Asterand’s CFO Named CFO of the Year by Crain’s Detroit Business

Asterand, a leading provider of human tissue and human tissue-based services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies engaged in drug discovery research, is proud to announce Mr. John Stchur as winner of the Crain’s Detroit Business’ CFO of the Year award for Public Companies with Revenues Less than $1B. Award winners and finalists were honored on June 11 at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan.

In its third annual CFO of the Year award, Crain’s Detroit Business selected the winner based on his demonstrated savvy and skill in solving financial and corporate management problems and his contributions to the community.

Mr. Stchur joined Asterand Inc. in 2002 as Controller. He led the Company through two rounds of venture funding and listing on the London Stock Exchange by means of a reverse merger (with Pharmagene plc) to form Asterand plc in January 2006. Mr. Stchur was appointed Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Asterand plc in 2007.  In January 2009, Mr. Stchur was appointed to Asterand’s Board of Directors as an Executive Director.

Martyn Coombs, Chief Executive Officer of Asterand plc commented:
 “I am extremely pleased with John’s achievement. John’s exceptional ability to manage our Company finances has played a pivotal role in Asterand plc’s growth and profitability.”

Contacts:

Asterand plc
Martyn Coombs, Chief Executive Officer                                    Tel: + 44 (0) 1763 211 600 /
                                                                                                                   + 1 (313) 263-0960

John Stchur, Chief Financial Officer                                            As above

Buchanan Communications
Lisa Baderoon / Rebecca Skye Dietrich / Jennie Spivey         Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000

Cenkos Securities plc
Stephen Keys / Alex Aylen                                                              Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7397 8924

Daniel Stewart & Company plc
Simon Starr                                                                                       Tel: +44 (0) 20 7776 6550

About Asterand
Asterand plc is a leading supplier of high quality human tissue and tissue-based services. Our comprehensive approach to human tissue and research services offers pharmaceutical, biotech and diagnostic companies the unique opportunity to have one Company meet all of their human biomaterial needs along the continuum of drug discovery and development. Our mission is to accelerate target discovery and compound validation and enable pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to take safer and more effective drugs into the clinic.