Release issued 11th February 2008

Brussels, February, 11th 2008. Two large European fractionation entities, the French state-owned biopharmaceutical group LFB and the Dutch foundation Sanquin and the Belgian Red Cross signed a framework agreement.

One of the most important part of this agreement concerns a 24.99% minority interest for LFB, for a sum that could possibly exceed 10 million Euros, in the Belgian structure CAF/DCF (Central Fractionation Department of the Red Cross) in which Sanquin has a majority interest.

This participation and various industrial agreements between the entities will allow LFB to significantly increase its production capacities over the short term through the use of the plant located in Brussels.
The industrial cooperative measures to be implemented are related to, in particular, medicinal products, processes, quality assurance and controls. The goal is to improve the safety of supply in Europe of plasma-derived medicinal products from voluntary unpaid blood donations. “This is a very important agreement for LFB,” declared Christian Béchon, the Chief Executive Officer of LFB. “Increasing our product capacities with a partner such as Sanquin meets a public health need as our medicinal products are essential to thousands of patients each year. From an industrial stand point, the plant in Brussels is very complementary to our plant in Les Ulis where we are making significant investments to increase capacity.

 “We have been working together for a long time and are convinced that the European market is crucial to our fields. We chose this cooperation with LFB to secure this strategic supply for the Dutch Healthcare” added Théo Buunen, Chairman of the Sanquin Executive Board.

LFB is a French biopharmaceutical company which specializes in therapeutic proteins. With a 2006 turnover of €269 million, the company is essentially structured around two specialized subsidiaries in France. LFB Biomédicaments produces and sells a wide range of plasma-derived medicinal products. It is France's third largest hospital drug specialist, with activities in immunology, hemostasis and anesthesia. Its 20 products are prescribed to over 500,000 patients each year and target 80 serious and sometimes rare pathologies. LFB Biotechnologies focuses on the group's R&D and biotech activities in two core areas: monoclonal antibodies and technological innovations in biomanufacturing.
http://www.lfb.fr

The Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation (Sanquin) is a Dutch non-profit organisation that provides blood supplies and promotes transfusion medicine, in a manner that meets the most stringent quality, safety and efficiency requirements. Sanquin provides products and services, carries out basic and developmental research and provides education. Sanquin employs approx. 3,000 people.
http://www.sanquin.nl

(4th September 2007) The LFB Group and MAbgene sign a major agreement

(2nd August 2007) GTC BIOTHERAPEUTICS AND LFB BIOTECHNOLOGIES