Biohit Oyj - Company Announcement

Biohit to strengthen its GastroPanel distribution in China - new partner Hefei Medicine

Biohit Oyj May 16, 2013 at 3 P.M. (EET)



Biohit Oyj has signed a distribution agreement with Hefei Medicine to
strengthen the sales and marketing of GastroPanel in China. The agreement
covers the distribution and marketing of Biohit's diagnostic products in China.
Biohit's previously appointed distributor will continue to distribute
GastroPanel during the transition period. 

General Manager Feng Liu, Hefei Medicine Co., Ltd.: “GastroPanel is very
effective and useful stomach function test for our Chinese customer potential.
GastroPanel enables a significant and important new direction in China for
preventive medicine. Old Chinese wisdom says that intelligent people do not
only treat symptoms, but also focus on prevention.” 

CEO Semi Korpela, Biohit Oyj: “This distribution agreement broadens and deepens
Biohit presence in China. We also agree with the old Chinese wisdom.” 



Additional information:

CEO Semi Korpela, Biohit Oyj
Tel. +358 9 773 861
semi.korpela@biohit.fi
www.biohithealthcare.com



Biohit in brief

Biohit Oyj is a globally operating Finnish biotechnology company established in
1988. Biohit's mission is "Innovating for Health". The purpose of the company
is to take social responsibility and produce innovation, 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.
We are committed to social responsibility and it is our duty to spread
knowledge about the Group 1 human carcinogen, acetaldehyde, and innovate and
develop the marketing and availability of our products and services. Biohit is
headquartered in Helsinki and its subsidiaries are located in China, Italy and
the United Kingdom. Since 1999, Biohit's Series B shares (BIOBV) have been
listed in the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Oy Small cap/Healthcare sector. 



Hefei Medicine in brief

Hefei Medicine Co. Is a medicine business trading with deep experience in
medical distribution to Chinese hospitals. In 2012, the company's turnover was
over 2 Billion RMB (250 million euro). The Company was established in 1995 and
the company employs today more than 300 people. More information:
www.sinamedicine.com 



Additional information about the GastroPanel examination:

Biohit Oyj has developed the GastroPanel biomarker tests, a unique blood sample
examination for the screening and diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection
and damage or dysfunction of the mucous membrane (atrophic gastritis) of the
stomach. Unlike the H. pylori examinations still being used (13C urea breath
test and stool antigen test), the GastroPanel tests reliably detect the H.
pylori infection, the typically asymptomatic condition atrophic gastritis, and
associated risks, including cancer. 

The April 2012 Maastricht IV consensus report of the European Helicobacter
Pylori Study Group recommends blood sample biomarker tests as a reliable method
of diagnosis of diseases of the stomach mucosa and associated risk conditions.
Researchers recommend biomarker tests for the diagnosis and follow-up of
Helicobacter pylori infection and especially for atrophic gastritis that causes
achlorhydric stomachs, as well as to the screening of asymptomatic patients.
The report emphasises the fact that H. Pylori eradication therapy does not cure
precancerous gastric conditions. This is why gastroscopy and biopsy
examinations are recommended at regular intervals of 2-3 years for patients
with moderately severe or severe atrophic gastritis. Without gastroscopy and
biopsy examination, atrophic gastritis in the entire stomach (precancerous
condition) and its location can only be diagnosed with a GastroPanel biomarker
test. 

The international Healthy Stomach Initiative group's 16 gastroenterology
experts from 12 countries came to the same conclusions. Biomarker tests can be
used to diagnose and screen atrophic gastritis and related risks in both
asymptomatic patients and patients with abdominal discomfort
(www.biohithealthcare.com: Investors/ Stock Exchange Releases: 17/02/2012
Biohit Oyj's GastroPanel biomarker test recommended). According to the
taskforce, GastroPanel biomarker tests, unlike the Helicobacter pylori
examination tests still in use, reliably diagnose the most significant risk
conditions of the acid-free stomach (atrophic gastritis). With the help of the
GastroPanel test, patients can be referred to appropriate further examinations,
therapy and treatment. At the same time it is also possible to reliably
diagnose patients who have a “healthy” stomach, i.e. patients who do not have
H. pylori infection and/or atrophic gastritis. 

An IARC (WHO agency on cancer research) classification of October 2009 states
that acetaldehyde in alcoholic beverages and naturally generated in alcohol is
a group 1 carcinogen and is therefore as carcinogenic as H. pylori, asbestos,
formaldehyde and benzene. GastroPanel biomarker tests reliably detect an
anacidic stomach which is the major risk factor of gastric cancer. In addition,
recent studies show that acetaldehyde generated in an anacidic stomach
significantly increases gastric and oesophageal cancer risks associated with
the condition. Microbes from the mouth can colonise an acid-free stomach and
produce carcinogenic acetaldehyde from sugar and alcohol. According to gene
studies this is one of the major risk factors of gastric and oesophageal
cancer. The risk can be reduced with the help of another Finnish innovation -
prescription-free Acetium capsules, which are taken during food and alcohol
consumption, to bind (neutralise) carcinogenic acetaldehyde in the stomach. 



Literature:

1. Malfertheiner P et al. Management of Helicobacter pylori infection--the
Maastricht IV/ Florence Consensus Report. http://gut.bmj.com on May 18, 2012.
European H. pylori Study Group, ESPSG. 
2. Agréus L et al. Rationale in diagnosis and screening of atrophic gastritis
with stomach-specific plasma biomarkers. Scand J Gastroenterol 2012;47:136-47. 
3. World Health Organisation WHO, 2009.
www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2009/pdfs/pr196_E.pdf.