Park Company Developing Treatment Package for Obesity Virus

RICHMOND, Va.--(Business Wire)--
Obetech, LLC, a tenant in the Virginia Biosciences Development
Center (VBDC) incubation program at the Virginia Biotechnology
Research Park, recently announced a joint venture with Scandinavian
Clinical Nutrition (SCN), a Swedish organization focused on
development of dietary supplements.

Obetech has developed a diagnostic test for those who have been
infected with a particular common cold virus, human Adenovirus 36
(Ad-36). Quickly gaining recognition as "the obesity virus," Ad-36 has
been shown to trigger proliferation of fat cells, which ultimately
leads to obesity in the infected person.

Currently, Obetech offers a diagnostic test which checks for Ad-36
antibodies in the blood. By confirming an individual has been infected
with Ad-36, the test can help them predict future weight problems
and/or explain unexpected weight gain.

In late 2004, Obetech became a tenant of the BioTech Park after
being accepted into the VBDC incubation program. "Obetech is the
latest in a series of VBDC client companies who have successfully
leveraged our VBDC incubation program to secure equity funding or a
key strategic partnership," stated David Lohr, executive director of
VBDC.

According to Dr. Richard Atkinson, president & CEO of Obetech,
this program was crucial to the success of his company.

"Among other things, the VBDC organized a multispecialty business
advisors group and introduced me to patent lawyers Richard Meyer and
Andrea Tiglio of Townsend and Townsend and Crew, LLP and general
counsel Carter Scott of Hirschler Fleisher, each of whom made critical
contributions during our successful negotiations with SCN," stated
Atkinson.

SCN, a publicly traded Swedish company that is well known in the
nutraceuticals market, has developed anti-viral technologies that can
be used as the therapeutic to Obetech's diagnostic.

"This joint venture will combine the diagnostic technologies of
Obetech and the antiviral technologies of SCN to offer a comprehensive
diagnostic and therapeutic package to consumers seeking solutions for
virus induced obesity," noted Lohr.

Obetech's partnership with SCN will result in the formation of a
new Swedish company, Scandivir, which will be co-owned by both
organizations. Through this partnership, SCN will contract Obetech to
further develop advanced diagnostics and therapeutic solutions, which
will be licensed to the newly formed company for promotion and
distribution.

Virginia Biotechnology Research Park
Nicky Colomb, 804-828-6884
ncolomb@vabiotech.com
www.vabiotech.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008