Biohit announced this week that it has developed a new product that is designed to prevent the exposure of the gastrointestinal tract to carcinogenic acetaldehyde.
To develop the new compound, Biohit worked alongside scientific advisers and the University of Helsinki to come up with treatments to counteract acetaldehyde - which is an established risk factor for oesophageal and gastric cancers.
The therapy will launch as an over-the-counter product in the first half of 2010 and the firm intends to begin the procedures for international marketing of the drug in 2011.
It anticipates that the new product will impact upon the development of its diagnostics unit's net sales and operating profits later this year.
During the first nine months of 2009, Biohit's net sales amounted to 25.1 million euros (22.4 million British pounds), a drop from the 25.5 million euros reported for the same period of 2008.
