Probi’s dietary supplement to be launched in Belgium by Merck

Probi’s partner Institut Rosell has signed an agreement giving the pharmaceutical company Merck an exclusive right to sell a dietary supplement based on Probi’s bacteria, Lp299v, in Belgium. The product launch will take place in Q1 2009. The first order is already in place and will affect Probi’s Q4 2008 results positively.

“Merck’s product Bion Transit, which is based on Probi’s bacteria Lp299v, is already on the market in France and Chile. We are very pleased to broaden our cooperation with Merck. We are proud of our cooperation with one of the world’s most well renowned pharmaceutical companies and look forward to additional product launches in the future”, says Michael Oredsson, CEO at Probi.

Merck KgaA is the oldest pharmaceutical- and chemistry company in the world. Merck was established already in 1668. Today, Merck KgaA has a turnover of 7.2 billion euro and has 32.000 employees in 59 countries. Merck’s French subsidiary has established itself as a strong player within the field of probiotics. Today, France is the largest market for Probi’s dietary supplements. Merck’s launch of Bion Transit in Chile in 2007 has also been a success.

Dietary supplements based on Probi’s probiotics are now sold or in the process of being launched in approximately 30 countries worldwide.

“We are working both independently and together with Institut Rosell to further expand distribution and sales of dietary supplements based on Lp299v. We believe this process will continue to be successful”, says Michael Oredsson.

For further information, please contact:
Michael Oredsson, CEO Probi, phone. +46 46 286 89 23 or mobile +46 707 18 89 30
e-mail: michael.oredsson@probi.se
Niklas Bjärum, VP Marketing & Sales, Probi, phone. +46 46 286 89 67 or mobile +46 705 38 88 64,
e-mail: niklas.bjarum@probi.se
Olivier Clech, President, Institut Rosell, phone +33 611 30 26 31