ArcticZymes Technologies — Regulatory Filings 2016

Sep 30, 2016

Press release

ArcticZymes launches its first Polymerase product and has been granted patent protection on its heat-labile Salt Active Nuclease in the USA

(Tromsø, 30 September 2016) Biotec Pharmacon ASA's ("Biotec", OSE: BIOTEC) subsidiary ArcticZymes has today launched its first DNA polymerase product onto the market. Also, it has received patent protection for its heat-labile Salt Active Nucleases (SAN) in the USA.

ArcticZymes launches its first DNA polymerase as part of a new portfolio offering. The IsoPolTM DNA Polymerase is a novel isothermal polymerase with distinct properties compared to other enzymes on the market. For ArcticZymes, the isothermal polymerase portfolio represents both commercial potential and strategic importance that may be greater than any of the Company's existing products. Development activities will now be focused towards phase 2, where ArcticZymes plans to commercialize additional novel variants of IsoPolTM DNA Polymerase over the next 2 years. Even prior to launch, several global life science and diagnostic organizations have started to evaluate the IsoPolTM DNA Polymerase for potential incorporation into their next generation technology platforms. Beyond these ongoing evaluations, ArcticZymes has experienced a general strong interest in the enzyme. Now the enzyme is launched, ArcticZymes aims to provide samples to additional commercial players who have expressed a keen interest.

"IsoPolTM DNA Polymerase is the first of a larger and more diverse polymerase portfolio that ArcticZymes plans to market over the next few years. Our goal is to serve our commercial partners with a toolbox of novel isothermal polymerases tailored to meet the rapidly evolving technical demands in the development of molecular kits and molecular diagnostics assays", says Managing Director, Jethro Holter at ArcticZymes AS.

ArcticZymes AS has received a Notice of Allowance for the United States Patent Application No. US9422595 covering patentable subject matter of its heat-labile Salt Active Nuclease (HL-SAN) product.

With the approval of the new patent in the USA, ArcticZymes strengthens its rapidly growing intellectual property portfolio. The patent extends protection in the USA to the nucleic acid sequence of its HL-SAN product. The enzyme is an endonuclease capable of operating at high salt concentrations. This opens up a wider utility for use of such enzymes.

"The HL-SAN portfolio has typically been utilized by our customers in the preparation of nucleic acidfree products such as recombinant proteins and reagents. More recently, it has attracted growing interest from manufacturers of adeno-associated virus (AAV) for utility in gene therapy. The new patent greatly strengthens our commercial efforts." says Mr. Holter at ArcticZymes AS.

For additional information,

Svein Lien, CEO, +47 922 89 323, svein.lien@biotec.no

About Biotec Pharmacon ASA:

Biotec Pharmacon ASA is the parent company of Biotec BetaGlucans AS and ArcticZymes AS. Biotec BetaGlucans develops, manufactures and markets novel immunomodulating products, including Woulgan®, a premium priced product in the advanced wound care market. ArcticZymes develops, produces and markets enzymes of marine origin used in molecular DNA technologies and diagnostics, representing growth markets where rapid technological developments are creating a strong demand for new and improved enzymes.