Lund, Sweden, December 2, 2009 – Alligator Bioscience AB, the protein optimization company, today announces that the Japan Patent Office has granted the patent application JP 2004-506491 for its protein optimization platform, FIND® (Fragment Induced Diversity). With this patent Alligator Bioscience will have coverage for it’s methods in all major markets.
The newly-granted patent describes methods of optimization of protein properties and functionalities by in vitro evolution using recombination of single stranded DNA. 
By their very nature, proteins have not primarily been developed to act as drugs and completely different requirements might be imposed for this function. Our FIND® technology can overcome these limitations and redesign virtually any characteristics of a protein that can be translated into significant clinical benefits, including higher efficacy and potency, improved safety profile and decreased immunogenicity.

 “The newly-granted patent in Japan confirms the strength of our expanding portfolio.” said Gun-Britt Fransson, chief executive officer of Alligator Bioscience. “The patent covers the core of our company, our proprietary FIND® technology. This platform enables us to build a competitive pipeline of novel and improved versions of biopharmaceuticals. We focus on candidates in inflammation and cancer and our disclosed programs targets the C5a receptor (C5aR), Interleukin 1 (IL-1) and Interleukin 23 (IL-23). We believe this patent will be of crucial importance for our future development on the Japanese market.”

About FIND®
FIND® is a rapid in vitro evolution technology that mimics the natural process of creating protein diversity through recombination. Our FIND® technology introduces mutations and recombines these into the most favourable combinations.  Our FIND® technology offers unique opportunities to discover novel protein drug candidates as well as creating second generation biopharmaceuticals.
About Alligator Bioscience AB
Alligator Bioscience AB is a privately owned drug discovery and development company focused on optimization of biopharmaceuticals using it’s proprietary protein optimization technology FIND® (Fragment INduced Diversity). 
Founded in 2001 in Lund, Sweden, Alligator Bioscience has successfully collaborated with many companies in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, improving customers’ proteins and helping them to build more competitive pipelines. Alligator Bioscience’s own pipeline of novel and improved drug candidates is focused on inflammation and cancer, including programs targeting the C5a receptor (C5aR), Interleukin 1 (IL-1) and Interleukin 23 (IL-23).

Contacts:
Alligator Bioscience AB 
Dr Gun-Britt Fransson, CEO 
Schelevägen 19A
SE-223 70 Lund, Sweden 
Tel:  +46 (0)46-2864280 
Fax:  +46 (0)46-2864290