For Immediate Release 31 August 2011Asterand plc

(“Asterand” or the “Company”)

Board Changes

The Company wishes to announce that John Stchur has decided to step down as Chief Financial Officer, with immediate effect.

John has been responsible for leading the Company financially throughout its growth cycle, most recently negotiating the successful acquisition of BioSeek.

The Company has retained Mr. Alan Fishman as the Interim CFO. Mr. Fishman brings over 30 years of financial experience to the Company.

Jack Davis, the Chairman and Interim CEO, said: “John has been a steady hand and positive influence at the

Company for 9 years and we wish him well in the future.”

Contacts:

Asterand plc

Jack Davis, Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer Tel: + 44 (0) 1763 211 600 / + 1 (313) 263-0960

John Stchur, Chief Financial Officer As above

Buchanan Communications

Lisa Baderoon / Mark Court / Isabel Podda Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000

Daniel Stewart & Company plc

Antony Legge Tel: +44 (0) 20 7776 6550

Martin Lampshire

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 market. For more information about Asterand, go to www.asterand.com.