Launch of new unique needle Vitrolife launched a new needle for the collection of human oocytes at ESHRE, the largest congress of the year within IVF. “The needle combines the good properties of our previous needles with a new way of designing the front part and tip, so that the patient will experience less discomfort. We are extremely happy about the positive response and attention that this needle received at the congress,” says Nils Sellbom, Sales Director at Vitrolife. At the annual European reproduction congress ESHRE in the beginning of July a new needle, Swemed Sense™, was launched. The needle is designed with a thinner front part and tip so as to minimize tissue damage, bleeding and pain. As the body of the needle has a larger diameter, the ability to collect the oocytes from the woman is not reduced, however. The procedure is just as fast as when a thicker needle is used. A patent application has been submitted for Swemed Sense™. It is estimated that the market for needles used in follicle aspiration to collect oocytes for IVF amounts to approximately 50 million Euros. July 14, 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. ________________________________________________________________________________ _________ Vitrolife is a global biotechnology/medical device Group that works with developing, manufacturing and selling advanced products and systems for the preparation, cultivation and storage of human cells, tissue and organs. The company has business activities within three product areas: Fertility, Transplantation and Stem Cell Cultivation. The Fertility product area works with nutrient solutions (media) and advanced consumable instruments such as needles and pipettes, for the treatment of human infertility. The Transplantation product area works with solutions and systems to maintain tissue in optimal condition outside the body for the required time while waiting for transplantation. The Stem Cell Cultivation product area works with media and instruments to enable the use and handling of stem cells for therapeutic purposes. Vitrolife today has approximately 140 employees and the company's products are sold in more than 80 markets. The head office is in Kungsbacka, Sweden, and there are subsidiaries in Sweden, USA, Australia and Italy. The Vitrolife share is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm's Nordic Small Cap list. ________________________________________________________________________________ _________ Vitrolife AB (publ), Faktorvägen 13, SE-434 37 Kungsbacka, Sweden. Corporate identity number 556354-3452. Tel: +46 31 721 80 00. Fax: +46 31 721 80 90. E-mail: info@vitrolife.com. Homepage: www.vitrolife.com. This is a translation of the Swedish version of the press release. When in doubt, the Swedish wording prevails.
Launch of new unique needle
| Source: Vitrolife AB