BASi (BASI) Announces Partnership With Pharmasset

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN–(Marketwire – 12/29/10) – BASi (Bioanalytical Systems, Inc.) (NASDAQ:BASI – News), a life sciences company in the Purdue Research Park, has entered into a Preferred Provider Agreement (PPA) with Princeton, New Jersey-based Pharmasset Inc. (NASDAQ:VRUS – News), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and commercializing novel drugs to treat viral infections, to provide preclinical services for pre-IND and post-IND activities. The agreement includes provisions to provide exclusive toxicology services as well as pharmaceutical analysis and bioanalytical services as needed.

BASi President and Chief Executive Officer, Anthony S. Chilton, Ph.D., stated, “The agreement between Pharmasset and BASi is an important strategy and commitment for both companies. It represents a significant step in BASi’s strategy to work closely with our partners in the pharmaceutical industry. We look forward to developing our relationship and continuing to contribute to the successful development of Pharmasset’s future medicines.”

About Pharmasset

Pharmasset is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing novel drugs to treat viral infections. Pharmasset’s primary focus is on the development of oral therapeutics for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and, secondarily, on the development of Racivir™ for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Research and development efforts focus on nucleoside/tide analogs, a class of compounds which act as alternative substrates for the viral polymerase, thus inhibiting viral replication. Pharmasset currently has four clinical-stage product candidates. RG7128 is in two Phase 2b clinical studies in combination with Pegasys® plus Copegus® and is also in the INFORM studies, the first series of studies designed to assess the potential of combinations of small molecules without Pegasys® and Copegus® to treat chronic HCV. These clinical studies are being conducted through a strategic collaboration with Roche. Other clinical stage HCV candidates include PSI-7977, an unpartnered nucleotide analog that has recently initiated 12 weeks of dosing in a Phase 2b study, and PSI-938, an unpartnered nucleotide analog in a Phase 1 study. Pharmasset also has in its pipeline an additional purine nucleotide analog, PSI-661, in advanced preclinical development. Racivir, for the treatment of HIV, has completed a Phase 2 clinical study.

Pegasys® and Copegus® are registered trademarks of Roche.

About Bioanalytical Systems, Inc.

BASi is a pharmaceutical development company providing contract research services and research instruments and supplies to the world’s leading drug development companies and medical research organizations. The company focuses on developing innovative services and products that increase efficiency and reduce the cost of taking a new drug to market. Visit www.BASInc.com for more about BASi.

This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to changes in the market and demand for our products and services, the development, marketing and sales of products and services, changes in technology, industry standards and regulatory standards, and various market and operating risks detailed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.