Yvonne Mårtensson, CEO of CellaVision, has been awarded the 2009 Biotech Builder prize for developing CellaVision from concept to a fully functioning commercial business, as well as for her contributions to the biotechnology industry in the Öresund region. The prize was awarded yesterday at the Biotech Builders yearly meeting in Denmark. This is the seventh year that Biotech Builders brings attention to a successful individual in the industry through awarding this prize. This is the first year that the prize is given to a Swede. The jury's motivation reads: Yvonne Mårtensson has developed CellaVision from concept to a fully functioning commercial business with a turnover of SEK 100 million and positive figures last year. She has taken the company through many challenges with small financial means by combining the soft and tough aspects of her leadership style. In addition to this she has also contributed to the development of broader networking between companies in Medicon Valley, the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry, as well as the research community in the Öresund region. "It is a great honor for me to receive this prize considering the other well established companies from this region that were in the competition," says Yvonne Mårtensson. "My colleagues and I have given a lot of time and energy to CellaVision through the years, and the Biotech Builder Award honors this. It will make CellaVision more competitive and contribute to further growth." In 2008 CellaVision presented its best sales and results in the history of the company. For the first time sales increased to over SEK 100 million while the operating result increased to SEK 13 million. Amongst other events during the year CellaVision established its own sales organization in the USA, the subsidiary CellaVision Japan K.K. was launched, and the range of products was widened with an application for body fluids. During the first part of 2009 CellaVision improved its gross margin and the next generation of analyzers was launched in Europe. As of now, more than 500 analyzers have been sold to approximately the same number of customers, which are both hospital and commercial laboratories in mainly Europe and North America. Biotech Builders is a Danish and Swedish networking organization for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical technology companies in the Öresund region. It is a non-profit organization and annually organizes a meet for business leaders in the region. For more information on Biotech Builders, visit www.biotechbuilders.com. For more information, please contact: Yvonne Mårtensson, CEO, CellaVision AB Phone: +46 46 286 44 00. E-mail: yvonne.martensson@cellavision.com About CellaVision CellaVision AB develops, markets, and sells market leading image analysis based systems for routine analysis of blood and other body fluids. The company has a core competence in development of software and hardware for automatic image analysis of cells and cell changes for applications in health and medical care. The company develops and markets systems for automatic differentials of white blood cells and red morphology, and software for education and quality assurance of differentials. The company's associates have expertise in advanced imaging analysis, artificial intelligence, and automated microscopy. The company headquarters are in Lund, Sweden. The company also has subsidiaries in Florida, USA, Toronto, Canada and Yokohama, Japan. For more information, visit www.cellavision.com. CellaVision's share is listed on First North Premier at the OMX Stockholm Stock Exchange. The company's Certified Advisor is Remium AB.