Medivir and Genzyme extend research collaboration

MEDIVIR AND GENZYME EXTEND RESEARCH COLLABORATION Medivir AB (Stockholm, Sweden) announces that it has extended its research collaboration with Genzyme (Boston, US) on the development of drugs for the treatment of asthma, allergy, and autoimmune diseases. Together, the companies are developing drugs that inhibit 'Cathepsin S', an enzyme that plays a central role in the initiation of an immune response. This collaboration between Medivir and Genzyme is a joint venture that was initiated in 1998, and was originally between Peptide Therapeutics ('Peptide' now 'Acambis') and Peptimmune Inc. Peptimmune was subsequently acquired by Genzyme [1999], and Medivir acquired Peptide's rights in this collaboration through the acquisition of Peptide's drug discovery unit (now 'Medivir UK Ltd') in March 2000. In this joint venture, Medivir has been responsible for the new chemical entity discovery and pharmacokinetics while Genzyme has coordinated testing of the compounds developed by Medivir. The key features of the collaboration are · Cathepsin S is a protease enzyme that plays a central role in the initiation of an immune response. Drugs that inhibit Cathepsin S have the potential to treat several major diseases, including asthma, allergy and autoimmune diseases; · Genzyme has a worldwide licence to patent applications relating to Cathepsin S as a drug target (licensed from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology); · The Cathepsin S program has benefited from use of Medivir's proprietary technologies which significantly shorten the discovery time to develop effective protease inhibitor drugs; · Medivir and Genzyme jointly develop and own the Cathepsin S inhibitor drugs resulting from this joint venture and; · The collaboration has been extended for a further year. Orally-bioavailable and potent Cathepsin S inhibitor drug leads have already been developed. It is anticipated that these drugs will be commercialised through licensing to a large pharmaceutical company partner that has the capacity to develop the drugs clinically for several major disease indications. Medivir and Genzyme are now actively seeking such a partner. Medivir is an innovative and specialized research company active in the research and development of pharmaceuticals. Medivir's research focuses on developing drugs that are active against protease and polymerase enzyme drug targets. Medivir's therapeutic focus is on infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. The research portfolio includes projects against HIV, jaundice, shingles, cold sores, osteoporosis and autoimmune disorders. Medivir has five projects in clinical development. Of these, two are heading for phase III trials after having completed phase II trials. Two are in phase I and one is entering phase II. Medivir also pursues a number of projects within preclinical research, of which three are in the lead optimisation phase. For further information, please contact: Jonas Frick, CEO, +46 8 608 3117, +46 70 648 6761 or Rein Piir, CFO/VP IR, +46 8 608 3123, +46 708 53 7292 Paul Wallace, VP Business Development, +44 1223 271 600 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/05/03/20010503BIT00240/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/05/03/20010503BIT00240/bit0001.pdf