Protea In Marketing Partnership with MatTek Corp.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va., Jan. 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Protea Biosciences Group, Inc. (OTCQB:PRGB) (?Protea?) announced today that the Company has entered into a co-marketing agreement with MatTek Corporation (?MatTek?), which allows Protea to include MatTek's human cell based in vitro tissue models with Protea's proprietary molecular imaging services.  

?By combining the human tissue models with mass spectrometry imaging workflows, researchers will be able to visualize specific compounds in highly - controlled experimental conditions using human cell derived, in vitro models,? stated Haddon Goodman, Vice President, Corporate Development.  He added, ?For example, utilizing MatTek's EpiDermtm skin model, we can map the distribution of topical compounds, while also visualizing the distribution of biomolecules present in the tissue. These experiments determine if a compound is penetrating the skin without using a tag or marker on the compound, which are commonly needed for visualization using traditional techniques.? The in vitro models are easier to source, much more reproducible and more humane as compared to human or animal skin tissues. 

MatTek is at the forefront of tissue engineering and is a world leader in the production of innovative 3D reconstructed human tissue models.  The outstanding relevance and reproducibility of EpiDerm and EpiOcular, MatTek's corneal tissue model, produced impressive results in international multi-laboratory pre-validation and validation studies, leading to acceptance by OECD as test methods for skin and ocular irritation and corrosion testing.

The companies plan to jointly present data at the 76^th annual Society for Investigative Dermatology conference on April 26-29 in Portland, Oregon.  This work will highlight the benefit of integrating human cell-based tissue models with Protea's mass spectrometry imaging workflows.   

About Protea Biosciences Group, Inc.:  Protea Biosciences Group, Inc. (OTCQB:PRGB) is a molecular information company providing proprietary, bioanalytical workflows to the pharmaceutical and life science industries. "Molecular information", the generation and bioinformatic processing of very large data sets, is obtained by applying the Company's technology to identify and characterize the proteins, metabolites, lipids and other biologically-active molecules which are the byproducts of all living cells and life forms.

About MatTek Corporation: 
MatTek Corporation is at the forefront of tissue engineering and is a world leader in the production of innovative 3D reconstructed human tissue models. MatTek's skin, ocular, intestinal and respiratory tissue models are used in regulatory toxicology (OECD, EU guidelines) and product development programs to address toxicology and efficacy concerns throughout the cosmetic/personal care, household product, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries.

https://www.mattek.com

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Protea and LAESI are registered trademarks of Protea Biosciences Group, Inc.