Swedish Orphan Biovitrum and Biomodels to develop assay for mucositis risk in cancer treatment
Stockholm, Sweden and Watertown, MA, USA - May 11, 2010 - Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (STO: BVT) and Biomodels LLC today announced a research agreement, under which Biomodels will explore the possibility of developing a clinically applicable screening platform that will define mucositis risk among patients undergoing conditioning regimens for hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT). Swedish Orphan Biovitrum will provide funding for the project. Oral mucositis is a frequent, painful, and debilitating complication of conditioning regimens associated with hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT). The symptoms associated with mucositis are thus considerable and result in significant morbidity as well as increased health care costs. An assay which effectively determines the at-risk patient population for mucositis intervention associated with HSCT is highly desirable. From the perspective of the patients, payers, hospitals, and clinicians a personalized approach to the treatment is a great advantage. "Swedish Orphan Biovitrum is dedicated to developing, and providing medicines for rare diseases to help people with large medical needs to better lives. The development of assays that enables a personalized medicine approach fits exactly with this mission. We are thus pleased to work with Biomodels, a company well-known for its innovative research in the areas of cancer and cancer supportive care", said Peter Edman, Chief Scientific Officer at Swedish Orphan Biovitrum Dr. Stephen T. Sonis, Biomodels' Chief Medical; Officer, commented: "We are enormously excited to work with Swedish Orphan Biovitrum to apply our novel approach for patients undergoing aggressive cancer therapy. We are optimistic that as a consequence of this project, patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant will be able to receive targeted therapies to reduce the burden of these symptoms." About Biomodels LLC Biomodels (www.biomodels.com <http://www.biomodels.com/>), a preclinical drug research organization founded in 1997, develops and conducts predictive translational studies for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, particularly in the areas of cancer, cancer supportive care, radiation therapy, and inflammatory diseases. The company specializes in (non-GLP) efficacy studies that optimize dose, schedule and define mechanism of action. The company also has particular expertise in modeling inflammatory diseases, including those conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract. About Swedish Orphan Biovitrum On January 14, 2010, Biovitrum AB (publ) completed the acquisition of Swedish Orphan International Holding AB and created Swedish Orphan Biovitrum - a leading company focused on treatment of rare diseases. Swedish Orphan Biovitrum is a Swedish based specialty pharmaceutical company with an international market presence. The company is focused on providing and developing orphan and niche specialist pharmaceuticals to patients with high medical needs. The portfolio consists of about 60 marketed products and an emerging late stage clinical development pipe-line within rare diseases. Swedish Orphan Biovitrum has pro-forma revenues 2009e of about 2 BSEK and approximately 500 employees. The head office is located in Sweden and the share (STO: BVT) is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. For more information please visit www.biovitrum.com <http://www.biovitrum.com/>. For more information please contact: Swedish Orphan Biovitrum: Biomodels LLC Peter Edman, CSO Stephen T. Sonis, Chief Medical; Phone +46 8 629 21 77 Officer peter.edman@biovitrum.com Phone 857 228 1100 <mailto:peter.edman@biovitrum.com> Edward Fey, Managing Partner Erik Kinnman, EVP Investor Relations Phone 857 228 1111 Phone: +46 73 422 15 40 egfey@biomodels.com eik.kinnman@biovitrum.com <mailto:egfey@biomodels.com> <mailto:eik.kinnman@biovitrum.com> Martin Nicklasson, CEO Phone: +46 8 697 20 00 Swedish Orphan Biovitrum may be required to disclose the information provided herein pursuant to the Swedish Securities Markets Act. The information was provided for public release on May 11, 2010 at 1.30 p.m. CET.