IGEN International, Inc. reported that it has signed an agreement to sell products based on its Origen technology to the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense for the detection of specific biological agents important to the United States Department of Defense. This contract provides for product sales to the U.S. Army of $23 million over the next four years, including $7 million over the next 12 months. The products will be used by various laboratories and field sites of the Department of Defense, as well as other U.S. Government agencies, for the detection of agents or toxins in environmental samples.

"Our ongoing bio-defense initiatives, of which this contract is one component, are expected to at least double the Company's revenues from bio-defense related products over the next year," stated Richard J. Massey, chief operating officer of IGEN. "This agreement with the Department of Defense represents an extraordinary tribute to the versatility and sensitivity of our Origen technology. We are proud to continue and expand our collaboration with the U.S. Army to provide detection systems to enhance the safety of our armed forces and civilian populations."

U.S. Army scientists at Fort Detrick, Maryland have developed biological assays designed to measure specific agents and toxins using electrochemiluminescence, IGEN's patented Origen technology. This technology provided the U.S. Army equal or better measures of sensitivity compared to other methods, including PCR-based techniques.

IGEN's tests are utilized in a wide variety of Homeland Security and bio-defense initiatives. The Company has been working with numerous departments within the Department of Defense and other U.S. Government agencies using Origen-based products for the detection of Category A and Category B biological agents, including agents such as anthrax, staphylococcus enterotoxin B, and botulinum toxin, among others.