stated Shannon Payne, PhD, project manager and
scientist at Epigenomics.

Poster Reference

Payne S. et al. A genome-wide screen for DNA hypermethylation in
prostate cancer identifies novel methylation biomarkers with high
specificity for prostate cancer versus benign prostatic hyperplasia.
In: Proceedings of the 99th Annual Meeting of the American
Association for Cancer Research; 2008 Apr 12-16; San Diego, CA.
Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2008. Abstract nr 34
The Poster will be available for download after the conference from
Epigenomics' website at
http://www.epigenomics.com/en/down_loads/Poster_Scientific_Publications/

About Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American and European
men. With an annual incidence of approximately 470,000 cases in the
US and Europe, one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer
in his lifetime and about 115,000 men in the US and Europe will die
from the disease every year. As with other cancers, the stage of
disease at diagnosis affects overall survival rates and patients
diagnosed with local or regional disease have a five-year survival
rate of nearly 100%.

The current guidelines for prostate cancer screening, according to
the American Cancer Society, advise testing for elevated
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE)
annually, beginning at the age of 50, in certain risk groups at the
age of 45. Positive findings in either of these exams may be followed
by prostate biopsy for confirmation.

PSA testing, although widely used, has certain disadvantages: PSA as
a tumor biomarker has a moderate specificity, i.e. it is also
elevated in a number of benign prostate conditions leading to a
number of unnecessary prostate biopsies in men without prostate
cancer. Furthermore, despite acceptable sensitivity of PSA, a
subgroup of cancer patients does not show elevated PSA. Improved
tests with increased specificity and sensitivity are therefore
needed. The objective of Epigenomics' prostate cancer screening test
program is to develop a screening test for men over 50 years of age
that is based on a panel of DNA methylation biomarkers and is more
specific than PSA testing or can be used as a diagnostic follow-on
for men with PSA elevated to 2.5 ng/ml or more.

About DNA Methylation

DNA methylation is a natural and tightly controlled biological
process that serves the regulation of genes and the stability of the
human genome. Cytosine, one of the four bases in DNA, can be modified
by the covalent addition of a methyl group. DNA methylation in gene
regulatory regions (i.e. gene promoters) helps control gene activity.
Every cell type has its unique DNA methylation "fingerprint" that
changes in various normal biological processes and in many diseases,
in particular cancer. DNA methylation thus provides a rich source for
highly specific biomarkers for organ-specific disease diagnosis,
classification and prediction for therapeutic intervention.
About DMH

Differential Methylation Hybridization (DMH) is the most recent
addition to Epigenomics' proprietary DNA methylation technology
portfolio. With Epigenomics' DMH microarrays more than 50,000 human
genomic fragments can be profiled for their methylation status in a
single experiment. DMH is robust and delivers highly reproducible
results. This makes DMH in Epigenomics' view a fast and
cost-effective tool to discover novel DNA methylation biomarkers for
diagnostic and pharmacodiagnostic applications. Epigenomics offers
DMH biomarker discovery on human and mouse tissue samples as a
biomarker service to its customers. Please visit Epigenomics' website
for more information (www.epigenomics.com).
About Epigenomics AG

Epigenomics is a molecular diagnostics company with a focus on the
development of novel products for cancer. Using DNA methylation
biomarkers, Epigenomics' tests can potentially diagnose cancer at an
early stage and thereby may reduce mortality from this dreaded
disease.

The company develops diagnostic screening tests for the early
detection of cancer. Based on body fluid samples (e.g. blood and
urine), these tests are aimed at finding cancer at an early stage
before symptoms occur. Epigenomics' product pipeline contains a
validated biomarker for the early detection of colorectal cancer in
blood plasma, and further proprietary DNA methylation biomarkers at
various stages of development for prostate and lung cancer detection
in body fluids. For development and global commercialization as in
vitro diagnostic test kits, Epigenomics pursues a non-exclusive
partnering strategy with diagnostics industry companies. As a first
strategic partner, Abbott Molecular Inc. licensed the worldwide
non-exclusive rights to Epigenomics' proprietary Septin 9 biomarker
for colorectal cancer. Epigenomics also aims at giving patients and
doctors early access to these biomarkers through reference laboratory
testing services. As a first reference laboratory partner, Quest
Diagnostics Inc., the leading provider of diagnostic testing,
information and services, obtained the license to commercialize a
laboratory-developed test (LDT) for Septin 9 in the U.S.

Partners in the health care industry and the biomedical research
community can access Epigenomics' portfolio of proprietary DNA
methylation technologies and biomarkers protected by more than 150
patent families through research products, Biomarker Services, IVD
Development Collaborations, and Licensing. The company is
headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and has a wholly owned subsidiary
in Seattle, WA, USA. For more information, please visit Epigenomics'
website at www.epigenomics.com.

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Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain
forward-looking statements concerning Epigenomics AG and its
business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results,
financial condition, performance or achievements of Epigenomics AG to
be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Epigenomics AG is providing this communication as of this date and
does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained
herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact

Epigenomics AG
Dr. Achim Plum
SVP Corporate Development

+49 30 24345 368 (phone)
+49 30 24345 555 (fax)
achim.plum@epigenomics.com
www.epigenomics.com