Pronova BioPharma renews supply agreements for the Italian market

28 april 2011 Oslo, 28 April 2011: Pronova BioPharma announced today that it has entered into new, exclusive supply agreements for its pharmaceutical grade Omega-3 products with Prospa and Pfizer for the Italian market. Commenting on the agreements, Morten Jurs, CEO of Pronova BioPharma, said, "Italy was the first market we launched in and was for many years our largest market. Even today it remains our second largest market and continues to grow at double digit rates. Our positioning and performance are due in large part to our partners' fantastic marketing and sales efforts. I am therefore very pleased to announce that we have entered into these new agreements comprising 100 per cent of the total requirements of Prospa, Sigma Tau and Pfizer for the Italian market. This is a great testament to the strength of our product and partnerships." Pronova BioPharma has manufactured the active pharmaceutical ingredient for the Italian market since launch in 1994. The pharmaceutical product is sold under three brands in Italy, Seacor®, Eskim® and Esapent®, with a combined focus on both the HTG and post-MI indications. Italy is the second largest market for Pronova BioPharma, with total end-user sales of 232 tonnes in 2010, representing growth of 12 per cent versus 2009. In addition to the strong local presence and long-term dedication of Pronova BioPharma's partners, the pharmaceutical product has received important backing from key opinion leaders in Italy as a result of three large scale trials, the GISSI Prevenzione trial, the GISSI Heart Failure trial and the ongoing GISSI Risk and Prevenzione trial, which have included most leading cardiology centres in Italy, and provided significant clinical evidence of the product's cardiac protective effects. "The complex nature of the value chain, coupled with the capital intensity involved in building manufacturing capacity and the specialisation required to produce high concentrate omega-3 should not be underestimated. Some 20 months post patent expiry, we are still the only player in the market", says CEO Morten Jurs. The terms of the deals announced today are confidential. ----------ends------------ About Pronova BioPharma Pronova BioPharma is a global leader in research, development and manufacture of lipid therapies derived from nature. Omacor®, also known as Lovaza(TM) in the US market, and Zodin®, Seacor®, Esapent®, and Eskim® elsewhere, is the first commercialised product developed from Pronova BioPharma's active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). It is also the first and only EU and U.S. FDA-approved Omega 3-derived prescription drug. Pronova BioPharma estimates that 1.4 million cardiovascular patients, with high elevated levels of triglycerides and/or having suffered a heart attack, are currently on a prescription for one of the branded products containing its API. Marketing and distribution of Pronova BioPharma's key product is currently licensed to both local and global pharmaceutical companies. In 2009, the product reached blockbuster status with sales over USD 1 billion in the current 8 major markets and in 2010 it grew a further 19 percent to USD 1 260 million in 2010, according to IMS Health. It is currently marketed in 56 countries with pending regulatory approval in a further 36 countries. Pronova BioPharma is developing several new, patentable lipid derivatives. The most advanced Lipid Derived Pharmaceutical programme is in the area of dyslipidemia, the abnormal concen­tration of lipids or lipoproteins in the blood. Pronova BioPharma's headquarters are located at Lysaker in Norway, while production takes place in manufacturing facilities at Sandefjord in Norway and in Kalundborg, Denmark. The company's shares are listed on Oslo Børs with the ticker code PRON. For further information contact: Hamed Brodersen, VP Investor Relations and Communications             Tel: +47 40 46 81 10 This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Pronova BioPharma ASA via Thomson Reuters ONE [HUG#1510322]