Dr. Patrice Hugo to lead development of biomarkers to expedite client drug programs in central lab operations KING OF PRUSSIA, PA, June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MDS Pharma Services, a leading provider of innovative drug discovery and development solutions, has named international biomarkers thought leader Dr. Patrice Hugo to the position of Vice-President of Scientific Affairs for its global central lab network. In this role, he will lead the development of innovative biomarkers and esoteric assays to enhance clinical development productivity from Phases I through IV. "We're delighted to offer our clients access to Dr. Hugo's experience and expertise in the development and application of biomarkers," said MDS Pharma Services President David Spaight. "The importance of biomarkers has grown as the industry shifts toward personalized medicine and seeks to expedite drug discovery and development while controlling costs. As part of this trend, MDS Pharma Services has validated and implemented more than 100 custom biomarkers in the last two years, and Dr. Hugo's appointment reflects our intention to remain a key player in this important arena." Biomarkers are biochemical indicators used to measure the progress of disease or the effects of treatment. Blood glucose level, for example, is a biomarker for diabetes. Biomarkers can play a role in drug discovery, preclinical evaluations, all phases of clinical research and post-marketing studies. By helping to predict a patient's response to a compound, they enable rapid decisions for early termination of investigations for less promising drug entities. In support of personalized medicine, biomarkers can help identify patient populations that are more likely to respond well to a drug therapy or to experience adverse events. Dr. Hugo has more than 15 years of relevant experience in discovery, preclinical, clinical development, diagnostics and biotechnology, with a focus on biomarker evaluation and development. His biomarker experience crosses various therapeutic areas including oncology, infectious disease, inflammation, metabolic disease, and women's health. He comes to MDS Pharma Services from Caprion Proteomics, where he was Executive Vice President, Research and Development. From 1997 to 2003, he was with PROCREA BioSciences, first as the Vice President of Scientific Research and then as Chief Scientific Officer. Earlier, he worked for the Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montreal (Montreal Institute of Clinical Research). Dr. Hugo holds a Master of Science in Immunotoxicology from the University of Quebec and a Ph.D. in Immunology from McGill University, Montreal. He also conducted five years of post-doctoral training in Australia and the United States. About MDS Pharma Services MDS Pharma Services is committed to delivering quality service on time. We offer a full spectrum of resources to meet the drug discovery and development needs of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. With numerous facilities strategically located around the world, we apply advanced scientific and technological expertise throughout the drug discovery and development process - from lead optimization, pre-IND research, early clinical research (bioequivalence, phases I-IIa) and bioanalysis through to global clinical development (phases IIb-IV), central lab and centralized cardiac services. For more information, visit our website at http://www.mdsps.com/. MDS Pharma Services is a business unit of MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ), a global life sciences company that provides market-leading products and services that our customers need for the development of drugs and diagnosis and treatment of disease. We are a leading global provider of pharmaceutical contract research, medical isotopes for molecular imaging, radiotherapeutics, and analytical instruments. MDS has more than 5,500 highly skilled people in 29 countries. Find out more at http://www.mdsinc.com/ or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day. DATASOURCE: MDS Pharma Services CONTACT: For Investors, Kim Lee, (416) 675-6777 ext. 34721, ; For Media, Charlene McGrady, (610) 239-7900 ext. 231,

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