STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, Jul 06 (MARKET WIRE) —
Stockholm, Sweden and Tonghua, China – July 6, 2010 – Swedish Orphan
Biovitrum (STO: SOBI) and Dongbao today announced their intent to form a
strategic Commercial Alliance. In such an alliance, Swedish Orphan
Biovitrum would be the marketing and sales partner of choice for
Dongbao’s pipeline of Biopharmaceuticals and other drugs in Europe and
Dongbao would be the marketing and sales partner of choice for Swedish
Orphan Biovitrum’s marketed and pipeline products in China.
The announced Commercial Alliance would be a partnership where both
parties will benefit in two ways. First, each party secures a marketing
and sales partner for its own products in an important new territory,
China in the case of Swedish Orphan Biovitrum and Europe in the case of
Dongbao. Second, each party gains access to a new portfolio of exciting
products for its home markets.
The parties also announced that they intend to complete the first stage of
the Commercial Alliance by completing ongoing negotiations regarding the
following products:
* Iron Sucrose from Dongbao where Swedish Orphan Biovitrum will be the
exclusive marketing and sales partner in Europe for this product.
* Kineret and the late stage development project Kiobrina from Swedish
Orphan Biovitrum where Dongbao will be the exclusive marketing and sales
partner in China for these products.
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum intends to deepen its collaboration with Dongbao,
including its affiliate Rechon Life Science Group, as regards
manufacturing services.
An alliance will address current pharmaceutical market trends in both
China and Europe. The Chinese pharmaceutical market is large and rapidly
growing. It is also becoming more and more receptive to high value,
innovative products that meet significant unmet medical needs. Thus,
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum’s products are a good fit with the strong and
growing high value, specialty segment of the Chinese market. Similarly,
the Biosuperior segment of the European pharmaceutical market is rapidly
growing. Again, this makes market entry in Europe for Dongbao’s portfolio
of Biosuperiors timely and in-line with regional trends.
Martin Nicklasson, CEO of Swedish Orphan Biovitrum stated “We are very
pleased to have identified a partner in Dongbao with a successful track
record of selling high value biotechnology products in China. Dongbao has
a deep understanding of biotechnology products from a manufacturing and
clinical development perspective. Moreover, they have an impressive track
record of success in regulatory affairs as well as in marketing and
sales. Thus, we see Dongbao as the perfect partner to help Swedish Orphan
Biovitrum to realize the significant opportunity for our products in the
Chinese market.
Additionally, we are excited about gaining access to Dongbao’s pipeline of
high value Biosuperiors. We look forward to working with these products
over the long term to realize the full commercial potential of these
products in Europe.”
Dr. Zhaoqi Li, Vice President of Dongbao Enterprise Group and the Chairman
of the Board of Rechon Life Science Group expressed that “A fast growing
Chinese market is now offering great opportunity for innovative and high
value pharmaceutical products. We admire Swedish Orphan Biovitrum’s
remarkable efforts and achievements in the development of specialist
pharmaceutical products for rare diseases. We will contribute, with the
best of our effort, to the successful introduction of Swedish Orphan
Biovitrum’s product into the Chinese market as well as into the emerging
markets where Dongbao/Rechon already have a strong network established.
It has been a very interesting journey made by Dongbao in the development
of high value biotech products. By combining Swedish Orphan Biovitrum’s
knowledge, experience and market network with Dongbao’s interesting range
of biotech products we will have a prosperous future in Europe.
Partnership has always been important for Dongbao’s business success. The
establishment of a strong collaboration with Swedish Orphan Biovitrum will
add good value for our future development. We are very excited that such a
Commercial Alliance with Swedish Orphan Biovitrum will enable smooth
access of our products into the European market and, in the other
direction, we are very pleased to offer our support for the successful
entry of Swedish Orphan Biovitrum’s products into the Chinese market.”
About Swedish Orphan Biovitrum
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum is a Swedish based niche specialty pharmaceutical
company with an international market presence. The company is focused on
providing and developing specialist pharmaceuticals for rare disease
patients with high medical needs. The portfolio consists of about 60
marketed products and an emerging late stage clinical development
pipe-line. Our focus areas are: hemophilia, inflammation/autoimmune
diseases, fat malabsorption, cancer supportive care and inherited
metabolic disorders.
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum had pro-forma revenues 2009e of about 2 BSEK and
approximately 500 employees. The head office is located in Sweden and the
share (STO: SOBI) is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. For more information
please visit www.sobi.com.
For more information please contact: Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ):
Martin Nicklasson, CEO
Phone: +46 8 697 20 00
Erik Kinnman, VP Investor Relations
Phone: +46 73 422 15 40
E-mailerik.kinnman@sobi.com
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum may be required to disclose the information
provided herein pursuant to the Swedish Securities Markets Act. The
information was provided for public release on July 6, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.
CET.
[HUG#1429736]
Press release July 6, 2010:
http://hugin.info/134557/R/1429736/376773.pdf
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Source: Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) via Thomson Reuters ONE
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