WATERS CORPORATION LAUNCHES XTERRA(TM), HPLC COLUMNS FEATURING HYBRID PARTICLE TECHNOLOGY XTERRA(TM) COLUMNS USE A FUNDAMENTALLY NEW ORGANIC/INORGANIC HYBRID PARTICLE TO EXTEND THE LIMITS OF HPLC PERFORMANCE GRANADA, SPAIN and MILFORD, Mass., June 2 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- WatersCorporation today announced the launch of its newest HPLC column line,XTerra(TM), which for the first time will provide scientists the ability toextend the limits of HPLC technology for speed, peak shape and operating pHrange. These significant performance improvements will change the future ofdrug discovery, enabling scientists to substantially accelerate the analyticaland purification processes for lead generation and lead optimization. Watersannounced the launch of XTerra(TM) columns at HPLC '99 in Granada, Spain. In order to help meet the increasing demands placed on today's scientists,Waters Corporation has made a revolutionary change to the synthesis ofchromatographic packing materials. This new Hybrid Particle Technology is theresult of an extensive research and development effort by Waters. Thestructure of the underlying chromatographic support has been fundamentallyredefined to produce a new material, an organic/inorganic hybrid, which hasthe positive attributes of both silica and polymer. This novel material,commercialized by Waters in its new XTerra columns, enables significantimprovements in the performance attributes of highest importance topharmaceutical scientists today: speed, peak shape, and usable pH range "For example, two micron XTerra columns have enabled us to run 45 secondgradients with high peak capacity," said Uwe Neue, Ph.D., Director, AppliedTechnologies, Waters Corporation. "In addition, XTerra columns deliver thesharpest, most symmetrical peaks for all basic compounds with maximumresolution. Their usable pH range from one to 12 provide polymeric pHresistance with the performance of silica." "With XTerra(TM) columns, we have established a new and significantlyimproved benchmark for HPLC performance. As a result, innovative researchscientists will finally have better tools to increase throughput andproductivity, to more effectively facilitate the discovery and development ofnovel human therapeutics," said Raymond J. Crowley, Ph.D., Manager,Pharmaceutical Business Development, Waters Corporation. "Pharmaceuticalresearch and drug discovery, until now, have been constrained by the limits ofyesterday's technology. Now, researchers focused on drug discovery and drugdevelopment will tremendously benefit from the speed, peak shape andreproducibility available with XTerra columns." XTerra columns are now available in four particle sizes and in fourdifferent chemistries. With over 270 configurations available at time oflaunch, this is the most complete product line introduction in the history ofHPLC columns. For over 40 years, the Waters name has been synonymous with superiorquality, innovation, and leadership in HPLC. As the largest company in theindustry devoted to HPLC, thermal analysis and mass spectrometry, Waters(NYSE: WAT) had $619M in revenue in 1998. The company manufactures columnsand sample preparation products at two cGMP chromatography materials synthesisfacilities in Taunton, Massachusetts and Wexford, Ireland. SOURCE Waters Corporation CONTACT: Gina Cella at HPLC '99, 34-958-25-83-00, or Janna Guinen of GROB, 617-876-9300