Ensemble Discovery Names Richard F. Begley as CEO; Begley Leverages Knowledge of Chemistry, Biology and Engineering

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 4, 2005--Ensemble Discovery Corporation, an early stage company developing a revolutionary approach to create new products in life Sciences, materials, and chemicals through its proprietary DNA Programmed Chemistry(TM) platform, has named Richard F. Begley, Ph.D., as president and chief executive officer.

Begley, who had been serving as president and chief executive officer of 454 Corporation, based in Branford, Conn., will assume the role of President and CEO at Ensemble Discovery immediately. Before joining 454, Begley served in a variety of senior management positions at Agilent Technologies, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, Schlumberger Automated Test Equipment, Perkin Elmer Corporation, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Applied Physics from Stanford University, and his Bachelor of Science degree from Fordham University.

Ensemble Discovery's proprietary DNA Programmed Chemistry(TM) platform was invented by Professor David R. Liu of Harvard University, an internationally recognized leader in innovation in chemistry and biology. The company was co-founded by Professor Liu and Flagship Ventures, of Cambridge, Mass. Ensemble holds an exclusive, worldwide license to a broad patent portfolio covering DNA Programmed Chemistry(TM) from Harvard, and it raised $17 million in venture capital in 2004 from a syndicate of leading U.S. venture firms, including Flagship, Oxford BioScience, Arch Venture Partners and CMEA.

"Richard Begley is a natural choice to lead Ensemble. He brings an extraordinary record of successfully developing and commercializing technologies in diverse markets. His deep technical background in advanced material sciences, life sciences, and analytics, combined with his business leadership accomplishments, are perfect to lead Ensemble into the future," said Douglas Cole, General Partner, Flagship Ventures. "Throughout his career, Richard has worked at the intersection of chemistry, biology and engineering, a key to Ensemble's future success."

"I'm thrilled that Ensemble provides me the opportunity to work with Professor Liu, a highly accomplished research team, and a strong syndicate of U.S. investors who understand the commercial potential of DNA Programmed Chemistry(TM)," commented Begley. "Professor Liu is acknowledged throughout the world as the trailblazer at this frontier of innovation. His laboratory is widely recognized for establishing the principles of DNA Programmed Chemistry(TM) and demonstrating the power of the approach in a pioneering series of landmark studies. Ensemble is in the highly favorable position of continuing to work with Professor Liu and building on a strong scientific and proprietary foundation. I look forward to translating the potential of DNA Programmed Chemistry(TM) to address real market needs."

About Ensemble Discovery Corporation

Ensemble Discovery Corporation, based in Cambridge, MA, is an early stage company founded to translate fundamental innovation in chemical synthesis and discovery into products that address significant unmet needs in life science, materials, electronics, and chemical markets.

Ensemble's proprietary DNA Programmed Chemistry(TM) (DPC) platform combines central concepts of chemistry, molecular biology, and nanotechnology into a powerful, integrated discovery platform. DPC uses sequences of DNA as miniature machines that assemble chemical compounds. This approach enables novel strategies to synthesize and discover chemical compounds and materials, to identify unprecedented chemical reactions, and to analyze complex mixtures of analytes. Ensemble intends to apply its platform technology to discover new drugs, diagnostics, materials, chemicals, and chemical processes. The company holds a worldwide, exclusive license to a broad intellectual property portfolio covering DPC from Harvard University.

Contact

Ensemble Discovery Corporation
Richard F. Begley, Ph.D.
617-492-6977 x233
rbegley@ensemblediscovery.com