Milestone achievement in virus inactivation technology by Gambro to be used in new artificial blood substitute
Milestone achievement in virus inactivation technology by Gambro to be used in new artificial blood substitute Stockholm, Sweden, August 6, 2002 Gambro AB (Stockholmsbörsen: GAMBaST, GAMBbST), a leading international medical technology and healthcare company, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Gambro BCT, Inc., has completed a significant research and development milestone with its strategic partner Sangart, Inc., by demonstrating the pathogen reduction efficacy of Gambro's Pathogen Reduction Technology (called PET) in the preparation of Sangart's oxygen transport agent Hemospan. The research milestone achievement for Gambro's PET technology involved demonstrating significant reduction of a representative set of viruses impacting the blood supply, including the HIV virus. Sangart and Gambro BCT set the requirements for the milestone to meet anticipated regulatory requirements for pathogen reduction used in the manufacturing of Hemospan. The experiments have succeeded and show the PET process inactivates the viruses from intentionally infected samples to the limit of virus detection assays. The milestone achievement also required confirmation that the PET process does not confer cytotoxic or mutagenic effects. The results of these tests in both the treated blood and the resulting Hemospan product confirmed this, i.e. they were all negative. Sangart will now use the PET technology to inactivate viruses potentially infecting the red blood cells in their new lead product Hemospan. This new blood substitute product is based upon the research of one of the world's leading authorities on hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOC), Dr. Robert Winslow. "The Gambro PET technology brings us one step closer to meeting the regulatory requirements for eliminating any potential risk for virus transmission. We are now able to focus on product development and clinical trials, with the aim of getting the product to market faster," Dr. Winslow commented. "The results from the tests help confirm the potential for the PET technology. Our partnership with Sangart supports Gambro BCT's commitment to improving the safety and trust in the world's blood supply through safer blood and better transfusion options," says David Perez, President of Gambro BCT. Facts on Gambro BCT's Pathogen Reduction Technology Gambro BCT's unique Pathogen Reduction Technology uses light and riboflavin, to alter the nucleic acids of pathogens, rendering them inactive. Gambro BCT's technology is the first that can inactivate pathogens in all three major blood components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Riboflavin, a non-toxic and non-mutagenic compound, is ingested in normal diets. In fact, riboflavin is considered essential for human health. The technology is one way Gambro BCT seeks to improve the safety of the world's blood supply. For further information please contact: Kevin Simpson, Vice President Gambro BCT, tel. +1 303 232 68 00, or visit the website www.gambrobct.com Janette Jennische, Vice President, Corporate Communications, tel. +46-8- 613 65 99, +46-70-212 50 53 Pia Irell, Investor Relations Director, Corporate Finance, tel. +46-8- 613 65 91, +46-70-513 65 91 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/08/07/20020807BIT00740/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/08/07/20020807BIT00740/wkr0002.pdf