Tampere, Finland - FIT Biotech Plc, a Finnish biotech company developing therapeutic and preventive HIV vaccines as well as other novel DNA based products using its proprietary technology platform today announced that it has obtained the approval of the EUROTRANS-BIO (ETB) Project 2006-040 "Development of third generation DNA Vaccines", where new alternatives for pandemic and seasonal flu vaccines will be developed.

The 3^rd generation DNA vaccines will be designed to incorporate flu antigens that are based on consensus sequences of particular viral strains.

“It is believed that 3^rd generation DNA vaccines will establish a new state-of-the-art technology in the field of genetic vaccines and remove major obstacles in the use of genetic vaccines in humans. It will also have a major economical impact by contributing to the development of safe and efficient vaccines against pathogens that are major public health problems or threats, such as avian flu.” Dr. Kalevi Reijonen, CEO& President of FIT Biotech Plc commented and continued: “In addition, FIT Biotech’s flu vaccine program would foster the regional preparedness for a possible avian flu pandemia.”

The project will receive substantial financing from Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (TEKES) as part of the Medicine 2000 Technology Programme.

For additional information:

FIT Biotech Plc – Kalevi Reijonen; 

Tel: +358 408 435 695

kalevi.reijonen@fitbiotech.com

About FIT Biotech Plc. 

FIT Biotech (www.fitbiotech.com) is an innovative medical biotechnology company based in Tampere, Finland and Tartu, Estonia engaged in the development and commercialisation of its proprietary Gene Transport Unit (GTU) technology and GTU product applications in DNA vaccination as well as in immuno- and gene therapies. The Company has 40 employees.