STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 16, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Vitrolife has been notified that the company's patent application, regarding the use of recombinant albumin with or without hyaluronic acid in media for embryos and stem cells, has been approved in USA. "This means a protection for the use of the substances, which have advantages both regarding safety and efficacy, also in our future products", says Vitrolife's Director of Marketing Tony Winslof. "The approval of this patent gives us an important competitive advantage," said Magnus Nilsson, CEO at Vitrolife.
Vitrolife has been notified that Patent No. 6,762,053, "Mammalian Gamete and Embryo Culture Media and Culture Media Supplements" has been approved by the United States Patent Office. The patent covers the use of recombinant albumin (synthetic; not purified from blood) with or without hyaluronic acid in media for embryos and stem cells and is valid until 2021. "The patent is important since we can use the advantages regarding safety and efficacy that these substances have also in our future products, without our competitors being able to copy us," said Tony Winslof, Director of Marketing at Vitrolife.
"The approval of this patent gives us an important competitive advantage," said Magnus Nilsson, Vitrolife's CEO. "Increasingly, demands from patients and authorities are being put forward to avoid substances purified from blood. Vitrolife is convinced that in the future all components in media for clinical use will be synthetic, in order to avoid the risks of contamination."
Kungsbacka, Sweden, August 16, 2004
Magnus Nilsson CEO
Vitrolife is an international biotechnology/medical device group that develops, produces and markets advanced products and systems for the preparation, cultivation and storage of human cells, tissues and organs.The company has operations within three product areas: Fertility, Transplantation and Cell therapy. Product area Fertility works withsolutions (media) for treatment of human infertility. Product area Transplantation works with solutions and systems designed to keep organs in optimal shape during required time outside the body, when waiting for a transplant. Product area Cell therapy works with media in order to be able to use stem cells for therapeutic purposes.
Vitrolife today has over 70 employees and the company's products are sold in over 80 markets. The main office is in Kungsbacka, Sweden, with a subsidiary in Denver, USA. The Vitrolife share is listed on the O-list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange.
Vitrolife AB (publ), Faktorvagen 13, SE-434 37 Kungsbacka, Sweden. Corporate identity number 556354-3452. Tel: +46(0)31 721 80 00. Fax:: +46(0)31 721 80 90. E-mail: info@vitrolife.com. Homepage: www.vitrolife.com.
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