Karo Bio receives US patent for new methods of treating skin disorders

KARO BIO RECEIVES US PATENT FOR NEW METHODS OF TREATING SKIN DISORDERS

Karo Bio announced today that the company has received a US patent for
methods to treat certain skin disorders. This patent provides broad
coverage including method-of-treatment claims as well as claims for skin
treatment compositions with thyroid hormone as well as analogs of
thyroid hormone.

Previously, Karo Bio has carried out animal studies that demonstrated
desirable effects of thyroid hormone and thyroid hormone analogs upon
the composition of treated skin. These studies also demonstrated that
these compounds blocked the negative effects of anti-inflammatory
steroids upon skin composition. The Company believes that the treatment
of certain skin diseases with thyroid hormone analogs has considerable
advantages over other treatments such as those with vitamin A analogs.

Karo Bio has recently finished two clinical studies in the dermatology
area and reports are being prepared.

“We are very happy about the US issuance of our skin treatment patent
says Per Otteskog, Acting President at Karo Bio. “The skin is the
largest organ in the body and can be affected by a number of different
diseases where today’s methods of treatment are insufficient. As a first
therapeutic indication we have chosen steroid induced skin atrophy but
we also intend to follow up with additional therapeutic indications. We
consider this to be an area with substantial potential”.

Huddinge, April 25, 2001

KARO BIO AB (publ)

For further information contact:

Karo Bio AB
Per Otteskog, Acting President, Karo Bio
Direct telephone: +46-8-608 6018
Mobile telephone: +46-70-632 7527

Background

Karo Bio is a company with operations in the United States and Sweden.
The Company employs 120 people and has 250 patent cases including 100
approved patents.

Karo Bio has been listed on the Stockholm stock exchange (KARO) since
1998 and has a leading position in the field of drug discovery and
nuclear receptors. Nuclear receptors are important and validated drug
targets for a number of clinical indications and the Company uses
proprietary technologies for the development of novel and improved
therapies for major markets. An important base for generation of new
therapeutic strategies is Karo Bio’s strong academic network.

Karo Bio has drug discovery programs in therapeutic areas such as
women’s health care, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, dermatology, ophthalmology and infectious disease.

Karo Bio collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies for
development of products through clinical trials and marketing. In these
partnerships Karo Bio receives downpayments, R&D funding and royalties
on net sales when products reach the market.

Karo Bio’s product pipeline is strong and includes a number of
proprietary projects that will be partnered in different stages. Karo
Bio generally collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies from
early drug discovery through clinical trials but also takes the
opportunity to bring products to the clinic before partnering. Apart
from financial compensations the partners bring competence and resources
for drug development and marketing to the collaboration.

Karo Bio has one product in clinical trials and expects to enter
clinical trials with partners in the future.

Karo Bio has a strong financial position and it’s partnerships include
Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck & Co., Aventis Pharma,
Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. GPC Biotech,
NovImmune S.A., and Serono International S.A.

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