Karo Bio receives patent on estrogen receptor complex
KARO BIO RECEIVES PATENT ON ESTROGEN RECEPTOR COMPLEX Karo Bio today announced that the Company has received patent protection for three-dimensional structures of the estrogen receptor beta. Estrogen acts by binding to its receptor in cells of target tissues. The receptor is a protein with hundreds of amino acids and contains thousands of atoms with a specific three-dimensional arrangement (3D). Female sex hormones and pharmaceutical compounds function by affecting the 3D structure of the receptor. Knowledge about the 3D structure is therefore of great importance for design of new pharmaceutical compounds. Karo Bio has now received US patent protection for several 3D structures in complex with different chemical compounds. This is significant since there are two separate receptors for estrogen, the female sex hormone. The two receptors perform different functions and development of receptor selective compounds may lead to new treatments in the field of women's health care Karo Bio has previously received patent protection for use of the gene encoding ER beta and has filed several patents covering new clinical indications, chemical compounds and receptor structure related information. The new issued patent is therefore an important piece in a broad and long-term patent strategy. KARO BIO AB (publ) For further information contact: Karo Bio AB Per Otteskog, Acting President, Karo Bio Direct telephone: +46-8-608 6018 Mobile telephone: +46-70-632 7527 Background Karo Bio is a company with operations in the United States and Sweden. The Company employs 120 people and has 250 patent cases including 100 approved patents. Karo Bio has been listed on the Stockholm stock exchange (KARO) since 1998 and has a leading position in the field of drug discovery and nuclear receptors. Nuclear receptors are important and validated drug targets for a number of clinical indications and the Company uses proprietary technologies for the development of novel and improved therapies for major markets. An important base for generation of new therapeutic strategies is Karo Bio's strong academic network. Karo Bio has drug discovery programs in therapeutic areas such as women's health care, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dermatology, ophthalmology and infectious disease. Karo Bio collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies for development of products through clinical trials and marketing. In these partnerships Karo Bio receives downpayments, R&D funding and royalties on net sales when products reach the market. Karo Bio's product pipeline is strong and includes a number of proprietary projects that will be partnered in different stages. Karo Bio generally collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies from early drug discovery through clinical trials but also takes the opportunity to bring products to the clinic before partnering. Apart from financial compensations the partners bring competence and resources for drug development and marketing to the collaboration. Karo Bio has one product in clinical trials and expects to enter clinical trials with partners in the future. Karo Bio has a strong financial position and it's partnerships include Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck & Co., Aventis Pharma, Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. GPC Biotech, NovImmune S.A., and Serono International S.A. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/06/07/20010607BIT00040/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/06/07/20010607BIT00040/bit0001.pdf