STOCKHOLM, Sweden, July 01, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Meda has signed an agreement with Karolinska Innovation AB regarding acquisition of patents based upon Professor Lars Burmans discovery that the toxin production Clostridium difficile may be down-regulated. This opens new possibilities to prophylaxis and treatment without using antibiotics of a potentially life-threatening condition including diarreha caused by the treatment with antibiotics. The number of affected patients is 2 million/year in EU and the U.S.
Current therapy consists of treatment with metromidazole or vancomycin. Except emerging resistance also treatment failure is of great concern. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel approaches to prophylaxis and treatment of this serious condition.
"We are exited over this co-operation which opens a long term potential for Meda. This fits well into our prioritised area of gastrointestinal diseases. Meda will seek partners among pharmaceutical companies in Japan and the U.S to develop the project," said Anders Lonner, CEO Meda.
"This is a very innovative and interesting project with a large potential. It is also a pleasure that a Swedish pharmaceutical company will lead the development," said Conny Bogentoft, Managing Director, Karolinska Innovations AB.
For further information, please contact:
Anders Lonner, CEO tel. +46 8 630 19 00 Bernt Everts, Medical Director tel. +46 8 630 19 00
Meda AB (publ) - The Swedish specialty Pharmaceuticals Company. Meda is listed on the OM Stockholm Stock Exchange. Meda markets prescription and over-the-counter drugs and medical equipment.
Karolinska Innovations (KIAB) invests in promising inventions at Karolinska Institutet. KIAB invests in and manages the first steps of commercial development of academic research results towards innovative new products and therapies for the consumer market. During last two years KIAB has formed and found external investors to 10 new biotech companies and has also closed 10 license deals with companies in the international Pharmaceutical & Biotech industry. Karolinska Innovations AB is a fully-owned subsidiary of Karolinska Institutet Holding AB.
This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net
The following files are available for download:
www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/07/01/20020701BIT00410/wkr0001.doc www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/07/01/20020701BIT00410/wkr0002.pdf