MECHELEN, BELGIUM -- (Marketwire) -- 01/15/13 -- Galapagos NV (Euronext: GLPG) announced today that the research site in Zagreb, Croatia, will form the basis of a newly created service division, called Fidelta. Next to BioFocus and Argenta, this is the third service division of Galapagos.

In September 2010 Galapagos acquired GlaxoSmithKline's state-of-the-art research center in Zagreb, Croatia, accessing capabilities to resource research programs from molecule through to the clinic for internal R&D programs. In order to enhance efficient use of these facilities, Galapagos has re-focused the Zagreb organization from internal to external outsourcing.

Fidelta is an exciting new drug discovery service company, being launched in the year that Croatia joins the European Union. The 100-staff team at Fidelta have a long history of successful drug discovery within Pliva, GlaxoSmithKline and Galapagos. Fidelta has extensive chemistry, pharmacology (both in vitro and in vivo), biomarker, toxicology and ADME/PK capabilities, with specific experience in inflammation, infectious, metabolic, and oncology diseases. The company has the know-how and resources to take projects from inception to the clinic and will differentiate from Argenta and BioFocus through its expertise in in vivo pharmacology, toxicology and inflammatory models in particular. Fidelta will be led by Phil Dudfield, who has extensive experience in drug discovery within large pharma and Galapagos and 5 years running fee-for-service groups at BioFocus.

"With the creation of a third service division we can offer a broader range of services to our customers," said Onno van de Stolpe, CEO of Galapagos. "With this change we can further strengthen our worldwide leadership position in drug discovery services, ranging from target discovery all the way through to the delivery of preclinical candidates, in key disease areas for our clients."

About Fidelta

Fidelta makes the difference in efficacy and safety, combining expertise in the areas of chemistry, pharmacology, ADME/PK and toxicology in its offering of integrated discovery services. The company has a long history of fully integrated drug discovery programs with primary expertise in the areas of inflammation and anti-infective research, but has also been successful in the areas of oncology, CNS, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Fidelta's extensive AAALAC accredited in vivo capabilities afford the possibility to take projects all the way to the clinic. Fidelta has more than 100 scientists averaging over 11 years experience in the pharma industry, and more than 60% with PhD and international experience gained at prestigious universities in Europe and the US. More info at www.fidelta.eu

About Galapagos

Galapagos (Euronext: GLPG; OTC: GLPYY) is a mid-size clinical stage biotechnology company specialized in the discovery and development of small molecule and antibody therapies with a novel mode-of-action. The Company is progressing four clinical, six pre-clinical, and 30 discovery programs in cystic fibrosis, inflammation, antibiotics, metabolic disease, and other indications. Its lead program is GLPG0634, an orally-available, selective inhibitor of JAK1, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and potentially other inflammatory diseases. In two four-week Phase 2 studies, GLPG0634 showed improvement in the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and a unique safety profile. A 6 month Phase 2b study is expected to start Q2 2013 with top line data expected in Q4 2014. AbbVie and Galapagos signed a worldwide license agreement whereby AbbVie will be responsible for further development and commercialization after Phase 2b. Galapagos is also progressing two other clinical development programs with clinical readouts expected in 2013: GLPG0187, a novel integrin receptor antagonist in development for metastasis, is in a Phase 1b patient study; GLPG0974 is the first inhibitor of GPR43 to be evaluated clinically for the treatment of IBD. This program is in a second Phase 1 study and will start a Proof of Concept Phase 2 study in Q2 2013.

The Galapagos Group, including fee-for-service companies BioFocus, Argenta and Fidelta, has over 800 employees and operates facilities in five countries, with global headquarters in Mechelen, Belgium. Further information about the company and its drug development programs can be found online at: www.glpg.com

Galapagos forward-looking statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "could," "stands to," and "continues," as well as similar expressions. Such forward- looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which might cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Galapagos, or industry results, to be materially different from any historic or future results, financial conditions, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. Galapagos expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless required by law or regulation.

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Source: Galapagos NV via Thomson Reuters ONE

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