The milestone payment was received pursuant to a June 2009 collaboration agreement between Hansa Medical and Alere Inc. (formerly Inverness Medical Innovations Inc.) for the development by Hansa Medical of antibodies against the drug target alpha-11. Hansa Medical develops and commercialize anti-alpha-11 antibodies for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Through the agreement, anti-alpha-11 antibodies are created with Alere’s antibody technology Omniclonal® with the goal of identifying a promising drug candidate suitable for clinical trials.

“Achieving an integrated patent portfolio around the alpha-11 protein has been highly prioritized in order to further increase the commercial potential for anti-alpha-11 antibodies. By merging the alpha-11 patents developed by Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:HGSI) with Hansa Medicals patents and patent applications around the alpha-11 protein, we have achieved a strong and solid patent portfolio which now also includes the important US market”, says Emanuel Björne, Chief Executive Officer of Hansa Medical.

Alpha-11 is a novel and innovative drug target investigated by Hansa Medical for treatment of the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis. In research studies, Hansa Medical have shown that an anti-alpha-11 based treatment could potentially have better efficacy profile and be more specific than treatments available on the market today. The market for biological treatments of reumatoid arthritis is estimated to be approximately USD 12 billion in 2010.