Medivir strengthens its research organization

MEDIVIR STRENGTHENS ITS RESEARCH ORGANIZATION Dr Eddy Littler has joined Medivir UK as Site Manager, Director of Biology and Molecular Biology and Head of Lead Discovery. Dr Littler, aged 44, joins from GlaxoSmithKline where he was Head of the Virus Research Unit at Stevenage, responsible for hepatitis C virus, herpesviruses and respiratory virus research. Eddy Littler is a qualified microbiologist who spent 14 years researching the molecular biology of viruses, in particular herpes viruses, in academia. In 1991 he joined the Wellcome Research Laboratories as Senior Research Scientist responsible for herpesvirus research working on several projects including Valtrex. After 5 years he became Head of the Molecular Sciences Unit with responsibility for herpes, papilloma viruses and gene therapy. He also led a group within GlaxoWellcome responsible for co-coordinating strategy on all viral projects and tuberculosis. Jonas Frick Medivir's CEO: " We are delighted to have Eddy joining us, his know-how and network in big cap pharmaceuticals will be useful for Medivir. This will strengthen Medivir UK and its pre-clinical organization and projects." Medivir is an innovative and specialized research company active in the pharmaceuticals sphere. Medivir's research focuses on developing compounds into new pharmaceuticals based on proteases and polymerases as target enzymes. Medivir's research focuses 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/03/13/20010313BIT00290/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/03/13/20010313BIT00290/bit0002.pdf