Biohit Oyj - Company Announcement

Biohit Oyj has begun a clinical study, the purpose of which is to determine the capacity of compan´s new BioAcetium product to treat Helicobacter pylori infection

Biohit Oyj   Stock exchange release    2 March 2012    12:45 p.m.


Biohit Oyj has begun a clinical study in cooperation with the gastroenterology
clinic of HUS (Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa) and GastroLääkärit,
the purpose of which is to determine the capacity of the new BioAcetium product
to eradicate Helicobacter pylori in individuals over 55 years of age who have
not been diagnosed with a prior H. pylori infection. 

Biohit Oyj has developed the BioAcetium product, which slowly releases
L-cysteine or N-acetylcysteine in the stomach. Both substances have been shown
to be able to destroy the biofilm produced by H. pylori that protects it from
gastric acid and antibiotics. The BioAcetium innovation could provide an
entirely new possibility for H. pylori eradication treatment that is
significantly safer and more cost-effective than the previous treatment models
for H. pylori infection and has either a non-existent or minimal risk of
leading to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of the bacteria. 

Over half of the world's population continues to suffer from H. pylori
infection. Those who suffer from H. pylori infection have a 10-12% chance of
developing a gastric and duodenal ulcer and a 1-2% risk of developing gastric
cancer over the course of their lives. Gastric cancer is still the second most
common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. According to modern treatment
recommendations, measures should be taken to eliminate the bacteria in at least
all individuals who suffer from gastric ailments. However, the bacteria's
ability to develop antibiotic-resistant strains is a quickly growing worldwide
problem. 

Individuals who are eligible for the clinical study are being sought via a
GastroPanel examination done from a blood sample.  In addition to providing
information about possible H. pylori infection, Biohit Oyj's GastroPanel test
provides reliable information about atrophic gastritis (anacidic or low-acid
stomach) caused by H. pylori infection or autoimmune disease, which is the most
important risk factor for gastric cancer. This information will be sent to all
who participate in the GastroPanel study. Those who are eligible for the actual
H. pylori eradication study will receive a separate notice with more precise
information about the new treatment model and the related volunteer study. 

Semi Korpela, M.Sc. (Econ.)
CEO, Biohit Group
Tel.: +358 9 773 861
Mobile: +358 40 573 7701
semi.korpela@biohit.fi
BIOHIT HealthCare
Innovating for Health
Cancer Prevention

For more information about the study, please contact:
Mikko Salaspuro
Professor Emeritus
Mobile: +358 500 511 689
mikko.salaspuro@helsinki.fi
Acetaldehyde and Cancer
research unit,
University of Helsinki
Member of Biohit Oyj's Board of Directors

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www.biohithealthcare.com



About

Biohit Oyj
Biohit Oyj is a Finnish biotechnology company operating globally that was
established in 1988. Biohit's mission is “Innovating for Health” and “Cancer
Prevention”. The purpose of the company is to take social responsibility and
produce innovations, new technologies and analysis systems for use in medicine,
research institutions and industry, helping to promote research and diagnostics
and to improve the quality of life of people by means of preventing disease,
human suffering and financial loss. It is also our task to innovate and develop
the marketing and availability of our products and services. 

Biohit works with scientific communities to produce new technologies, products
and services based on research results and innovations that can be used to
develop safe and cost-effective diagnostic tests for the early detection and
prevention of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (www.biohit.fi / “State of
the art GastroPanel and Acetium innovations for the unmet need”). 

In their publication from January of 2012, the Healthy Stomach Initiative
group's 16 leading gastroenterology experts from 12 different countries suggest
using the GastroPanel biomarkers for diagnosing and screening for asymptomatic
H. pylori infections or atrophic gastritis caused by this infection or an
autoimmune disease in patients suffering from stomach discomfort when it is not
safe to use the 13C urea breath test for this purpose. In addition, the authors
of the publication state that acetaldehyde generated in an achlorhydric stomach
(a consequence of atrophic gastritis) is a significant reason for an increased
gastric and oesophageal cancer risk. Acetium capsules can reduce the amount of
cancer-causing acetaldehyde generated in the stomach - and thus, very likely,
they also reduce the cancer risk (www.biohit.fi / GastroPanel biomarkers:
“Rationale in diagnosis and screening of atrophic gastritis with
stomach-specific plasma biomarkers”, Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology.
2012; 47: 136 - 147). 

The diagnostics business comprises products and analysis systems for the early
diagnosis and prevention of gastrointestinal diseases, such as the blood-sample
based GastroPanel examinations for the diagnosis of stomach illnesses and
associated risks, quick tests for the diagnosis of lactose intolerance and H.
pylori infection in connection with gastroscopy, and the ColonView test for the
early detection of intestinal bleeding that indicates a risk of colorectal
cancer. The Acetium innovation reduces the amount of cancer-causing
acetaldehyde in an anacidic stomach, which be caused by atrophic gastritis
(damage or dysfunction of the mucous membrane of the stomach) caused by
Helicobacter infection or autoimmune disease or proton pump inhibitor (PPI)
medication (www.acetium.com/test reveals acetaldehyde exposure). 

The population is aging and, therefore, the need for safe and cost-efficient
diagnosis and prevention of diseases is strongly increasing. People are
becoming more aware of acetaldehyde and the cancer risks associated with it.
This is expected to substantially increase the interest in the company's
products and services. 

Biohit is headquartered in Helsinki and has a subsidiary in the United Kingdom.
Since 1999, Biohit's Series B share (BIOBV) has been quoted on NASDAQ OMX
Helsinki in the Small cap/Healthcare group
(www.biohithealthcare.com/Investors).