GTC Biotherapeutics (fka GTCB)

[HobGlobulin]

New, Improved NovoSeven

http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=19033160

>> Novo Nordisk and Neose Announce Initiation of Phase I Clinical Trial of Long-Acting Factor VIIa
Jun 15 2007, 8:00 AM EST

Business Wire

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) and Neose Technologies, Inc. (NasdaqGM:NTEC) today announced that Novo Nordisk has initiated a Phase I clinical trial of GlycoPEGylated Factor VIIa, a long-acting version of NovoSeven(R) Coagulation Factor VIIa (Recombinant). The trial will assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of GlycoPEGylated Factor VIIa in healthy volunteers.

GlycoPEGylated Factor VIIa is being developed by Novo Nordisk under a license agreement with Neose. The initiation of the Phase I study triggers an undisclosed milestone payment to Neose under the license agreement.

"Novo Nordisk is committed to developing therapies to prevent or reduce bleeding episodes and to improve the quality of life in patients with hemophilia. We are pleased that our collaboration with Neose has resulted in a long-acting Factor VIIa clinical development candidate that has the potential to contribute to this goal," said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk.

"We are pleased that GlycoPEGylated Factor VIIa has entered clinical development, making it the third GlycoPEGylated therapeutic protein to reach this milestone. Novo Nordisk has proved to be an ideal partner for this development candidate, and we are confident that their clinical expertise will continue to add value to this program," said George J. Vergis, Ph.D., Neose president and chief executive officer."

About Coagulation Factor VII

Factor VII/VIIa is used in the treatment of bleeding episodes and for the prevention of bleeding during surgery or invasive procedures in patients with congenital hemophilia with inhibitors to coagulation factors VIII or IX. The worldwide market for recombinant Factor VII was approximately $1 billion in 2006, with Novo Nordisk being the only participant.

About Novo Nordisk A/S

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. The company has the broadest diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including the most advanced products within the area of insulin delivery systems. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs more than 23,600 employees in 79 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For more information, visit novonordisk.com.

About Neose Technologies, Inc.

Neose Technologies, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of next-generation therapeutic proteins that are competitive with best-in-class protein drugs currently on the market, on its own and through strategic partnerships. The lead candidates in its pipeline, NE-180 for use in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia and anemia associated with chronic renal failure and GlycoPEG-GCSF for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, target markets with aggregate sales in excess of $15 billion. For more information, please visit www.neose.com.

Neose "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding our business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation the risk that the collaboration will not continue or will not be successful, the risk that the clinical trial will not be successful or that a GlycoPEGylated version of Factor VIIa will not be successfully developed. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause our actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statement, see the sections of Neose's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, entitled "Risk Factors" and "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and discussions of potential risks and uncertainties in Neose's subsequent filings with the SEC. <<

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