STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 31, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Biovitrum AB and Karolinska Institutet (KI) have signed an agreement implicating that Biovitrum Biopharmaceuticals on behalf of the Department of Woman and Child Health shall produce a protein for preclinical research. The production technique to be used has been developed by scientists from KI whereas the actual production will take place at Biovitrum.
The protein that the agreement applies to, recombinant HMGB-1 (High Mobility Group Box chromosomal protein 1) is a cytokine like protein, with a significant role in inflammatory reactions. Understanding how this proinflammatory signalling molecule is regulated and functions can lead to better treatment strategies for serious inflammations.
-- We are very happy to have established this collaboration. The signed agreement further consolidates our fellowship with KI with respect to research and clinical matters. Inflammation is a therapeutic area where Biovitrum has great interests, says Hans Orstrom, Senior Vice President Biopharmaceuticals.
-- To us it means a lot that Biovitrum enters our research project on HMGB-1 as a collaboration partner. It facilitates our work considerably to be able to make use of the scientific and technical skills that Biovitrum possesses in the field of protein production using biotechnology, says Ulf Andersson, Professor, Chief Physician and Head of Unit at the Department of Woman and Child Health, the Unit of Pediatrics, Karolinska Institutet and project leader.
Biovitrum
Biovitrum is one of the largest biotechnology companies in Europe, with operations in Stockholm and Uppsala, Sweden and in Cambridge, in the UK. The company combines research and development with commercial operations. The company's Research & Development operations focus on new pharmaceuticals in primarily obesity and diabetes, as well as in cancer, eye diseases, inflammation and pain, while Biopharmaceuticals develops and produces protein-based drugs on a contractual basis. Marketing & Sales markets a number of specialist pharmaceuticals primarily in the Nordic countries. Within Biovitrum, approximately 300 people work in R&D and about 200 in Biopharmaceuticals and Marketing & Sales. For more information see www.biovitrum.com/.
Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska Institutet is Sweden's leading medical university and accounts for more than 40 per cent of the country's medical research. The explicit aim of Karolinska Institutet is to have medical discoveries benefit patients and the community. Support functions have therefore been developed to facilitate the commercialisation of research findings. Karolinska Institutet has previous experiences of collaborating with several companies and welcomes new proposals. For more information see www.ki.se.
For further information, contact:
Biovitrum AB Hans Orstrom, SVP Biopharmaceuticals +46-8-697 20 07 Mobile: +46-70-542 89 37 hans.orstrom@biovitrum.com
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