25 June 2008 - Swedish biotech company BioGaia AB said yesterday it has extended the collaboration with its Finnish partner Oy Verman AB, granting it a non-exclusive right to distribute BioGaia's probiotic tablets and drops in Russia.
BioGaia's products for gastrointestinal health will be distributed in Russia under Verman's brand Rela, under which they are sold in Finland. Verman plans to open an office in Moscow in the autumn of 2008.
BioGaia has cooperated with Verman since 2004. The Finnish pharmaceutical company also distributes on the domestic market BioGaia's oral health products.
BioGaia's products are mainly based on the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri (Reuteri), which has health-enhancing effects.
During the first quarter of 2008, BioGaia signed distribution deals with Swiss companies Ferring Pharmaceuticals for its drops in Jordan. Over the period, BioGaia also agreed with Delta Medical Promotions AG to distribute the drops in Ukraine and with Ewopharma AG to sell the drops and tablets in Hungary, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.