Charles River Expands in Charleston County

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- December 17, 2009 -- The South Carolina Department of Commerce, Charleston County Economic Development Department and the City of Charleston today announced that Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. will expand its presence in Charleston with a new research and warehouse facility. Charles River will invest approximately $20 million and hire 60 research and production workers over the next five years.

"We are thrilled to call South Carolina home and increase our investment in the local economy. The state's commitment to the life sciences industry, skilled workforce and technological innovation makes South Carolina the ideal location for our expansion," said Foster Jordan Corporate Senior Vice President, Endotoxin & Microbial Detection Products.

For more than 60 years Charles River has been helping its global partners accelerate drug discovery and development by providing them with tailored research models, preclinical, clinical and support services. The Company's offerings span the entire drug development process, from discovery through market approval, providing clients a seamless partnership throughout. In addition, Charles River also provides critical endotoxin and microbial detection products and services that are necessary for the safe manufacture of new therapeutics.

"Charles River's growth in South Carolina is strong testament to the state's skilled workforce and a pro-business climate that support growth and technological innovation. Thanks to the team efforts of state and local officials, Charleston County will benefit from this investment," said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

South Carolina is headquarters to Charles River's Endotoxin and Microbial Detection products and services division. These solutions are endotoxin detection systems that utilize FDA-licensed technology and are necessary for the confirmation of safe manufacture and release of product. Charles River's Endotoxin and Microbial Detection group supply the scientific community with innovative products that increase laboratory efficiencies and improve test performance.

"Our hearty congratulations go out to Charles River on this expansion," said Joe McKeown, Vice-Chairman of Charleston County Council. "The company is a bona fide Charleston success story, and their stature in the medical world is colossal. The Charles River story provides first-hand evidence of the viability of our growing Charleston life sciences sector."

"Charles River Labs is an important part of Charleston's growing life sciences community. Their expansion in our community validates that Charleston has all the ingredients that allow life science companies to grow and thrive," said Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.

About Charles River Accelerating Drug Development. Exactly. Charles River provides essential products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and leading academic institutions around the globe accelerate their research and drug development efforts. Our more than 9,000 employees worldwide are focused on providing clients with exactly what they need to improve and expedite the discovery, development through first-in-human evaluation and safe manufacture of new therapies for the patients who need them. To learn more about our unique portfolio and breadth of services, visit www.criver.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "will," "may," "estimate," "plan," "outlook," and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements include the statements in this press release regarding Charles River's expectation regarding the expansion of the facility in Charleston, South Carolina, including the cost of the facility construction and eventual staffing levels. Forward-looking statements are based on Charles River's current expectations and beliefs, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the forward-looking statements. A further description of these risks, uncertainties, and other matters can be found in the Risk Factors detailed in Charles River's Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed on February 20, 2008, as well as other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Charles River assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update information contained in this release except as required by law.