Exhibit 99.1

Thursday, February 9, 2006

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

             NORDIAG AND TRANSGENOMIC ENTER INTO EXCLUSIVE EUROPEAN
                          LICENSE AND SUPPLY AGREEMENT

TRANSGENOMIC PLATFORM COMBINES WITH NORDIAG DIAGNOSTIC TEST IN FIGHT AGAINST
COLORECTAL AND PANCREATIC CANCER

New York, Feb. 9, 2006 -- NorDiag ASA (OSE:NORD) and Transgenomic Inc.
(Nasdaq:TBIO) announced today that they have entered into an exclusive license
and supply agreement which will unite the two companies' technologies in the
fight against colorectal and pancreatic cancer. Transgenomic has granted NorDiag
exclusive European commercial rights to use its proprietary WAVE(R) System and
associated consumables to perform molecular diagnostic testing for the detection
of colorectal and pancreatic cancer from stool samples. NorDiag, in return, will
pay a licensing fee and has committed to certain minimum annual purchases.

NorDiag successfully employs the WAVE System in its Genefec(TM) test, which can
detect mutations associated with early development of gastrointestinal cancers
such as colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC is the second most common cause of cancer
mortality, and early detection has been shown to significantly improve patients'
long-term survival prospects. Transgenomic's platform is integral to the
automation of the Genefec test and the optimization of its sensitivity.

Commenting on the agreement, Christian Horn, CEO of NorDiag, said, "The
exclusive European license to Transgenomic's proven technology, which has been
adopted in medical centers and research institutions spanning more than 35
countries, will further strengthen NorDiag's position as an emerging European
leader in molecular diagnostic testing. Following our initial success in the
Scandinavian market, we are preparing to introduce Genefec to additional
European markets. Transgenomic's WAVE System is an important component in the
automation and standardization of Genefec testing. In addition, the structured
supply agreement with Transgenomic should provide a safeguard to the level of
service that we provide to our customers."

Collin D'Silva, CEO of Transgenomic, added, "We are pleased that NorDiag has
identified our WAVE System as the platform of choice for their novel Genefec
test. NorDiag's proprietary sample preparation methods are an excellent
complement to our high-sensitivity mutation detection technology. We believe
this test offers significant benefit to patients, and that the success of the
WAVE System in this setting demonstrates its potential application in a variety
of related areas."

ABOUT NORDIAG ASA

NorDiag is a biotechnology company aiming to reduce mortality and treatment
costs through detection of common cancers at the early, curable phases of cancer
development. Early cancer detection brings the dual benefits of better patient
outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. Currently NorDiag focuses on colorectal
cancer through their product Genefec, a DNA based test available as a clinical
diagnostic test in Norway and Sweden. NorDiag has substantial know how in the
field of genetics and the extraction of human DNA from faeces. The Company's
operations are subject to patent protection, both through its own applications
and through in-licensed rights to applicable patents. NorDiag has its offices in
Bergen, Norway, and London, UK. For more information, please consult the
Company's web pages at www.nordiag.no.



ABOUT TRANSGENOMIC

Transgenomic is a global company that provides versatile and innovative products
and services to the medical research and pharmaceutical markets. Transgenomic's
WAVE Systems are specifically designed for use in genetic variation detection.
They have broad applicability to genetic research and molecular diagnostics. The
emerging pursuit of personalized medicine is driving the ongoing need to detect
new, uncharacterized mutations and genetic polymorphisms. The high analytical
sensitivity of the WAVE System makes it a uniquely enabling technology for the
advancement of personalized medicine. To date there have been over one thousand
systems installed in over 30 countries around the world. In addition to the sale
of systems and consumables Transgenomic provides services to pharmaceutical and
biopharmaceutical companies in preclinical and clinical development of targeted
therapeutics. For more information about the innovative genomics research tools
developed and marketed by Transgenomic, please visit the company's Web site at
www.transgenomic.com.

NORDIAG CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding NorDiag,
including projections and expectations which involve risk and uncertainty. Such
statements are included without any guarantee as to their future realization.
Although NorDiag believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, no assurance can
be given that such projections will be fulfilled. Any such forward-looking
statements must be considered along with knowledge that actual events or results
may vary materially from such predictions due to, among other things, political,
economic, financial or legal changes in the markets in which NorDiag does
business, and competitive developments or risks inherent to the Company's
operations. Many of these factors are beyond NorDiag's ability to control or
predict. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and
does not assume any obligation, to update the forward-looking statements
included in this Press Release as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

TRANSGENOMIC CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements"
of Transgenomic within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those
with respect to management's current views and estimates of future economic
circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results,
including the ability of the company's technology to be used in the development
of cancer diagnostics. The known risks, uncertainties and other factors
affecting these forward-looking statements are described from time to time in
Transgenomic's reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any change in
such factors, risks and uncertainties may cause the actual results, events and
performance to differ materially from those referred to in such statements.
Accordingly, the company claims the protection of the safe harbor for
forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 with respect to all statements contained in this press release. All
information in this press release is as of the date of the release and
Transgenomic does not undertake any duty to update this information, including
any forward-looking statements, unless required by law.



INVESTOR CONTACTS:

NORDIAG

         Christian Horn
         NorDiag ASA
         +47 90 16 31 5300
         christian@nordiag.no

TRANSGENOMIC

         Phil Eastlake
         Transgenomic, Ltd.
         +44 1670 706 134
         peastlake@transgenomic.com

         Robert J. Pogulis, Ph.D.
         Transgenomic, Inc.
         1-845-782-9617
         rpogulis@transgenomic.com