New products for cold storage of embryos approved in Canada

Vitrolife has obtained approval from Health Canada for a further two new products within the fertility area. The products are used for so-called vitrification, rapid freezing and thawing of cleavage embryos (embryos day 2-3 after fertilization).

The two vitrification products that Vitrolife has obtained approval for are RapidVit™ Cleave och RapidWarm™ Cleave. “These are two very important new products for us, as the majority of the clinics that freeze embryos do so at the very stage that the products are intended for, day 2-3 after fertilization. We are now continuing to work on getting our systems for cold storage out in several markets” says Nils Sellbom, Director of Marketing and Sales at Vitrolife.

Products for vitrification involve considerable technological progress and open up new opportunities within IVF treatment. Vitrification involves very rapid freezing, to prevent the formation of ice crystals that otherwise can cut the cells apart. In IVF fertilization more than 10 oocytes are often taken from the woman. A number of these are fertilized. The oocytes that are fertilized but not put back in the woman can then be kept in cold storage. It has been seen in the use of the vitrification method that survival increases considerably after cold storage. The chance of achieving a good cumulative pregnancy frequency thereby increases for the woman, without her having to undergo new hormone treatment and the removal of more oocytes.

In December 2007 Vitrolife gained approval for its first vitrification products, RapidVit™ Blast and RapidWarm™ Blast, for rapid freezing and thawing of blastocysts (embryos day 5-7 after fertilization), in Canada.

March 18, 2008
Kungsbacka, Sweden

Magnus Nilsson
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.