ST. LOUIS -- Premier Communications Portal Provides Laboratory Scientists With Desktop Access to Computational Information

Tripos, Inc. (Nasdaq:TRPS), a leading provider of drug discovery informatics products and chemistry research, today announced the release of LITHIUM(R) 2.1, the latest version of its premier 3-D molecular data desktop tool. The new software empowers research scientists to make faster and more-informed decisions by giving them unprecedented access to computational research information in a user-friendly desktop format.

Specifically designed to foster communications between front-line life sciences researchers and expert computational chemists, LITHIUM allows researchers to view, evaluate and share insights on molecular data among their colleagues. By having access to complex 3-D chemical information, laboratory researchers can more rapidly decide what compounds to synthesize or explore -- saving both time and cost.

Enhancements to the software include new scientific, graphic and operational features, hyperlink captions, and an integrated Web browser that lets users apply chemical knowledge to corresponding 3-D molecular structures. The release contains two components:

--LITHIUM Base, the enterprise platform that allows users to automate repetitive tasks through automatically generated procedures that can be played back later on the same or other relevant models and shared with others

--LITHIUM Developer, the platform for LITHIUM-based applications that supports custom interfaces and applications based on organizations' specific needs

"The philosophy behind LITHIUM is not to transform a research organization's laboratory scientists into expert computational scientists, but to deliver modelling results and knowledge to those researchers who need to use them," said Dr. David Lowis, senior director of discovery informatics at Tripos. "The technology is designed to empower the laboratory chemist and biologist to make better, faster and more-informed decisions regarding which compounds to explore and synthesize by providing access to 3-D chemical information. It also ensures that an organization's computational chemistry resources are efficiently used and remain focused on their core expertise: developing high-quality descriptive and predictive models."

About Tripos, Inc.

Tripos (Nasdaq:TRPS) combines leading-edge technology and innovative science to deliver consistently superior chemistry-research products and services for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and other life science industries. Tripos collaborates with clients to accelerate and improve the creation of life-enhancing products. Within Tripos' Discovery Informatics (DI) business, the company provides software products and consulting services to develop, manage, analyze and share critical drug discovery information. Within Tripos' Discovery Research (DR) business, Tripos' medicinal chemists and research scientists partner directly with clients in their research initiatives, leveraging state-of-the-art information technologies and research facilities. Headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., Tripos spans the world with global research operations and an international client base. Further information on Tripos can be found at http://www.tripos.com.

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