MedMira to Commercialize Revolutionary New Diagnostic Technology Platform
15 Dezembro 2005 - 3:23PM
PR Newswire (US)
Acquires SensorChem to Expand World Class Diagnostic Product Line
HALIFAX, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedMira Inc.,
("MedMira") (TSX Venture: MIR, NASDAQ: MMIRF) the global market
leader in premium rapid diagnostic solutions, announced today that
it has acquired SensorChem International Corp. ("SensorChem") based
in Toronto in order to bring a revolutionary, new biosensor
technology platform to international diagnostic markets. Working
under the name "Project Maple", this new acquisition will see
MedMira broaden its product offering based on this breakthrough
technology platform, which was invented by a team of University of
Toronto researchers, led by Dr. Michael Thompson, Professor of
Analytical Chemistry within the Department of Chemistry and
associated member of the Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical
Engineering. The new products and applications resulting from
Project Maple will complement MedMira's current product portfolio,
which presently consists of rapid flow through point-of-care tests
for HIV, Hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases. As with
MedMira's existing, market-leading technology platform, the new
products derived from Project Maple will be extremely versatile,
allowing users to assess multiple diagnostic markers quickly and
efficiently. The simplicity of this new technology will facilitate
a fast turnaround time in patient point-of-care testing, and can be
easily implemented in clinics, hospitals, central laboratories as
well as for personal home use. "Over the past few years, we have
spent considerable time and resources in thoroughly evaluating up
and coming breakthrough technologies," said Stephen Sham, chairman
and CEO of MedMira. "Dr. Thompson's research group at University of
Toronto is highly regarded as a leading biosensor group and the
patented intellectual properties they have created are extensive.
We are extremely excited to have finalized this agreement today."
Sham continued, "In acquiring SensorChem, we are strategically
moving our product offering forward to meet the demands of our
customers. Healthcare providers are not standing still in the face
of emerging challenges, and neither are we." Facing labour
shortages and demand for faster, reliable test results, clinical
laboratories are continually looking for increased automation and
simplicity. Project Maple's product line will enable fast and easy
sample preparation and the ability to provide digital tracking of
diagnostic results into electronic patient record systems. MedMira
will soon be able to offer a complete suite of diagnostic tools for
various infectious and non-infectious diseases and other critical
diagnostic applications. "Project Maple is a ground breaking
technology platform for the diagnostic world and MedMira is well
equipped to bring this new technology to the international market.
Their expertise in the development and marketing of rapid
diagnostics tests is well established," said Dr. Michael Thompson,
chairman and co-founder of SensorChem. "I look forward to working
with the team at MedMira in the commercialization of this
technology for the worldwide diagnostics market." Under the terms
of the acquisition agreement, MedMira will acquire all of the
outstanding common shares of SensorChem for a purchase price of
$2,066,729. As consideration, MedMira will issue 2,952,471 common
shares at a price of $0.70, including 414,795 common shares issued
to a director of MedMira. SensorChem will continue to operate as a
wholly owned subsidiary of MedMira Inc. This transaction is subject
to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and the shareholders of
SensorChem. MedMira will provide more information on Project Maple
during a technical conference to be held in early 2006. Further
details on this event will be announced in the near future. About
MedMira MedMira is the leading global manufacturer and marketer of
in vitro flow- through rapid diagnostic tests. MedMira's tests
provide reliable, rapid diagnosis in just 3 minutes for the
detection of human antibodies in human serum, plasma or whole blood
for diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C. The United States FDA and
the SFDA in the People's Republic of China have approved MedMira's
Reveal(TM) G2 and MiraWell(R) rapid HIV tests, respectively.
MedMira's Reveal(R) G2 and MiraWell(R) rapid HIV tests are
currently used in clinical laboratories, hospitals, and clinics
where professional counselling and patient treatment are
immediately available. The MiraCare(TM) Rapid HIV Antibody Test,
MedMira's over-the-counter (OTC) product, is available in
pharmacies throughout Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative
Regions, in the People's Republic of China. MedMira delivers rapid
diagnostic solutions to healthcare communities around the globe.
Its corporate offices and manufacturing facilities are located in
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with a representative office in
Guilin, China. This news release contains forward-looking
statements, which involve risk and uncertainties and reflect the
company's current expectation regarding future events. Actual
events could materially differ from those projected herein and
depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to,
changing market conditions, successful and timely completion of
clinical studies, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval
process, establishment of corporate alliances and other risks
detailed from time to time in the company quarterly filings. The
TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this statement. For
more information visit MedMira's website at
http://www.medmira.com/. DATASOURCE: MedMira Inc. CONTACT: Dr.
James Smith, Investor Relations, Tel: (902) 450-1588, E-mail: ;
Andrea Young, Corporate Communications, Tel. (902) 450-1588, Email:
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