The Swedish Medical Products Agency has approved for Active Biotech to expand Phase I-trials and include patients with m

11 Feb, 2000 15:45 CET

The Swedish Medical Products Agency has approved for Active Biotech to
expand Phase I-trials and include patients with multiple sclerosis

During the autumn 1999, SAIK-MS, a substance intended for use in patients
with multiple sclerosis, has been tested on healthy volunteers with very
promising results. The Swedish medical products agency has now approved a
more extensive study in more subjects with higher doses.

A later phase will also be included in this extended Phase I-trial, in
which tolerance and dosing studies will be carried out in diseased
patients.

It is therefore anticipated that SAIK-MS will enter Phase II trials to
study its clinical effect in Q4 2000, this is earlier than originally
expected.

The current market for existing pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of
MS is 5 billion SEK per year which expected to grow by more than 50%.
There are over 50,000 new patients every year, only a portion of which can
be treated with existing therapies.

Lund 11 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) and
innovative drugs against MS (SAIK). The turnover of Active Biotech was SEK
259 million in 1998.

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