Clinical breakthrough for Steen Solution™ in lung transplantations

Four further lung transplantations have now been carried out over a short period of time using Steen Solution™, a solution for functional testing of lungs outside the body before transplantation. This means that a total of six people have received new lungs with the aid of this method. Steen Solution™ is the result of research by Professor Stig Steen and the transplantation group at the University Hospital in Lund is the first to have implemented the method in regular clinical use. “This is a clinical breakthrough that makes it possible for more organs to be available for the patients waiting for transplantation,” says Dr. Magnus Nilsson, Vitrolife’s CEO.

Vitrolife’s product Steen Solution™ is part of a new method for functional testing of lungs outside the body which enables donated lungs whose function it is difficult to assess to be tested outside the body for possible use. The number of organs that may be transplanted thus increases considerably. The product was approved for sales in Europe in January. Vitrolife today has approximately 90 percent of the world market for lung transplantation solutions with its product Perfadex®. Perfadex® is also used together with Steen Solution™ in the new method for the functional testing of lungs outside the body. This medical breakthrough can in time lead to five to ten times as many lung transplantations being able to be carried out, as the need for donated organs using today’s methods considerably exceeds supply. September 12, 2006 Kungsbacka, Sweden Magnus Nilsson, Dr. Med. Sci. CEO Queries should be addressed to: Magnus Nilsson, CEO, phone +46 31 721 80 00 or +46 708 22 80 61. Anna Ahlberg, CFO, phone +46 31 721 80 13 or +46 708 22 80 13.