SMITHERS CREATES NEW ANALYTICAL SERVICES UNIT
TO SERVE PHARMACEUTICAL, BIOPHARMACEUTICAL MARKETS

AKRON, Ohio (June 6, 2005) – The Smithers Group has formed Synomics Pharma Services LLC, a contract research organization (CRO) offering outsourced analytical services to the pharmaceutical, consumer health and related medical industries.

Synomics is located near Cape Cod and will initially occupy dedicated facilities within Springborn Smithers Laboratories’ (SSL) complex in Wareham, Mass.

Synomics Pharma Services offers a range of GLP and GMP analytical-based research services to support the development and manufacture of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, consumer and consumer healthcare products.

Among available analytical services are method development, method validation and transfer, residual solvent analysis, lot release, and structure elucidation. The expanding stability and storage program capabilities include long-term stability, accelerated stability, forced degradation, and photostability.

Smithers Group President and CEO Michael Hochschwender said the formation of the company is the result of “a commitment we have made to the pharmaceutical industry over the past two years that has generated an enthusiastic and positive response from our customers.”

He noted that Springborn Smithers Laboratories has been successful in providing services to the pharmaceutical community for a number of years. The formation of Synomics Pharma Services “now enables our dedicated team of CRO veterans to focus exclusively on satisfying the needs of these clients.”

The company had previously completed the first phase of laboratory expansions, and further facility enhancements are now underway “to provide added client amenities,” Mr. Hochschwender said.

The Smithers Group companies offer independent technology-based services to a global clientele of manufacturers and service providers in a wide range of industries. Among the services provided are contract research, consulting, performance and compliance testing, and management systems certification.

Springborn Smithers Laboratories, acquired by Smithers in March 2002, has been a leading provider of environmental risk assessment and regulatory compliance services to the agrochemical, industrial and specialty chemical, and pharmaceutical industries since 1967.

For more information about Synomics Pharma Services, log onto its Web site at www.synomicspharma.com.