Indianapolis, Ind. October 29, 2003

More than 300 Biotech Jobs to be Created by the Formation of a New Biosensor Technology Company
Theron and Roche Diagnostics Announce Growth for Indiana's Life Sciences

Roche Diagnostics Corporation of Indianapolis, Ind. and Theron, Inc. of Carmel, Ind. today announced that Theron has acquired licensing rights to Roche's biosensor technology platform that is the basis of the Accu-Chek® Advantage® blood glucose monitoring systems. Roche's Accu-Chek Advantage system is a flagship product for blood glucose monitoring.

As a result of this agreement, Theron will establish a new biosensor technology company, which Theron expects will create up to 300 biotech jobs in Central Indiana within six years. This new company will use the license in order to develop and sell products in the environmental and food safety testing markets.

Theron's implementation of Roche's biosensor technology platform will allow on-site measurement of low concentrations of chemical substances using electrochemical immunoassay (ECIA) biosensors.

According to Bob Meek, Vice President, Theron, "This improved ECIA biosensor capability offers unrivaled sensitivity, wide dynamic range, short reaction times and provides numerous automation capabilities that can be delivered at point-of-service,"

"Roche Diagnostics is very involved in nurturing Indiana's Life Science activities and has actively supported the growth of new businesses in the region," said Martin Madaus, President and CEO of Roche Diagnostics Corporation. "Today we present the license of this proven, powerful technology to Theron, and we look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship that provides them an opportunity to grow."

"The Roche technology gives Theron a substantial lead in the area of biosensor development. More importantly, the commercialization of Roche's technology will create a new Indianapolis-based biotech company employing as many as 300 new biotech engineering, scientific, manufacturing, service and support personnel at an average salary of more than $50,000 per year," said Russ Gray, President and CEO, Theron. "This agreement is a strong indication of both companies' commitment to Bio Crossroads' mission to enable the creation of new technologies, new products, new companies and new jobs."

David Goodrich, president and CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and co-founder of BioCrossroads said, "One of the primary goals of BioCrossroads is to help foster collaborations between institutions within the region to identify commercialization opportunities. This agreement between Roche Diagnostics and Theron is a perfect example of how the spin-out of a corporate technology will facilitate the creation of high paying jobs in Central Indiana."

The acquisition of this exclusive license is Theron's first step in a series of planned activities that will result in the formation of the new company, including fund-raising activities and identifying a new facility that will house Theron's new company.

Theron, Inc. will be making a presentation on their planned development of this biosensor technology at the Indiana Biosensor New Ventures Conference today at the IUPUI Conference Center.

About Theron, Inc.

Theron, Inc is a life sciences technology commercialization and consulting company specializing in Technology Commercialization Assessment (TCA)tm, Product Development, and FDA & ISO Quality Consulting and Training services. Theron can also provide cGMP manufacturing for medical devices through their partnership in Medivative Technologies, LLC, a joint venture with Aircom Manufacturing, Inc. Theron also applies their knowledge and expertise towards commercialization of new technologies into products and provides these new products for sale through companies with established sales and distribution channels.

Certain statements in this release may be forward-looking. These statements are based on Theron's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Theron, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained here-in. Please visit the Theron, Inc. web site at www.therongroup.com.

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ACCU-CHEK and ADVANTAGE are trademarks of a Member of the Roche Group.
TCA is a trademark of Theron, Inc.