Vita 34 International AG: Further collaboration agreed with a compulsory health insurance fund, BKK Ost-Hessen supports the storage of umbilical cord blood at VITA 34
Vita 34 International AG / Alliance Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Leipzig, 1 September 2007 – VITA 34 International AG (ISIN DE000A0BL849), the parent company of the leading private umbilical cord blood bank in the German-speaking countries, Vita 34, has gained BKK Ost-Hessen as another compulsory health insurance fund cooperation partner. This provides VITA 34 with even more expert support for the private storage of umbilical cord blood. With immediate effect, BKK Ost-Hessen is promoting the preparation and storage of umbilical cord blood at VITA 34. As a result, people insured by BKK Ost-Hessen are being offered attractive discount schemes for storing umbilical cord blood. On concluding a standard agreement with VITA 34, prospective parents receive a one-off discount of EUR 250. In addition, price models have been developed to match individual customer requirements. VITA 34 gained the first compulsory health insurance fund, BKK FAHR, for promotion of private storage of umbilical cord blood in April 2007. The new collaboration which has now been agreed with BKK Ost-Hessen is further proof of the considerable signalling effect produced by such collaboration. VITA 34 is expecting other private and compulsory health insurance funds to follow this example. VITA 34 has already been involved in cooperation with a major private health insurance fund, Debeka, for quite some time. The new partners are demonstrating the success of the marketing and sales offensive which has already been initiated. BKK Ost-Hessen provides insurance for some 21,000 people. VITA 34 is also looking for further cooperation agreements with private as well as compulsory health insurance providers. The company is at the advanced stage of negotiation in this respect. About VITA 34: With a market share of around 66%, VITA 34 is the leading private umbilical cord blood bank in the German-speaking countries. There are absolutely no ethical objections to stem cell transplants from umbilical cord blood. Such transplants are suitable for curing diseases as well as for use in regenerative medicine. Due to the rapid advancement in research and medicine, it is not possible at present to foresee the complete range of applications for umbilical cord blood stem cells. VITA 34 focuses on the production of autologous stem cell preparations, i.e. those produced naturally by the body. Compared with other countries, there is still considerable room for development on the German market with regard to umbilical blood storage by parents. Press/Investor Relation: Axel Mühlhaus Dr Sönke Knop edicto GmbH Zeißelstraße 19 D-60318 Frankfurt Tel.: +49 (069) 90550552 Fax: +49 (069) 90550577 E-mail: vita34@edicto.de DGAP 01.08.2007 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: Vita 34 International AG Deutscher Platz 5a 04103 Leipzig Deutschland Phone: +49(0341)48792-40 Fax: +49(0341)48792-39 E-mail: info@vita34.de Internet: www.vita34.de ISIN: DE000A0BL849 WKN: A0BL84 Indices: Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------