SHANGHAI, China, Sept. 21, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Nobel Biocare (Other OTC:NBCHF), the world leader in innovative esthetic dental solutions, announced its entrance in China with an official opening ceremony of its new offices in Shanghai earlier this week. Today, in connection with the 2006 FDI World Dental Congress in Shenzhen, Nobel Biocare further strengthened its commitment on training and education of undergraduate students as well as clinical research by signing letter of intents on strategic collaboration with 5 major Chinese universities, including the two largest dental schools; Peking University School of Stomatology and Shanghai Jiao-Tong University College of Stomatology.
"China is potentially the largest dental market in the world. We are entering this fast growing market with great determination and focus," says Heliane Canepa, President and CEO of Nobel Biocare. "To grow and develop this market, we have started our own operations and will collaborate with the leading dental schools to help train and educate the dental profession."
Nobel Biocare already has a strong presence in Eastern Asia and the Pacific Rim and Nobel Biocare dental solutions are well-established among leading dentists and universities in China.
"In order to provide the best service, support, and education to the profession we need to have our own organization. I'm happy to say that our organization in China is our 34th subsidiary worldwide within Nobel Biocare," Heliane Canepa continues.
The new subsidiary, which includes sales offices and a training center, was inaugurated 19 September 2006. The office is located in downtown Shanghai and employs 17 persons from the start.
"Our commitment to this market will now be further underlined through our partnerships with the 5 leading universities," says Heliane Canepa. "Together with the universities, we will advance in research and develop undergraduate education and training programs, thereby ensuring that patients will be offered state-of the art esthetic dental solutions."
The collaboration includes the following universities:
Peking University School of Stomatology Shanghai Jiao-Tong University College of Stomatology Guanghua School of Stomatology Hospital SUN YET-SEN University Xian No. 4 Military Hospital Medical University School of Stomatology Wuhan University School of Stomatology
The signing of the collaborations with the universities took place at a Nobel Biocare sponsored event attended by over 300 invited guests including the President of the Chinese Dental Association, Professor Wang Xin, during the annual FDI World Dental Federation Congress in Shenzhen, China.
China has a total population of 1.3 billion. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) approximately 100 million people are in the age of 65 years or older, whereof around 15 million are fully edentulous. The country has around 57 000 dentists and 98 dental schools.
Nobel Biocare is a medical devices group and the world leader in innovative esthetic dental solutions with its brands Branemark System(r), NobelSpeedy(tm), NobelReplace(tm), NobelPerfect(r), NobelDirect(r), Replace(r) Select, (dental implants) and Procera(r) (individualized dental prosthetics). Nobel Biocare is a one-stop shop for restorative esthetic dentistry, offering a wide range of innovative Crown & Bridge & Implant products, as well as training and education and clinically documented treatment concepts. Nobel Biocare has around 1,900 employees and recorded revenue of EUR 485 million in 2005. The Company is domiciled in Zurich, Switzerland with headquarters in Zurich and in Gothenburg, Sweden. Production takes place at four production sites located in Sweden and the USA. Nobel Biocare has direct sales organizations in 34 countries. The shares of the parent company Nobel Biocare Holding AG are listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange and on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, Sweden.
Training and education of dental professionals continues to be a key strategy of Nobel Biocare. To meet the growing patient demands, the change of current undergraduate education programs and the integration of dental implant therapy and esthetic dentistry is an important factor.