September 19, 2001, 8:00 a.m. EDT
 

Syngenta Selects OpenViz Visualization Technology from AVS for Biomolecular Analysis Software Tool Set

(Waltham, MA -- September 19 , 2001 8:00 a.m. EDT)

Advanced Visual Systems, an international leader in business intelligence and data visualization software, today announced that its OpenViz® software has been selected by Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) to provide the visualization front-end for that company's in vitro High-Throughput Screening (HTS) software tool set.

Syngenta, a world-leading supplier of crop solutions based on chemical and biotechnology products designed to improve crop yield and food quality, has created a suite of applications to help scientists understand HTS data. HTS, used in agribusiness and pharmaceutics, allows the rapid evaluation of candidate molecules and combinations to find those suited for specific uses. OpenViz can present the resulting data as interactive charts and graphs, helping Syngenta scientists more easily understand and analyze HTS data to find the best-suited molecules.

"We test hundreds of thousands of molecules annually in an ever-increasing number of different biochemical and cell-based assays," said Dr. David Youle, Head of Screening and Logistics at Syngenta. "OpenViz allows us to increase the understanding of interactions between research compounds and their precise molecular targets, and identify more quickly which compounds are of interest."

OpenViz is a comprehensive suite of software components that enable leading corporations like Syngenta and software developers in every industry to develop sophisticated, dynamic, interactive, and scalable 2D and 3D visual presentations from all types of corporate, financial, scientific, and statistical data.

"We were familiar with a number of products that could provide many of the features we needed, but which lacked flexibility or simplicity," explained Graham Mullier, Chemoinformatics Team Leader at Syngenta. "We wanted a modular, component-based system that would make it easier for us to build something quickly and to match the process that the scientists were using. By using OpenViz components to build some small, focused visualization applications, we have been able to produce a tool that suits our users very well."

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About Syngenta

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness. The company ranks first in crop protection and third in the high- value commercial seeds market. Pro forma sales in 2000 were approximately $6.9 billion. Syngenta employs more than 20,000 people in more than 50 countries. The company is committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. Formed in November 2000 by the merger of Novartis Agribusiness and Zeneca Agrochemicals, Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange, and in London, New York and Stockholm. Further information is available at www.syngenta.com.

About Advanced Visual Systems

Advanced Visual Systems (AVS) provides industry- leading, interactive data visualization software and solutions that help business, scientific and engineering users gain critical insight from all types of data. AVS' complete line of software products speeds decision-making by bringing information to life using the latest in graphics, Web-based and interactive technologies on all major computing platforms. For more information on AVS call 781/890-4300, write to info@avs.com, or visit www.avs.com.