Vitrolife: Products For Cold Storage Of Embryos Approved In Canada

Main Category: Fertility
Article Date: 07 Dec 2007 - 2:00 PDT

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Vitrolife (STO:VITR) has obtained approval from Health Canada for two new products within the fertility area. The products are used for so-called vitrification, rapid freezing and thawing of blastocysts (embryos day 5-7 after fertilization).

"Products for vitrification involve considerable technological progress and open up new opportunities within IVF treatment", says Vitrolife's CEO, Magnus Nilsson. "We are very happy to have had these first two products approved and now we are continuing to work on getting more products for vitrification out on to the market."

The two vitrification products that Vitrolife has obtained approval for are RapidVit™ Blast och RapidWarm™ Blast. 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. The chance of achieving a good cumulative pregnancy frequency thereby increases for the woman, without her having to undergo new hormone treatment and the removal of more oocytes.

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 outside Gothenburg, Sweden and in Denver, USA. The Vitrolife share is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange's Nordic Small Cap list.

http://www.vitrolife.com

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