ViaGen Preserving and Multiplying Superior Genetics

April 29, 2008

The world’s first cloned horse, Prometea, has had a foal.

Pegaso, her son, is the first offspring of an equine clone confirms, once again, that cloned animals can grow and reproduce normally, giving rise to healthy offspring.

Prometea with her foal Pegaso: The development may help the breeding of champion racehorses

The name Prometea, a Haflinger mare, is a reference to Prometeo (Prometheus), who was punished for stealing fire from Olympus for the benefit of mankind.

She entered the history books in 2003 when she was unveiled as the world’s first horse clone, one that offered a way to preserve the genetic heritage of many exceptional horses whose genes are presently lost because champion geldings are castrated.

“During these five years Prometea has been in very good health and often at the centre of media attention,” says her creator, Prof Cesare Galli of the Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies in Cremona.

“The ultimate proof of her normality has just come with the birth of Pegaso, on March the 17th 2008, after a single insemination with the semen of the Haflinger stallion Abendfurst.”

Pegaso has special significance in racing because sporting horses are castrated at a young age. “When they become adult and demonstrate to be champion horses, they are unable to reproduce and it is therefore impossible to obtain the next generation: the champion’s offspring,” says Prof Galli.

“This is a bitter reality that clashes with the driving principle of animal breeding and selection that is based on the reproduction of superior individuals to pursue genetic improvement of the breed.

“Therefore, today, horse cloning is simply an assisted reproduction technique that allows us to obtain copies/clones of castrated champion horses and finally, from these clones, the champion’s offspring that otherwise would never be born.”

Prof Galli showed the technology could revolutionise blood stock breeding when he unveiled a cloned foal of Pieraz, an Arab endurance champion, in 2005.

He has cloned cattle and pigs too, and worked with human embryo cells, which led to him being excommunicated by the Catholic Church, even though he did not himself destroy embryos but used embryonic stem cells that had been derived in other countries.

Prof Galli first encountered problems with the authorities when he unveiled Galileo, Italy’s first cloned bull, which was confiscated by Italy’s Health Ministry.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 15, 2008

Statement from Mark Walton, ViaGen President on FDA Final Risk Assessment on Food from Cloned Animals

Austin, TX -“ViaGen applauds the release of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rigorous scientific analysis of the safety of food from cloned animals and their offspring.

FDA’s determination that meat and milk from animal clones is safe to eat concludes the most extensive food safety review in FDA’s history, and complements two earlier reports from the National Academy of Sciences that reached the same conclusion.

“Cloning companies will continue to work out an orderly marketing transition with the food industry and relevant government agencies – including FDA and USDA – as we move toward commercialization.

“The number of cloned animals in the barnyard today is miniscule compared to the size of the total livestock population. In addition, clones are to be used as breeding animals, not for consumption. Because of a supply chain management system that allows tracking of cloned livestock, consumers are unlikely to ever eat these animals.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 15, 2008

BIO Supports FDA’s Safety Conclusions on Animal Cloning

Washington, D.C-Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Greenwood today issued the following statement in response to a risk assessment published today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the safety of milk and meat products from cloned animals and their offspring:

“BIO strongly supports the FDA’s risk assessment which concludes that meat and milk products from animal clones and their offspring are safe for human consumption, and are no different from foods from livestock produced through other breeding methods. The biotechnology industry applauds FDA for its comprehensive scientific review of this new assisted reproductive technology. FDA’s risk assessment is consistent with numerous studies world wide that have found the food from animal clones and their offspring to be safe. With this safety conclusion, ranchers and livestock producers may begin to choose cloning as a technology that will allow the rapid use of the best genetics to produce healthy animals.

“Livestock cloning is the latest step in a long history of reproductive tools for farmers and ranchers, and can effectively help livestock producers deliver what consumers want: high-quality, safe, abundant and nutritious foods in a consistent manner.

“FDA’s extensive review of over 700 scientific research studies, conducted over the past 30 years, has determined that foods from animal clones and their offspring are equivalent to foods from other livestock. These findings are consistent with two reports by the National Academy of Sciences.

“The biotechnology industry looks forward to working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and members of the food value chain to support an orderly transition and introduction of products from cloning technology into the marketplace. In December 2007, the major animal cloning companies introduced a Supply Chain Management Program, an animal clone registry database that allows food companies to identify animal clones. BIO believes that this tracking system will support a gradual transition of products derived from cloning into the marketplace by helping to promote a wider variety of choices in the world’s food supply and support smooth trade transactions.

BIO represents more than 1,150 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology technologies. BIO also produces the annual BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

Note to Editors: BIO will host a media teleconference on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. EST that will feature a panel of experts on animal cloning. To access the teleconference, dial 800.895.1241, and provide the operator with the conference identification code “BIO.”

Note to Broadcast Editors: Video clips of BIO’s Managing Director of Animal Biotechnology, Dr. Barbara Glenn, as well as 4-H youth commenting on what cloning means to the next generation of livestock producers, can be accessed at http://www.clonesafety.org/imagelibrary/videos/.

Additional scientific resources on animal cloning and downloadable photos and video can be found at www.CloneSafety.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 11, 2008

Statement on the Release of the European Food Safety Assessment on the Safety of Food Derived from Clones and their Offspring in the Food Supply

January 11, 2008, Austin, TX – Statement by Mark Walton, Ph.D., President, ViaGen

“In light of the European Food Safety Authority’s strong endorsement of the safety of food from clones and their offspring, we urge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to release its final risk assessment at the earliest possible moment and to lift the voluntary moratorium. The international scientific consensus is clear: food from these animals and their offspring is as safe to eat as any other food. The opportunity to increase the availability of exceptional breeding stock offers great benefits to producers and consumers worldwide.”

“Viagen and Trans Ova – the major cloning companies in the U.S. – recently announced a tracking system that will ensure cloned animals are not introduced into the food supply. This supply chain management system was developed with the input of the entire food chain – including major representatives of the beef, pork, dairy, retail and food service industries.”

Additional Resources:

Link to EFSA Report: http://tinyurl.com/27lka7

Link to clone tracking information: www.clonesafety.org/cloning/scm

Background on International Cloning Regulation:

• Last year the European Commission (EC) charged the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to do a risk assessment of the safety, animal health and environmental concerns; this document was released today.

• The governments of France and New Zealand have published risk assessments, finding the foods from clones and their offspring to be safe and equivalent.

• Australia has accepted the New Zealand risk assessment, as they are government by similar food safety agencies.

• Japan has developed a risk assessment; the Japanese government is awaiting publication of FDA’s final risk assessment before publishing.

• Argentina has enacted a law permitting the use of biotechnology in agriculture including cloning. Brazil is working on a law to approve the use of cloning in livestock, a move that is necessary to register cloned animals in the breed registries. Cloning activities are underway already in both countries. It is believed that Mexico will await Canada’s decision.

• Commercial cloning research is active in Japan, China, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In fact, China has said it plans to build a beef herd equivalent in quality to the U.S. and will use all available technologies including cloning.

About ViaGen, Inc. (www.viagen.com): ViaGen adds value to the marketplace by cloning cattle, horses, and pigs; licensing and selling proprietary animal genetics; and providing traits and technology for animal agriculture industries worldwide. The company is based in Austin, Texas.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2007

Livestock Cloning Supply Chain Management

STATEMENT

Mark Walton

President, ViaGen

Dave Faber

CEO, TransOva

ViaGen and TransOva Genetics, the national leaders in the livestock cloning industry, have developed the supply chain management program to track cloned livestock. This system will allow marketers to provide consumers with truthful and accurate labels.

Our companies worked with more than 20 groups in the food industry chain to develop a program that addresses the marketing needs of their customers.

This proactive effort, to track clones from birth to death, will be managed through a third party registry. Each time the animal moves from one owner to another, it will be documented in the national registry. It works in the same manner as process-verified food systems like the Certified Organics Program; meat certified Halal; or coffee that is labeled Fair Trade.

With fewer than 600 clones in existence today, consumers can be confident that this system will provide them with reliable information about the status of food products from clones.

This system is not a health or a safety program, as the scientific consensus is clear: food derived from clones and their offspring is as safe as any other food. This safety has been confirmed through a rigorous scientific risk assessment by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as two reports by the National Academy of Sciences.

About ViaGen, Inc.: Based in Austin, Texas, ViaGen is a global provider of advanced livestock genetic technologies, including cloning. ViaGen’s industry-leading compilation of livestock genomic data and patented breeding and product identification processes are extensively used in the cattle, swine and equine industries to obtain verifiably superior genetics. ViaGen makes livestock genetic technology affordable and accessible to producers throughout the livestock production chain, from farm to fork, offering new opportunities for business to build revenue and for consumers to enjoy unprecedented quality and safety.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 6, 2007

Scott Schmidt Joins ViaGen as Chief Financial Officer

June 6, 2007, Austin, Texas—ViaGen, Inc., the leading livestock cloning company, today announced the hire of Scott Schmidt as Chief Financial Officer. Schmidt joins ViaGen from SoloMio Corporation, an Austin-based venture-funded global software company, where he had been the Vice President and CFO since 2004. SoloMio was acquired by Openwave [NASDAQ: OPWV] in October 2006.

“Scott has the financial expertise and entrepreneurial drive to help ViaGen succeed,” said Dr. Mark Walton, President of ViaGen.

Schmidt has held positions as the Vice President and Acting CFO of Intelliden, a technology start-up in Colorado Springs; as President and CFO of Long Lines Ltd., a Sioux City, Iowa telecommunications company; and as Director of Operations at MCI.

“ViaGen is well-positioned as a leader in animal biotechnology,” said Schmidt. “I’m looking forward to working closely with Mark and the rest of ViaGen’s excellent management team to aggressively pursue the company’s growth strategy.”

Schmidt is a graduate of Iowa State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

About ViaGen, Inc. (www.viagen.com): ViaGen adds value to the marketplace by cloning cattle, horses, and pigs; licensing and selling proprietary animal genetics; and providing traits and technology for animal agriculture industries worldwide. The company is based in Austin, Texas.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2007

Livestock Cloning Leader Expands to Latin America

Austin, TX – ViaGen, Inc., the leading livestock cloning and genomics company, today announced that it has expanded its operations into Latin America by opening a facility in Queretaro, Mexico, hiring Jose Cordoba, MSc, as Director of ViaGen-Latin America, and launching a Spanish-language version of its web site.

“Latin America is a good market for us because it’s a primary producer of high-quality beef and pork, and because progressive breeders in this region have been quick to understand and adopt advanced reproductive technologies,” said ViaGen president Mark Walton, Ph.D. “Dr. Cordoba’s expertise and excellent reputation among Latin American producers are strong assets for ViaGen.”

Córdoba will coordinate sales, marketing, and business development for ViaGen throughout Latin America.

“ViaGen’s services can help Latin American producers achieve a stronger position in global meat and dairy markets,” said Dr. Córdoba. “My first task is to inform producers about the ways in which cloning, gene banking, and genomic services will benefit them and benefit Latin America.

ViaGen’s bovine, equine and porcine cloning program helps food animal producers and purebred seedstock producers to rapidly and reliably spread the best genetics throughout their herds. Cloning is also a useful tool for the owners of outstanding entertainment animals such as bullfighting bulls and rodeo horses, because it equips them to reproduce the valuable genetics of those animals.

Prior to joining ViaGen, Córdoba was General Manager of PIC Andina based in Santiago, Chile. He also served as Operations Director of PIC México in Querétaro, Mexico. PIC is a global leader in production of genetically superior pig breeding stock.

Córdoba has also served as a professor in the pig production department at the National University of Mexico.

Cordoba received his degree in Veterinary Medicine from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City in 1986. He has a Master of Science in Animal Production from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland (1990) and a Master of Business Administration (2003) from the Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico.

ViaGen’s Spanish-language web site at www.viagen.com/es/ includes information about cloning, photographs of cloned animals, client testimonials, and a library of cloning-related research papers.

About ViaGen, Inc.: Based in Austin, Texas, ViaGen is a global provider of advanced livestock genetic technologies, including cloning. ViaGen’s industry-leading compilation of livestock genomic data and patented breeding and product identification processes are extensively used in the cattle, swine and equine industries to obtain verifiably superior genetics. ViaGen makes livestock genetic technology affordable and accessible to producers throughout the livestock production chain, from farm to fork, offering new opportunities for business to build revenue and for consumers to enjoy unprecedented quality and safety.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2007

National Cattlemen’s Food Policy Director Joins ViaGen

Austin, Texas—Livestock cloning leader ViaGen, Inc. today announced that Leah Wilkinson, former Director of Food Policy for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) in Washington, D.C., is the company’s new Director of Policy and Industry Relations. Wilkinson will manage ViaGen’s policy activities and outreach to the food industry.

“Leah brings an insider understanding of the issues and opportunities faced by the cattle and pork industries,” said ViaGen president Mark Walton, Ph.D. “She’s helping ensure that ViaGen’s strategies match the needs of industry.”

During her five years at NCBA Wilkinson represented the beef industry in the legislative and regulatory arena. She played an active role in the association’s issues management and policy teams on E. coli 0157:H7 recalls, BSE cases, and other high-profile topics. She also coordinated the Animal Agriculture Coalition, a thirty-five member coalition of animal agriculture associations that work together to achieve science-based public policy on animal health and agricultural research issues.

“Food policy can be sensitive terrain,” Wilkinson said. “When a technology comes along that can clearly improve the nation’s food supply, like cloning, it’s very important to communicate with all stakeholders, especially consumers, regarding the benefits and address any concerns they may have.”

Prior to joining NCBA, Wilkinson was a government relations representative for the National Pork Producers Council in Washington, D.C. from 1999 to 2002. Wilkinson holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal and Plant Systems from the University of Minnesota. She grew up on a pork and row crop operation in Southern Minnesota.

About ViaGen, Inc. (www.viagen.com): ViaGen adds value to the marketplace by cloning cattle, horses, and pigs; licensing and selling proprietary animal genetics; and providing traits and technology for animal agriculture industries worldwide. The company is based in Austin, Texas.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2007

Bovance is New Bovine Cloning Leader

Sioux Center, Iowa – Two leaders in bovine reproductive technologies, Trans Ova Genetics and ViaGen, have partnered to launch Bovance, a new company offering cloning services to the cattle industry. Bovance combines the cloning capabilities of ViaGen with the broad bovine reproduction expertise of Trans Ova Genetics. Breeders of dairy, beef, bucking stock, Longhorn, and all other cattle now have access to the best source of bovine cloning technology.

Cloning is a valuable tool in any strategic breeding program because it can more quickly and precisely extend elite genetics for additional embryo or semen production, increase breeding opportunities, protect from untimely loss of superior individuals, and increase generational influence of producers’ best genetics. By cloning the most elite animals, with the most sought-after genetics or greater disease resistance, breeders can advance the efficiency, quality and consistency of their meat and milk production.

“We see cloning as a way for producers and ranchers to turbocharge their breeding programs,” says ViaGen president Mark Walton, Ph.D. “The FDA is preparing to green light the use of cloning technology in beef and dairy, so with our partners at Trans Ova Genetics, we’ve put together the right team and the right brand to help breeders take advantage of this new option.”

“Bovance will provide cattle breeders an additional reproductive tool to select and extend the genetic influence of their best animals,” says Dr. David Faber, president of Trans Ova Genetics. “We see cloning as an integrated part of a comprehensive cattle breeding program.”

Cattle breeders who want more information about how cloning can advance their genetic opportunities can find it online at www.bovance.com, or by calling 1-877-4-BOVANCE, or by talking to their Trans Ova Genetics representative.

Bovance is a joint-venture between Trans Ova Genetics of Sioux Center, Iowa and ViaGen of Austin, Texas. Trans Ova Genetics helps cattle breeding clients effectively implement advanced reproductive technologies, including embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization, sexed semen, genetic preservation and cloning. ViaGen adds value to the marketplace by cloning animals, licensing and selling proprietary animal genetics, and providing traits and technology for animal agriculture industries worldwide.

Bovance provides bovine cloning services to cattle producers across North America as an exclusive product offering from Trans Ova Genetics.

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