Vitrolife obtains patent in USA

Vitrolife has been informed that the company’s patent application regarding the use of alanyl-glutamine in media for in vitro fertilization has been approved in the USA. “The advantage of alanyl-glutamine compared with glutamine, which was used previously, is that it is more stable and is not broken down into harmful substances that can inhibit the development of the embryo. The approval of this patent entails a competitive advantage for the company,” says Magnus Nilsson, Vitrolife’s CEO.

Vitrolife has been informed that patent no. 6,838,235, designated “Methods for in vitro fertilization”, has been approved by the American patent authority. The patent concerns the use of alanyl-glutamine in the culture of embryos for in vitro fertilization. Glutamine is an amino acid that is important for the development of the embryo. However, at 37 degrees Celsius, which is the temperature at which the embryos are cultured, glutamine is broken down into harmful substances. The patent covers the use of the dipeptide alanyl-glutamine, which the embryo itself converts to glutamine when and as required, and is valid until the year 2022. As it mimics the physiological processes that take place in a woman after normal fertilization, the use of Vitrolife’s products minimizes negative stress in the embryo. When at the same time the embryo’s inherent ability to regulate its environment to some degree is now used, safety can be further increased by avoiding the embryo being cultured together with potentially harmful substances. “The patent is important as we can make use of the safety benefits provided by alanyl-glutamine in our future products as well, with less risk of competitors being able to copy us,” says Vitrolife’s Marketing Director Tony Winslöf. February 15, 2005 Kungsbacka, Sweden Magnus Nilsson, CEO Questions should be addressed to: Dr. Magnus Nilsson, CEO, phone +46 31 721 80 00 or +46 708 22 80 61. Tony Winslöf, Marketing Director, phone +46 31 721 80 15 or +46 708 22 80 15.