BAD HOMBURG, GERMANY--(Marketwire - May 18, 2009) - Fresenius Kabi Deutschland GmbH and
Bayer Schering Pharma AG Germany have signed a Research, Development and
License Agreement regarding the use of Fresenius Kabi Deutschland GmbH's
HESylation® Technology in a limited field of use.
Under the agreement, Fresenius Kabi will license its proprietary
HESylation® Technology to Bayer Schering Pharma. This technology platform
is based on hydroxyethyl starch ("HES") and allows the prolongation of the
active half-life of proteins.
Fresenius Kabi will be responsible for providing the appropriate HES
derivative to Bayer Schering Pharma. Under the agreement, Bayer Schering
Pharma will oversee the development and commercialisation. Fresenius Kabi
will receive up-front and milestone payments as well as royalties on sales
for licensing of the HESylation® Technology.
Fresenius Kabi expects to enter into further collaborations with leading
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to contribute to improved
pharmaceutical products through its HESylation® Technology platform.
HESylation® Technology
HESylation® Technology is based on the extensive expertise in the field
of hydroxyethyl starch ("HES") that Fresenius Kabi has gathered as the
world's largest producer of pharmaceutical grade HES. HES is derived from
waxy maize starch and can be metabolized by the body's enzymes. HES
solutions have been safely administered for over 30 years to treat
deficient blood volume and to improve the rheological properties of blood.
HESylation® Technology allows a targeted modification of drugs and their
characteristics by a site-specific coupling to HES molecules. This can
modify key pharmacological parameters such as absorption, metabolization,
half-life, water solubility and safety.
HESylation® Technology is covered by a broad portfolio of intellectual
property rights. For further details please visit
http://www.HESylation.com.
Fresenius Kabi
Fresenius Kabi is focused on products for the therapy and care of
critically and chronically ill patients in and outside the hospital.
Fresenius Kabi's core product range includes infusion solutions for fluid
substitution, blood volume substitution and intravenously administered
drugs as well as parenteral and enteral nutrition and the medical devices
for the application.
Fresenius Kabi has more than 20,000 employees worldwide and a global
network of around 55 sales organizations and more than 55 production sites.
In 2008, Fresenius Kabi achieved sales of EUR 2,495 million and an
operating profit (EBIT) of EUR 443 million. Fresenius Kabi AG is a 100%
subsidiary of the health care group Fresenius SE.
For more information about Fresenius Kabi, please visit the company's web
site at www.fresenius-kabi.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to
various risks and uncertainties. Future results could differ materially
from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain
factors, e.g. changes in business, economic and competitive conditions,
regulatory reforms, results of clinical trials, foreign exchange rate
fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and
the availability of financing. Fresenius does not undertake any
responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.
Board of Management: Dr. Ulf M. Schneider (President and CEO), Rainer
Baule, Dr. Francesco De Meo, Dr. Jürgen Götz, Dr. Ben Lipps, Stephan Sturm,
Dr. Ernst Wastler
Supervisory Board: Dr. Gerd Krick (Chairman)
Registered Office: Bad Homburg, Germany/Commercial Register No. HRB 10660
