STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Nov. 04, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The biotechnology company Biovitrum has decided to divide its research and development operations into two parts. The aim is to increase the focus on the later stages of the pharmaceutical development process. Anders Ullman has been appointed to head the new development unit. He was most recently responsible for Bayer Pharmaceuticals' global development operations.
Biovitrum is a leading Swedish biotechnology company focused on pharmaceutical research in metabolic diseases. The company is currently at a stage where it is increasing its emphasis on preclinical and clinical development of pharmaceutical candidates. Its own research portfolio, together with new and established cooperative projects, will generate a number of promising projects in clinical development in the years ahead. In 2006 Biovitrum is planning to have up to six projects in different phases of clinical development.
In order to achieve this, the current research and development operations are being divided into two parts: one purely research-oriented part concentrated on basic research with the aim of developing new pharmaceutical candidates, and a development part with preclinical development and clinical documentation. The goal is to effectively manage a greater number of mature projects in the company's own research portfolio and enhance its ability to in-license external projects in the development phase. The head of the new development operations will be Anders Ullman.
Anders Ullman, 48, is a physician and clinical pharmacologist. For the past three years he has headed Bayer Pharmaceuticals global development operations based in Germany. Prior to that he led the global clinical research and development unit at Astra Zeneca for a number of years.
"With his breadth of experience in development work within and outside the country, I am convinced that Anders Ullman will help Biovitrum to generate a continuous stream of new, potential pharmaceuticals," says Biovitrum's CEO Mats Pettersson.
"Biovitrum is already a trend-setting player in biotechnology, in Sweden and internationally in general," said Anders Ullman. The company has the necessary strength, dynamics and prerequisites to select and develop the right projects until the establishment of their clinical effect and use. This is extra crucial today when the pharmaceutical industry in general has problems developing enough clinical projects with the potential to reach the market and address true medical needs. I look forward to playing a part in further developing Biovitrum's strengths and possibilities," he continued.
For further information, please contact:
Anders Ullman Mobile: +46-709-40 70 12 Mats Pettersson, CEO Phone: +46-8-697 23 27 Mobile: +46-70-314 75 79 mats.pettersson@biovitrum.com
Biovitrum is a privately held Swedish biotech company dedicated to discovery and development of drugs to treat metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. Biovitrum is also a recognized provider in process development and contract manufacturing of protein therapeutics. The company has strong intellectual property and technology platforms, with a number of compounds in pre-clinical and clinical development. Annual revenues, including royalties and contract service fees, finance a major part of the annual research budget. For more information, please visit Biovitrum's website at www.biovitrum.com.
This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net
The following files are available for download:
http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/11/04/20041104BIT00050/wkr0001.pdf
-0-