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GTCB 1.15 GTC Biotherapeutics Awarded State Training Grant
Jul 17, 2007 8:30:00 AM
Copyright Business Wire 2007

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc. ("GTC", Nasdaq: GTCB) announced today that it has been awarded a $41,000 grant from the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund. The grant will fund 10 days of skills training in continuous improvement and Six Sigma process improvement to approximately 25 GTC employees in the areas of operations and quality. GTC has partnered with Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Corporate & Professional Education to deliver the five-course Certificate Program.

"We are pleased that Governor Patrick's support for proactive workforce development has resulted in this recognition of the value our technology offers to the future of protein therapeutic development and the role our employees play in continuing our leadership position," stated Gregory Liposky, GTC's Senior Vice President of Operations. "We obtained the first approval of a transgenically produced protein anywhere in the world and we are building on this historic achievement to develop and bring to the market new therapeutic products enabled by this innovative technology. The skills our people will obtain through this program not only add value to our expertise in transgenic production, but also importantly provide a core knowledge base to our employees that is in high demand throughout our industry. The experience and expertise WPI brings to the program makes them a valued partner in development and implementation of this important program. I also thank the quasi-public Commonwealth Corporation in helping GTC win the Workforce Training Fund grant through its Applicant Assistance Program."

"WPI was honored to be chosen to work with GTC on this important initiative," said Sharon Deffely, Director of Corporate & Professional Education. "We have been involved each step of the way - from initial concept, to help in choosing the appropriate projects, to co-reviewing the draft application along with Doug Riikonen from the Commonwealth Corporation, to scheduling the training off site for maximum benefit."

About Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund

The Workforce Training Fund provides businesses and labor organizations with matching grants of up to $250,000 to finance incumbent worker training. Since its inception in 1999, the Workforce Training Fund has awarded 4,136 grants totaling over $150 million to train more than 208,000 Massachusetts workers through its three programs.

About Commonwealth Corporation

Commonwealth Corporation is a quasi-public agency with a 25-year history in workforce development in Massachusetts. Overseen by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, "CommCorp" helps businesses apply for state training grants through the Applicant Assistance Program, and much more.

About WPI's Corporate & Professional Education

Founded in Worcester MA in 1865, WPI is one of the nation's first universities dedicated to engineering and technology. For over fifty years, WPI's Corporate & Professional Education has been creating custom on-site programs designed to meet the needs of individuals and corporations, with a commitment to providing a rewarding and valuable educational experience.

About GTC Biotherapeutics

GTC Biotherapeutics develops, produces, and commercializes therapeutic proteins through transgenic animal technology. In August 2006, ATryn(R), GTC's recombinant form of human antithrombin, was approved by the European Commission for use in patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency undergoing surgical procedures. This was the first approval anywhere in the world of a therapeutic protein produced from a transgenic animal. We have developed goats that have the human antithrombin gene linked to a milk-protein promoting gene so that they express this protein in their milk. This transgenic approach provides the opportunity to produce recombinant forms of proteins, such as antithrombin, that are difficult to express in economically viable quantities in conventional production systems.

ATryn(R) is in a Phase III clinical study in preparation for requesting market approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. LEO Pharma A/S, ATryn(R)'s partner in Europe, Canada and the Middle East, has launched the product for the approved indication in Europe and is initiating a Phase II dose ranging study in treating disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with severe sepsis, a market estimated to be $2 to 3 billion in the U.S. In addition, GTC has established a strategic collaboration with LFB Biotechnologies of France to jointly develop recombinant forms of human plasma proteins and monoclonal antibodies. The first program of the collaboration will be to develop recombinant human factor VIIa as a potential treatment for hemophilia in patients with antibodies to other coagulation factors.

In 2006, GTC was granted a patent in the United States through 2021 for the production of any therapeutic protein in the milk of any transgenic mammal. GTC's transgenic production platform is particularly well suited to enabling cost effective development of proteins that are difficult to express in traditional recombinant production systems as well as those that are required in large volumes. Additional information is available on the GTC web site, http://www.gtc-bio.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation statements regarding completion of the six sigma training and the resulting improvement in skills and capabilities, prospects for clinical development of ATryn(R) as well as the ultimate potential market size in the U.S. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such statements. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in GTC's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the uncertainties associated with conducting clinical studies, and the risks and uncertainties associated with dependence upon the actions of collaboration partners and regulatory agencies. GTC cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These statements speak only as of the date of this document, and GTC undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements, except as may be required by law.

Source: GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc.

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GTC Biotherapeutics
Inc.
Thomas E. Newberry
508-370-5374
Vice President
Corporate Communications
[e-mail]
or
Feinstein Kean Healthcare for GTC
Francesca DeVellis
617-577-8110
[e-mail]