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Per pubblicazione immediata - 2 dicembre 2009

Seneffe - Belgio, 2 dicembre 2009, IBt Bebig (Reuters: IBTH.BR - Bloomberg: IBTB BB) ha reso noto oggi di aver firmato un accordo di alleanza strategica con Core Oncology, Inc., con sede a Santa Barbara, California.

Lo scopo di questo accordo è inizialmente quello di coprire il mercato incrociato dei prodotti delle due aziende e di definire dei programmi reciproci di R&S. Nell'ambito di questo accordo, IBt Bebig ha fatto un investimento di due milioni di USD in Core Oncology sotto forma di prestito subordinato con scadenza prima della fine del 2010. Both groups are investigating the possibilities to collaborate further together.

IBt Bebig is today market leader in Europe for permanent brachytherapy implants used for the treatment of prostate cancer. The group also manufactures and sells, on a worldwide basis, temporary brachytherapy solutions for the treatment of other early stage cancers -through HDR (High-Dose Rate) Co-60 afterloaders equipments or with Ru-106 Ophthalmic plaques.

Core Oncology sells both I-125 and Pd-103 seeds throughout North America where it has aggressively developed a nationwide sales network allowing it to rank today as one of the top 4 in terms of market share. It also distributes a marker primarily used in the area of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). The company manufactures its own I-125 implants at its Oklahoma facility.

"We are very excited about this transatlantic collaboration and the perspectives it opens up in terms of innovation and new products development," indicated Travis Gay, Chief Executive Officer of Core Oncology.

"The North American market remains by far the largest in the World for prostate cancer treatment by permanent brachytherapy implants. We believe that this strategic alliance represents a unique opportunity to get back to a market which is around three to four times the size of the European market," commented François Blondel, Chief Executive Officer of IBt Bebig.

About Core Oncology

Core Oncology was founded September 15, 2006 by the existing management of the brachytherapy business owned by Coloplast, formerly Mentor, for the sole purpose of enhancing the levels of service and continuing our pursuit of innovation within the field of Radiation Oncology. Our philosophy is to make our Customers and their trusted patients the focus of our business. Meeting their needs is our primary goal. This is how we derived our name Core Oncology, as our Customers and Patients are our center, our focus, our core.

On June 8, 2007, Core Oncology completed its acquisition of Mills Biopharmaceuticals LLC, the recently acquired brachytherapy division of Coloplast. Prior to this, the brachytherapy division was owned by Mentor Corporation. Initially formed in 1997, Mentor's brachytherapy division entered the radiation oncology market as the first company to offer both iodine and palladium brachytherapy sources. Since then the division has developed and successfully launched numerous innovative delivery technologies and services, including the Isoloader® workstation, prescription loaded needle services and proprietary cartridge systems for the Mick® applicator. This division has maintained a track record of strong year-on-year growth in a highly competitive market space.

The management team that has facilitated the growth and development of the brachytherapy division is the same team that now manages Core Oncology. This team has remained intact from the beginning of the business. We pride ourselves on the culture that we have established and the employee retention that has resulted.

About IBt Bebig

... Contributing to saving lives!

The IBt Bebig group is a European based group, active in the Medical Device segment of the Health Care sector.

The core business of the IBt Bebig group is the cancer treatment by radiation technology. Its specificity is the treatment of cancer by brachytherapy, a technique which consists of placing a sealed implant containing a minuscule quantity of a radioactive isotope in the body, on either a temporary or on a permanent basis. Depending on the application, the implant can take the shape of a plaque, a seed or a catheter. The precise positioning of the implant allows the cancer cells to be destroyed while sparing the healthy tissues and increasing the patient's quality of life. Today, the alternative brachytherapy procedures cover the non-invasive treatment of cancers of the prostate, neck, head and eye, as well as certain gynecological cancers.

The IBt Bebig group employs over 150 people and has entities in Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and India. Its Head Office is located in Seneffe, Belgium and the company has been listed on the Euronext stock exchange since April 1997 (Reuters : IBTH.BR - Bloomberg : IBTB BB).

Contact

Paul-Emmanuel Goethals
Head of Investor Relations & Communication
Tel: +32.64.520.808

E-mail: ir@ibt-bebig.eu
Internet: www.ibt-bebig.eu

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