Aterovax SA, a company developing innovative products for atherosclerosis, today announced the signing of a 3 year, exclusive agreement with SPI-Bio, a specialist distributor of products and services in drug development, to distribute and sell Aterovax’s sPLA2 activity test in Europe to academic and research laboratories for research use. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The phospholipases A2 (PLA2) superfamily of enzymes plays a key role in the inflammatory process by generating chemical intermediates. The activity of secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) is closely associated with the rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque and the subsequent risk of cardiovascular events In research, Aterovax’s sPLA2 activity test offers considerable promises for investigating cardiovascular and inflammation diseases, screening drug candidates as well as elucidating their mechanism of action.

“While sPLA2 is not a new molecule, it was really interesting to see that it became a new biomarker in the light of the validation work performed by Aterovax. This assay not only perfectly supplements our existing range in the field of metabolic diseases, but also complies with our policy to market fully validated kit in the appropriate biological samples” Said Xavier Morge SPI-Bio Managing Director.

“We believe that SPI-Bio is the ideal partner in Europe for the research applications of our sPLA2 activity test. Not only do they have a strong network and customer base in laboratories conducting inflammation research, SPI-Bio already has experience in the sPLA2 field,” noted Dr Dominique Surun, CEO of Aterovax. “This collaboration is the first step in our global strategy of finding the best distribution partners for our sPLA2 activity test. We anticipate signing similar deals in other territories throughout 2010.”

About SPI-Bio

Located in Montigny le Bretonneux, SPI-Bio was founded in 1991 for the valorisation of the French Atomic Energy Commission Department of pharmacology and immunology know-how and patents. The company businesses are split in services, dedicated to pharmaceutical or biotech companies, and production and marketing of life science reagents for drug development.

Fully owned by Bertin technologies, and together with the three other subsidiaries acting in the Bertin Pharma Branch (namely Biotec Centre, Ellipse Pharmaceutical and IDPS), SPI-Bio assist its customers throughout their whole project from screening of candidate drugs to manufacturing and distribution of clinical supplies. The services are divided into 2 areas of expertise, (i)preclinical & clinical supplies and (ii) pharmaceutical development & clinical supplies, focus on Pharmaceutical development & clinical supplies, ADME & Immunogenicity, Biotransformation, Antiviral & Immune, Pharmacology, Biosafety, and Biomarkers.

The distribution platform acts worldwide through an extensive distribution network covering the main Research territories. SPI-Bio focuses on kits to measure biomarkers using a patent technology, and biochemical reagents for analytical purpose in the field of metabolic disease and cancer. For more information visit www.spibio.com.

About Aterovax

Aterovax is developing innovative products for the cardiovascular disease market based on a unique understanding of atherosclerosis, the condition responsible for most cardiovascular problems. Aterovax’s first product is a diagnostic blood test to measure activity of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), a powerful biomarker that provides physicians with clinically relevant information about the presence of a destabilized atherosclerotic plaque. Detecting and measuring this complex processes is critical to monitoring the pathology of atherosclerosis. Currently, Aterovax’s sPLA2 activity test is only available for research applications. The company will seek regulatory approval to diagnose coronary heart disease in asymptomatic individuals and to predict pathological events in patients with existing cardiovascular disease. Aterovax is currently investigating the role of additional new biomarkers involved in atherosclerosis. In the future, the company aims to leverage its expertise to develop additional immunotherapeutic products that prevent atherosclerotic plaque formation and progression, thereby covering the continuum from cardiovascular disease diagnosis to treatment. The Company was founded in Paris, France in 2006 with financing from the SEFTI fund, a specialist European cardiovascular fund. For more information visit www.aterovax.com.