(22/10/2003) IBA Awarded a Contract with the United States Government

October 22, 2003 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, October 22, 2003 - IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.: Reuters IOBAt.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB) announced today that the company has been awarded a contract, valued at approximately $1.5 million with an option for a little over $1 million, to assist the United States Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) at the Uniformed Services University of the Healt h Sciences in the refueling of the only Department of Defense facility suited for the advanced development of radioprotectants and development of sanitization procedures for biological threats. As a world-renowned expert in radiation technology, IBA is the only company to own and operate an X-ray processing facility utilized by the United States Postal Service for sanitizing the U.S. mail. This facility treats thousands of pounds of U.S. mail daily using radiation to guard against Anthrax contamination. Today, X-ray radiation is considered the gentlest and most thorough sanitization method available for treating bulk materials. As a result of this contract, AFRRI will have the tools to enable the development of specialized procedures that will help to protect against a wide range of terrorist threats including radiological dispersal devices (RDD) and biothreats such as smallpox and plague. The retrofitted AFRRI facility will be used for the development of advanced radioprotectants and experimentation on known biological contaminants. The contract includes training to select AFRRI personnel, in cooperation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 'The AFRRI work is only one of a growing number of Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security initiatives that have developed as a result of the mail sanitization project,' noted Tim Henry, President of IBA BioSecurity. 'We are pleased that the United States government has once again selected IBA to be a partner in protectin g people's lives against biological threats.' About IBA Founded in 1986, IBA is a global innovator in the design and development of particle accelerators, therapeutic and diagnostic dosimetry equipment, sterilization and ionization services, and the production and distribution of radioisotopes. With operations at more than 50 sites, spanning 12 countries and 3 continents, IBA provides extensive expertise and state -of-the-art services and equipment to numerous world markets in healthcare and industry. A selection of IBA clients includes top-ranking medical device manufacturers, specialized centers for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and the United States Postal Service. IBA stock is listed on the pan-European stock exchange, EURONEXT, and is part of the market segment NextEconomy. Website: www.iba-worldwide.com. For further information please contact: AFRRI USA LCDR J. Lucas Public Affairs Officer Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute Building 42 Bethesda, Maryland, 20832 USA Tel.: +1 301 295-1953 E-Mail: lucas@afrri.usuhs.mil IBA SA Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Paul-Emmanuel Goethals Business Development & Investor Relations Manager Telephone: +32 10 47 58 16 E-Mail: goethals@iba.be Yolaine d'Udekem Communication Manager Telephone: +32 10 47 59 60 E-Mail: ydu@iba.be (C) Companynews