Breakthrough for Swedish Biotech Company Vitrolife
Breakthrough for Swedish Biotech Company Vitrolife An historical breakthrough in transplantation surgery was achieved by Professor Stig Steen at the University Hospital in Lund, Sweden, on Friday October 6, 2000. This was possible by using the Swedish company Vitrolife's new transplantation products developed by Professor Steen in collaboration with Vitrolife. "So far we have only been able to perform about thirty lung transplants per year in Sweden. With the new products the number of lung transplants will increase dramatically," according to Professor Stig Steen. The transplantation was performed by the use of a unique lung evaluation product, which makes possible a careful evaluation of the lung function before the transplantation procedure. UNIQUE TRANSPLANT FROM HEART-DEAD DONOR Professor Stig Steen and his team at the University Hospital in Lund performed the historical procedure last Friday. By transplanting a lung from a 'heart-dead' donor, instead of a 'brain-dead' donor, the latter being the only previous possibility, a large number of patients around the world may be given a new life. WORLD LEADING PRODUCT - "We are proud of having participated in this medical breakthrough. Vitrolife´s unique lung evaluation product is expected to become a world market leader, with large sales potential. Vitrolife´s dedicated commitment to research and development in transplantation surgery is now delivering results," says Vitrolife´s President and CEO, Dr. Peter Svalander. For further information, please contact: President and CEO, Dr. Peter Svalander, tel: +46 31 7218001 alt +46 708 228001 e-mail: psvalander@vitrolife.com President Business Area Transplantation Systems, Executive Vice President, Dr. Magnus Nilsson, tel: +46 31 7218061 alt +46 708 228061, e-mail: mnilsson@vitrolife.com Director of Information, Mr.Urban Paulsson, tel: +46 31 7218015 alt +46 708 228015 e-mail: upaulsson@vitrolife.com Vitrolife is a leading Swedish Biotech Company within the area of development, production, and sales of complex solutions for assisted reproduction, cell therapy and organ transplantation. Vitrolife´s products are marketed in more than 65 countries, and the company is a world leader in the area of in vitro fertilisation (IVF). For further information, please see: www.vitrolife.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/10/09/20001009BIT00310/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/10/09/20001009BIT00310/bit0002.pdf