Singapore: Nuvilex, an international biotechnology company providing cell and gene therapy solutions forthe treatment of diseases, has acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to use Singapore based Austrianova's cellulose based livecell encapsulation technology for the development of certain cell type based treatments for diabetes in a multi-million dollar deal.

"We are very excited by these developments" said Mr. Brian Salmons, CEO of Austrianova. "We believe that Nuvilex is an ideal partner to bring this product successfully through clinical trials and to the market, based on the skills of its experienced management team".

Prof. Walter H Gunzburg, Group Executive Chairman, said "Diabetes has always been the holy grail of encapsulation. The out licensing of the Cell-in-a-Box based encapsulation technology for the indication diabetes represents a major step forward for one use of this unique technology platform and validates the data we have obtained with the technology so far".

Austrianova, a member of the SG Austria group of companies, has been leading the development of novel living cell encapsulation technologies from its headquarters at Biopolis, Singapore, since 2007. The company's technology protects the encapsulated living cells from rejection by the immune system, allows cells to be easily transported, stored and implanted at specific sites in patients. The technology, which has been proven to be safe in clinical trials carried out in Europe, allows companies to develop one generic cell line for use as a living pharmaceutical in all patients suffering from a particular disease.