HUDDINGE, Sweden, March 30, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- At the Microbicides 2004 International Congress in London, Medivir and The Population Council presented preclinical results from a combination of MIV-150 and Carraguard against HIV transmission. MIV-150 is an inhibitor of HIV, developed by Medivir and Carraguard is a gel (microbicide) developed by Population Council and intended to be used by women in order to prevent sexual transmission of HIV. Carraguard is currently in clinical phase III.
In July 2003 Medivir outlicensed MIV-150 to The Population Council, a New-York based, non-profit organization. The Population Council is responsible for the development and funding of the future clinical trials. Medivir gave free access to the use of MIV-150 in the vaginal microbicide in developing countries. When used in other countries Medivir has a right to income and Medivir retains the right to the Nordic market.
The combination of MIV-150 and Carraguard in a microbicide gel has three effects: MIV-150 inactivates HIV outside the cell, Carraguard prevents HIV from penetrating into a cell, and MIV-150 blocks the multiplication of any HIV which possibly could have penetrated into a cell. This combination is expected to provide women with a more effective formulation able to prevent HIV transmission. A combination product can be an important tool in the struggle against the increasing transmission of HIV.
Rockefeller Foundation estimated that the need for microbicides is growing both in developing countries and in the Western world. According to their estimation the market value in the Western world will exceed USD1 bn in year 2011. According to Rockefeller Foundation these calculations are conservative and pending on the product's use.
For further information please contact: Rein Piir, CFO and IR, +46 8 5468 3123 or +46 708 53 72 92
For further information on Microbicides and the "Microbicides 2004" Congress see: http://www.microbicide.com
For information on Rockefeller Foundation report "Mobilization for Microbicides" see: http://www.rockfound.org
Medivir in brief
Medivir is an innovative, specialised research company that develops pharmaceuticals with the aim of becoming a sustainable and profitable pharmaceuticals company. The company is located in Huddinge, Sweden and Cambridge, UK. Medivir's research focuses on developing new pharmaceutical compounds based on polymerases and proteases as target enzymes. The Group comprises Medivir AB, its subsidiary Medivir UK Ltd. and Medivir Personal AB. At the end of 2003, the Group had 109 employees. In 1996, Medivir was listed on Stockholmsborsen and since 1 July 2003, the company's shares are traded on the Attract40 segment of the O-list .The research portfolio includes projects in the area of HIV infection, hepatitis, shingles, cold sores, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), asthma and multiple sclerosis (MS). Medivir has five individual projects in the clinical development phase, all with a unique clinical profile. The company's broad pre-clinical research portfolio includes five defined projects and some ten activities in different pre- clinical phases.
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