Products for cold storage of embryos approved in Europe

Vitrolife has obtained approval in Europe (CE marking) for four 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) and of blastocysts (embryos day 5-6 after fertilization).

The four vitrification products that Vitrolife has obtained approval for are RapidVit™ Cleave, RapidWarm™ Cleave, RapidVit™ Blast and RapidWarm™ Blast.

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 compared with the method used previously. The chances thereby increase for the woman to become pregnant without her having to undergo new hormone treatment and the removal of more oocytes.

In December 2007 and March 2008 Vitrolife gained its first approvals for these vitrification products in Canada.



April 8, 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.