Products for cold storage of embryos approved in Europe Vitrolife has obtained approval in Europe (CE marking) for four new products within the fertility area. The products are used for so-called vitrification, rapid freezing and thawing of cleavage embryos (embryos day 2-3 after fertilization) and of blastocysts (embryos day 5-6 after fertilization). The four vitrification products that Vitrolife has obtained approval for are RapidVit™ Cleave, RapidWarm™ Cleave, RapidVit™ Blast and RapidWarm™ Blast. Products for vitrification involve considerable technological progress and open up new opportunities within IVF treatment. Vitrification involves very rapid freezing, to prevent the formation of ice crystals that otherwise can cut the cells apart. In IVF fertilization more than 10 oocytes are often taken from the woman. A number of these are fertilized. The oocytes that are fertilized but not put back in the woman can then be kept in cold storage. It has been seen in the use of the vitrification method that survival increases considerably after cold storage compared with the method used previously. The chances thereby increase for the woman to become pregnant without her having to undergo new hormone treatment and the removal of more oocytes. In December 2007 and March 2008 Vitrolife gained its first approvals for these vitrification products in Canada. April 8, 2008 Kungsbacka, Sweden Magnus Nilsson CEO Queries should be addressed to: Magnus Nilsson, CEO, phone +46 31 721 80 00 or +46 708 22 80 61. Anna Ahlberg, CFO, phone +46 31 721 80 13 or +46 708 22 80 13. ________________________________________________________________________________ _________ Vitrolife is a global biotechnology/medical device Group that works with developing, manufacturing and selling advanced products and systems for the preparation, cultivation and storage of human cells, tissue and organs. The company has business activities within three product areas: Fertility, Transplantation and Stem Cell Cultivation. The Fertility product area works with nutrient solutions (media) and advanced consumable instruments such as needles and pipettes, for the treatment of human infertility. The Transplantation product area works with solutions and systems to maintain tissue in optimal condition outside the body for the required time while waiting for transplantation. The Stem Cell Cultivation product area works with media and instruments to enable the use and handling of stem cells for therapeutic purposes. Vitrolife today has approximately 140 employees and the company's products are sold in more than 80 markets. The head office is in Kungsbacka, Sweden, and there are subsidiaries in Sweden, USA, Australia and Italy. The Vitrolife share is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange's Nordic Small Cap list. ________________________________________________________________________________ _________ Vitrolife AB (publ), Faktorvägen 13, SE-434 37 Kungsbacka, Sweden. Corporate identity number 556354-3452. Tel: +46 31 721 80 00. Fax: +46 31 721 80 90. E-mail: info@vitrolife.com. Homepage: www.vitrolife.com. This is a translation of the Swedish version of the press release. When in doubt, the Swedish wording prevails.
Products for cold storage of embryos approved in Europe
| Source: Vitrolife AB