Major insurance company covers Aerocrine's method for asthma control: Calls eNO measurement “Medically Necessary”

Major insurance company covers Aerocrine's method for asthma control: Calls eNO
measurement “Medically Necessary”

SOLNA, Sweden - 21 August 2009 - CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the largest
health care insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA, has adopted a policy
stating that measurement of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is considered medically
necessary in the management of asthma patients.  

Uncontrolled asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic medical conditions in
the United States, responsible for millions of emergency room visits, days lost
at work and school, and billions of dollars in direct and indirect costs. Airway
inflammation can lead to life-threatening asthma attacks, and long-term
inflammation can drastically compromise lung capacity over a lifetime.  

The founders of Aerocrine made the original discovery that nitric oxide in
exhaled breath is elevated in patients with asthma and the company has since
pioneered the development of the method to monitor airway inflammation by
measuring eNO.

In its July 2009 policy update, CareFirst refers to studies stating that eNO can
be used effectively to predict and avoid relapse and to monitor compliance with
medication, as well as improving diagnosis and indicate possible environmental
influences affecting the patient. Concluding that eNO measurement is the only
routine clinical test for airway inflammation that can be performed conveniently
in the office setting, CareFirst makes specific reference to Aerocrine's
portable eNO measurement device NIOX MINO®.  
“CareFirst's policy is an important stepping stone towards improved asthma
treatment in the United States”, says Chip Neff, President of Aerocrine Inc.

Aerocrine's first device, NIOX, received CE clearance in Europe in 2000 and US
FDA clearance in 2003, and NIOX MINO, the first handheld device was cleared for
clinical practice in Europe in 2004 and by the FDA in early 2008. To date, more
than 2.5 million patient tests have been performed using Aerocrine's systems.

“Aerocrine's method to improve asthma control is rapidly gaining acceptance
across the world through inclusions in clinical guidelines and health insurance
systems”, says Paul de Potocki, CEO of Aerocrine AB. “We are very happy that
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield has decided to change their policy to now cover
exhaled Nitric Oxide for its members”.

For more information, contact:

Paul de Potocki, CEO, telephone: +46 8 629 07 80
Chip Neff, President USA, telephone: 919 696 4267

About Aerocrine
Aerocrine AB is a medical technology company focused on the improved management
and care of patients with inflammatory airway diseases. The pioneer and leader
in the technology to monitor and manage airway inflammation, Aerocrine markets
NIOX MINO® and NIOX® Flex. Both products enable the fast and reliable
measurement of airway inflammation and may thus play a critical role in more
effective diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with inflammatory
airway diseases such as asthma. Aerocrine is based in Sweden with subsidiaries
in the US, Germany and the UK. Aerocrine shares were listed on the Stockholm
Stock Exchange on 15 June 2007.

Aerocrine may be required to disclose the information provided herein pursuant
to the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication at
08:00 am on August the 21st 2009.