GTC Biotherapeutics (fka GTCB)

[arnoos]

GTC BIOTHERAPEUTICS LICENSES RECOMBINANT FIBRINOGEN PATENTS TO PHARMING

FRAMINGHAM, MA – June 25, 2008 -- GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc. ("GTC", Nasdaq: GTCB) announced today that it has granted an exclusive license for recombinant fibrinogen in Europe, North America, and Japan to Pharming Group NV (NYSE Euronext: PHARM). The license agreement includes an upfront payment to GTC of $550,000. GTC will also receive a royalty on any commercial sales.

“We are pleased to be able to utilize our intellectual property position to support Pharming’s fibrinogen development program, expanding the use of transgenic technology in the production of recombinant human proteins,” stated Geoffrey F. Cox, PhD, GTC’s Chairman and CEO.

Fibrinogen is a protein produced in the liver that is a precursor to fibrin. The coagulation cascade converts fibrinogen to the non-soluable protein fibrin. Fibrin is a component of a blood clot.

GTC previously obtained from ProGenetics, LLC an exclusive license to recombinant human coagulation factors VIII and IX as well as fibrinogen for North America, Europe and Japan.

About GTC Biotherapeutics
GTC Biotherapeutics develops, supplies, and commercializes therapeutic proteins produced through transgenic animal technology. ATryn®, GTC’s recombinant human antithrombin, has been approved for use in Europe and has begun the review process in the United States under a rolling Biologics License Application. In addition to ATryn®, GTC is developing a portfolio of recombinant human plasma proteins with known therapeutic properties. These proteins include recombinant forms of human coagulation factors VIIa, VIII, and IX, which are used for the treatment of hemophilia, and alpha-1 antitrypsin. GTC also has a monoclonal antibody portfolio that includes a monoclonal antibody to CD20 and a monoclonal antibody to CD137. GTC’s intellectual property includes 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 proteins 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 the potential commercial development of fibrinogen. 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.


CONTACT:
GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Thomas E. Newberry
Vice President, Corporate Communications and Government Relations
[phone] or [e-mail]










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