STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 15, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Vitrolife has been informed that the company's patent application regarding the use of alanyl-glutamine in media for in vitro fertilization has been approved in the USA. "The advantage of alanyl-glutamine compared with glutamine, which was used previously, is that it is more stable and is not broken down into harmful substances that can inhibit the development of the embryo. The approval of this patent entails a competitive advantage for the company," says Magnus Nilsson, Vitrolife's CEO.
Vitrolife has been informed that patent no. 6,838,235, designated "Methods for in vitro fertilization," has been approved by the American patent authority. The patent concerns the use of alanyl-glutamine in the culture of embryos for in vitro fertilization. Glutamine is an amino acid that is important for the development of the embryo. However, at 37 degrees Celsius, which is the temperature at which the embryos are cultured, glutamine is broken down into harmful substances. The patent covers the use of the dipeptide alanyl-glutamine, which the embryo itself converts to glutamine when and as required, and is valid until the year 2022.
As it mimics the physiological processes that take place in a woman after normal fertilization, the use of Vitrolife's products minimizes negative stress in the embryo. When at the same time the embryo's inherent ability to regulate its environment to some degree is now used, safety can be further increased by avoiding the embryo being cultured together with potentially harmful substances.
"The patent is important as we can make use of the safety benefits provided by alanyl-glutamine in our future products as well, with less risk of competitors being able to copy us," says Vitrolife's Marketing Director Tony Winslof.
February 15, 2005 Kungsbacka, Sweden
Magnus Nilsson, CEO
Questions should be addressed to: Dr. Magnus Nilsson, CEO phone +46 31 721 80 00 or +46 708 22 80 61 Tony Winslof, Marketing Director phone +46 31 721 80 15 or +46 708 22 80 15
Vitrolife is a global biotechnology/medical device Group that works with developing, manufacturing and selling advanced products and systems for the preparation, cultivation and storage of human cells, tissue and organs. The company has business activities within three product areas: Fertility, Transplantation and Cell therapy. The Fertility product area works with nutrient solutions (media) for the treatment of human infertility. The Transplantation product area works with solutions and systems to maintain tissue in optimal condition outside the body for the required time while waiting for transplantation. The Cell therapy product area works with media to enable the use of stem cells for therapeutic purposes.
Vitrolife today has over 70 employees and the company's products are sold in more than 80 markets. The head office is in Kungsbacka, Sweden, and there is a subsidiary in Denver, USA. The Vitrolife share is listed on the O-list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange.
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