Hamilton Thorne Receives Notice of Intention to Grant European Patent on Industry-Leading LYKOS Laser

BEVERLY, MA and TORONTO--(Marketwire - Jul 26, 2012) - Hamilton Thorne Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: HTL), a leading provider of precision laser devices and advanced image analysis systems for the fertility, stem cell and developmental biology research markets, today announced that the European Patent Office has issued a notice of Intention to Grant a European Patent on the "Modular Objective Assembly" utilized in the Company's LYKOS® and XYRCOS™ lasers under patent application number 09752647.9-2217. Upon final approval, the patent can be officially filed in over 30 European countries. 

"The European Patent Office's Intention to Grant notice further validates the advanced optics and resolution technology that the LYKOS® laser brings to the clinical market," said Diarmaid Douglas-Hamilton, Chief Technology Officer of Hamilton Thorne Ltd. "This patent application represents Hamilton Thorne's commitment to expanding our global patent portfolio. Additionally, this brings further substantiation of our other European accreditations for the LYKOS® such as our recently received CE Mark under the European Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC in May 2012."

David Wolf, Hamilton Thorne's President and Chief Executive Officer, added, "The Patent on the Modular Objective Assembly utilized in the LYKOS® and XYRCOS™ lasers is extremely valuable, as this patent broadly covers the concept of building a laser into a microscope objective. With this recent Intention to Grant a European Patent notice from the European Patent Office, we will have a significant opportunity to increase Hamilton Thorne's market share, as well as pursue lucrative licensing opportunities."

The Modular Objective Assembly utilized in the LYKOS® and XYRCOS™ lasers is a significant advance in integrated laser optics, providing sophisticated optics technology, increased resolution and compatibility with all major microscope models. The elegant and sleek design of the LYKOS® and XYRCOS™ lasers is engineered to have the patented RED-i target locator built directly inside the objective, saving researchers from tedious alignment procedures. The improved working distance provides a significant advantage in the daily workflow of clinicians. The laser also features enhanced UV transmission/fluorescence, which is compatible with many fluorescing stains and extremely important in research applications. The LYKOS® Multi-Pulse software also offers additional benefits for cutting-edge clinical processes such as trophectoderm biopsy, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and laser-assisted hatching. 

In other Hamilton Thorne news, the Company has restructured its current sales team under the leadership of David Wolf, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. Hamilton Thorne's former VP of Sales is no longer with the Company.

About Hamilton Thorne Ltd. (www.hamiltonthorne.com)

Hamilton Thorne designs, manufactures and distributes precision laser devices and advanced imaging systems for the fertility, stem cell and development biology research markets. It provides novel solutions for Life Science that reduce cost, increase productivity, improve results and enable research breakthroughs in regenerative medicine, stem cell research and fertility markets. Hamilton Thorne's laser products attach to standard inverted microscopes and operate as robotic micro-surgeons, enabling a wide array of scientific applications and IVF procedures. Its imaging systems improve outcomes in human IVF clinics and animal breeding facilities and provide high-end toxicology analyses. 

Hamilton Thorne's growing customer base includes pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, fertility clinics, university research centers, and other commercial and academic research establishments worldwide. Current customers include world-leading research labs such as Harvard, MIT, Yale, McGill, DuPont, Monsanto, Charles River Labs, Jackson Labs, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and Oxford and Cambridge.

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Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by the Company with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.