STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. 26, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Artimplant AB (Stockholm:ARTIb)and Molnlycke Health Care AB have today signed a collaboration and licensing agreement concerning the joint development of new, highly-advanced products for the treatment of chronic wounds and burns based on Artimplant's patented technology of biodegradable polymer materials. The companies have been working over the past three years on a joint research project evaluating the potential for the development of these products. This project is now entering its final stage. The next step involves process development which will be instituted immediately and will then be followed by clinical studies. It is expected that it will be possible to launch the first product onto the market in 2006.
Process development for the future production is being jointly financed. Molnlycke Health Care is financing clinical studies. Artimplant is paid royalties by Molnlycke from the sale of wound care products based on Artimplant's patented technology.
"This is Artimplant's first licensing agreement and it is a proof that Artimplant's material technology has substantial commercial potential," said Artimplant's CEO, Anders Cedronius.
"In the near future, we will be concluding further commercial agreements within the area of orthopaedics, principally for our cruciate ligament implant, the Artelon Augmentation Device ACL and the Artelon CMC-1 Spacer implant for thumb-base arthritis, and then in the long run, other orthopaedic applications from our product development portfolio too," said Anders Cedronius.
Peter Hentschel, director of the Wound Care Business Area at Molnlycke Health Care, commented: "We are very satisfied with the collaboration between our companies so far, and particularly so with today's agreement."
A general increase in life expectancy means there is a steady increase in the occurrence of chronic wounds. The demand for highly-advanced products that can stimulate and accelerate the healing processes is therefore growing significantly. We believe that with Artimplant's technology, we have found a method of accelerating and facilitating a natural reconstruction of tissues, and this could end the need for difficult and painful skin grafts, explains Peter Hentschel.
For further information, please contact:
Ulf Akerblom Anders Cedronius
Director Corporate Communications CEO
Tel: +46 31 746 56 00 Tel: +46 31 746 56 89
Cellphone: +46 709 67 59 99 Cellphone: +46 706 42 27 45
E-mail: ulf.akerblom@artimplant.se E-mail: anders.cedronius@artimplant.se
Homepage: www.artimplant.se
Artimplant MOLNLYCKE HEALTH CARE
Artimplant focuses on solutions Molnlycke Health Care, with its
for problems within the area of corporate headquarters in
reconstructive surgery. Goteborg, Sweden, is one of the
Artimplant is active in the world's leading manufacturers of
research and development of single-use surgical and wound
biodegradable implants with the care products. The surgical
goal of recreating active lives. assortment is marketed under two
The material the Company has brand names, BARRIER(R) and
developed is based on a new Klinidrape(R) and the wound care
technology that is opening new assortment under the brand name
markets in the field of Tendra(R).
orthopaedic surgery as well as
other specialised fields where Total annual sales are at
there are significant medical present app. EUR 500M and the
needs. After many years of group has about 4000 employees.
working with development, Manufacturing takes place in
Artimplant is now entering a seven factories located in
marketing phase which involves Finland, Belgium, Czech
licensing out to global Republic, Thailand and Mexico.
partners.
Sales and marketing is carried
Artimplant has already developed out in three organisations; USA,
and patented several different Europe and Export Markets in the
degradable ligament implants rest of the world, altogether
that are now undergoing clinical comprising 25 subsidiaries and a
trials. The Company is focusing number of international
on three high-priority areas for representation offices.
this degradable material: an
augmentation device for anterior Molnlycke Health Care started
cruciate ligament reconstruction, operations as an independent
hand surgery and augmentation company in 1998 and the major
sutures. shareholders are Nordic Capital
and the Swedish 6th AP-fund.
Artimplant is listed on the OM Stockholm Exchange's O list.
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