St. Louis, MO. and Bordeaux, France, March 18th, 2009 – Sigma-Aldrich (NASDAQ: SIAL) today announced an agreement with MitoProd SA, a leading RNA manufacturing company, to distribute MitoProd’s RNA products and services worldwide. Under the terms of the agreement, MitoProd will produce custom long RNA oligonucleotides for Sigma-Aldrich customers. The partnership further expands Sigma-Aldrich’s comprehensive custom oligonucleotide service portfolio.

RNA molecules offer significant promise for a variety of applications in therapeutics and pharmaceutical development and production. MitoProd has developed a proprietary technology that enables the in vivo synthesis of ribonucleic acids. Based on baker yeast fermentation, MitoProd’s technology enables the production of large homogeneous batches of ribonucleic acids without limitation on length or quanitity.

“Sigma-Aldrich’s established distribution network will greatly expand the market for our custom RNA products and services,” said Guillaume Plane, CEO of MitoProd SA. “We are proud to collaborate with such a well-known life science company.”

“This partnership further augments Sigma-Aldrich’s portfolio of custom life science tools,” said Khalil Arar, Business Development Director of Sigma-Aldrich Custom Products. “Harnessing MitoProd’s technololgy, we can now offer customized long RNA synthesis capabilities to our life science customers worldwide.”

Sigma-Aldrich offers a comprehensive collection of customized oligonucleotide services, from DNA oligos and probes to RNA and siRNA oligos and peptide synthesis. For more information on Sigma-Aldrich custom oligonucelotides, or to order, please visit http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/life-science/custom-oligos.html.

About Sigma-Aldrich
Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technolgy company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of desease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. Sigma-Aldrich has customers in Life Science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 37 countries and has 8,000 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is commited to Accelerating Customer Success through Innovation and Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service.

About MitoProd SA
MitoProd SA is a young biotech company based in Bordeaux, France, which has developed an innnovative technology for the production of ribonucleic acids (RNA). MitoProd’s patented technology enables the in vivo synthesis of RNA without limitation of length or quantity. The MitoProd team is comprised of highly qualified technicians, guaranteeing high quality in each phase of production. MitoProd’s client portfolio is a testament to its expertise and includes companies in research, diagnostic and therapeutic fields.