Gambro BCT announces research partnership for application of PET to malaria

Gambro BCT announces research partnership with Walter Reed Army Institute of Research for application of Pathogen Eradication Technology to malaria Research seeks to eliminate malaria from blood supply Stockholm, Sweden, June 29, 2001 - Gambro AB (OM Stockholm Exchange: GAMBaST, GAMBbST), a leading international medical technology and healthcare company, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Gambro BCT, Inc., has signed a cooperative research and development agreement with Walter Reed Army Institute of Research to study the effectiveness of Gambro's riboflavin-based Pathogen Eradication Technology for neutralizing malaria in donated blood products. Malaria is a leading parasite killer in developing countries. Affecting up to 500 million people around the globe, malaria kills one person every 15 seconds. It is a tropical disease characterized by cyclic fever, muscle stiffness, shaking and sweating. It is caused by a parasite transmitted by the female mosquito when it feeds on blood for its developing eggs. Recent increases in immigration from malaria-affected countries, combined with more frequent travel through malarial zones is making malaria a greater public health concern for western countries. Gambro BCT Pathogen Eradication Technology Project Gambro BCT's unique pathogen inactivation technology, PET, uses light and Vitamin B2, or riboflavin, to alter the nucleic acids of pathogens, rendering them inactive. Gambro BCT's PET Technology is the first that can inactivate pathogens in all three major blood components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Non-toxic and non-mutagenic, riboflavin is ingested in normal diets. In fact, riboflavin is considered essential for human health. The PET Technology is one way Gambro BCT seeks to improve the safety of the world's blood supply. Malaria affects the U.S. blood supply A high rate of blood collection errors and accidents reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration result from post-donation information having to do with travel to malaria-endemic regions. In the U.S. during 1998 these amounted to nearly 18% of the post donation information reports. Inactivation of malaria in blood holds the potential to free up thousands of donors who are now deferred from donation. Given the chronic blood shortages of recent years, this could help alleviate those shortages. "Neutralizing malaria and other blood-borne parasites with our Pathogen Eradication Technology would represent a significant step forward in improving the safety and trust in the world's blood supply," says David Perez, President and CEO of Gambro BCT. "We are pleased to work towards that goal with Walter Reed's Medical Casualty Research, which has a long and internationally recognized record for conducting research and development of safe blood and blood product technologies." For further information please contact: Kevin Simpson, Vice President Gambro BCT, tel. +1 303 232 68 00, or visit the website www.gambrobct.com. Bengt Modéer, Investor Relations, tel. +46-8-613 65 00, +46-70-513 65 33 Karin Avasalu, Corporate Communications, tel. +46-8-613 65 00, +46-70- 513 65 99 Gambro is a global medical technology and Gambro AB healthcare company with leading positions in A public renal care - services and products - and blood company (publ) component technology. Gambro Healthcare is one Reg no. 556041- of the leading providers of kidney dialysis 8005 services in the world with about 49,000 Jakobsgatan 6, patients in 650 clinics worldwide. Gambro Renal PO Box 7373 Products comprises dialyzers, dialysis SE-103 91 machines, blood lines and dialysis Stockholm concentrates. Gambro BCT includes products for Sweden the separation and handling of blood Tel +46 8-613 components. The group, with revenue of 65 00 approximately SEK 22 billion (USD 2.4 billion), Fax +46 8-611 has approximately 18,500 employees in some 40 28 30 countries. info@gambro.com www.gambro.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/06/29/20010629BIT00580/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/06/29/20010629BIT00580/bit0001.pdf