Karo Bio receives US patent for new methods of treating skin disorders

KARO BIO RECEIVES US PATENT FOR NEW METHODS OF TREATING SKIN DISORDERS Karo Bio announced today that the company has received a US patent for methods to treat certain skin disorders. This patent provides broad coverage including method-of-treatment claims as well as claims for skin treatment compositions with thyroid hormone as well as analogs of thyroid hormone. Previously, Karo Bio has carried out animal studies that demonstrated desirable effects of thyroid hormone and thyroid hormone analogs upon the composition of treated skin. These studies also demonstrated that these compounds blocked the negative effects of anti-inflammatory steroids upon skin composition. The Company believes that the treatment of certain skin diseases with thyroid hormone analogs has considerable advantages over other treatments such as those with vitamin A analogs. Karo Bio has recently finished two clinical studies in the dermatology area and reports are being prepared. "We are very happy about the US issuance of our skin treatment patent says Per Otteskog, Acting President at Karo Bio. "The skin is the largest organ in the body and can be affected by a number of different diseases where today's methods of treatment are insufficient. As a first therapeutic indication we have chosen steroid induced skin atrophy but we also intend to follow up with additional therapeutic indications. We consider this to be an area with substantial potential". Huddinge, April 25, 2001 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 BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/04/25/20010425BIT00290/bit0002.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/04/25/20010425BIT00290/bit0002.pdf