Bristol-Myers Squibb Joins Oslo Cancer Cluster.

New Initiative Aims to be Europe's Leading Center for Diagnostics and Treatment by 2015

BOSTON, Mass. -- Oslo Cancer Cluster today announced at BIO2007 that Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway is the latest leading pharmaceutical company to join this major private-public initiative in one of Europe's rising biopharma regions. Established around the Radium Hospital, which has the same Comprehensive Cancer Center status as leading US institutions as Dana Farber, MD Anderson and Sloan Kettering, the Oslo Cancer Cluster aims to become the most innovative center in Europe for cancer diagnostics and treatment by 2015. BIO2007 comes in the middle of a launch visit to the US which includes presentations in Research Triangle Park and Boston.

Dr. Ivar Jonsson, Medical Science Manager Oncology, explained Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway's decision: "We welcome this initiative, having had a long history of successful collaboration with Oslo institutions in relation to the development of Taxol, in particular for various indications, specifically with a focus on gynaecological cancers. We are currently conducting or supporting several phase II trials, mainly within the field of leukemia, melanoma and breast cancer, and we are aiming at launching several new oncology compounds in the coming years. Further concentrating resources in the Oslo Cancer Cluster will we believe create a powerhouse for oncology research and development."

A delighted Jonas Einarsson, Chairman of the Oslo Cancer Cluster, commented: "There is no doubt that the initiative is setting up in the right place and at the right time. Oslo has all the required elements for success: research institutes, hospitals, Phase I units, an epidemiological network, represented by the Norwegian Cancer Registry, and a strong industrial base of around 25 oncology-related companies ranging from spinouts to big pharma. With these resources we aim to develop strong areas of cancer research including immunotherapy, breast cancer genomics and proteomics, cancer stem cell biology, and photodynamic therapy and provide the framework for their translation into new therapeutics for the benefit of cancer patients."

For more information and list of members please visit www.oslocancercluster.org