Kuwait Finance House (Bahrain) signs agreement to acquire major stake in Astron Clinica

London, 06 April 2005 – Kuwait Finance House (Bahrain) (“KFH-Bahrain”) announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire a 38.88 percent interest in Astron Clinica Ltd, (“Astron Clinica” or the “Company”) the skin imaging company.

Astron Clinica launched its new DERMETRICS® skin imaging software suite in 2004.

To date, the Company has launched its skin cancer family that includes MoleView, MoleManager and a portfolio of software utilities, uniquely enabling medical health care professionals to visualise and examine suspicious moles up to 2 mm below the surface of the skin without excision.

“The global market for our products is very large, and malignant melanoma is a very dangerous disease”, says company CEO Annie Brooking. The UK’s Cancer Research’s SunSmart campaign forecasts a three fold increase in the incidence of skin cancer in the UK alone.

Astron Clinica will invest in growth, focusing on enhancing its distribution channels and preparing to enter the USA market, while continuing to develop its DERMETRICS® product suite with applications that include skin health, for instance wound management, skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis, and cosmetic formulation evaluation.

‘We are delighted to be working with KFH. We wanted an international investor that shared our vision for the future”, said Astron Clinica CEO Annie Brooking.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Abdulhakeem Alkhayyat, General Manager of KFH-Bahrain said: “The Company’s unique imaging technology (SIAScopy®) together with its unique skin imaging software suite (DERMETRICS®), gives Astron Clinica the potential to be the leading global player in skin imaging. KFH-Bahrain is delighted to invest in Astron Clinica and support the efforts of Astron Clinica’s management team with the full commercial development of their skin imaging business.”

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For more information, please contact:

Lucy Saunders
Tel: 0207 434 2000
Mob: 0777 55 66 074
Email: lucy.saunders@mahseer.co.uk