Patent for SAIK-MS approved in the USA

3/2/2000 3:28 AM EST

Active Biotech has received patent approval for a group of chemical
substances containing candidate drugs against autoimmune and inflammatory
diseases. The application in the USA was presented in April 1999 and the
product and use patent has now been approved with a patent life of 20
years, valid until 2019. International patent applications were also
applied for during 1999 and are pending.

One of these substances is being investigated in an ongoing extended phase
I clinical trial which also includes patients with the disease multiple
sclerosis, MS. SAIK-MS is expected to go into phase II trial during Q4
2000.

SAIK is the Active Biotech name for the research project where these types
of substances for the regulation of the human immune system are being
studied. Two further patent applications are pending regarding candidate
drugs for use in other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as
juvenile diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.

The aim is to develop new drugs with improved effectiveness, fewer side
effects and in tablet form instead of injection.

Lund 29 February 2000

Active Biotech AB (publ)

Sven Andréasson
President & CEO

Active Biotech AB is a Swedish biotechnology group focused on the research
and development of pharmaceuticals and vaccines; our core competence being
our knowledge of the human immune system. We have a high quality project
portfolio and considerable financial resources. Important products include
our Cholera vaccine, a vaccine against tourist diarrhoea (ETEC),
innovative drugs against MS (SAIK) and cancer (TTS). The turnover of
Active Biotech was SEK 267 million in 1999.

Active Biotech AB
Box 724, S-220 07 Lund, Sweden
Tel +46 46-19 20 00
Fax +46 46 19 20 50
E-mail