MedMira Receives Initial European Order for Instant Rapid HIV Tests
11 Janeiro 2006 - 4:27PM
PR Newswire (US)
Spanish Distributor Places Order for 400,000 MiraCare(TM) Tests
HALIFAX, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedMira Inc.,
("MedMira") (TSX Venture: MIR, NASDAQ: MMIRF) the global market
leader in premium rapid diagnostic solutions, announced today that
it has received an order for 400,000 MiraCare(TM) Rapid HIV
Antibody Tests (MiraCare(TM)) from its distributor in Spain. This
is the first significant order of the MiraCare(TM) tests destined
for the European market. MiraCare(TM), launched in 2005 in Hong
Kong and Macao, will be sold in the 25 member countries of the
European Union (EU). MedMira will fulfill this order over a preset
timeframe, upon receipt of CE Mark. MiraCare(TM) will be the
fastest rapid HIV test available in Europe, taking less than three
minutes to perform and providing test results instantly. It will
also be the first and only North American made rapid HIV test to be
approved and sold in Europe. "This order is a significant milestone
for MedMira in Europe. It is just the beginning of our strategic
market push throughout the region," said Stephen Sham, chairman and
CEO of MedMira. "We have put a great deal of time and effort into
establishing a solid network of qualified distributors and
obtaining regulatory approval necessary to bring MiraCare(TM) to
the EU market." Sham continued, "We believe that our product will
offer individuals and healthcare providers across Europe a far
superior choice in rapid HIV testing." The distributor will target
both near-patient settings such as pharmacies and hospitals, as
well as laboratories for initial sales of the MiraCare(TM) test.
MiraCare(TM) will be approved for whole blood, as well as serum and
plasma specimens, making it a truly versatile rapid HIV test for
all types of settings. It is sold as a complete test kit with all
components required to perform the test. MiraCare(TM) will be an
important diagnostic tool in combating Europe's growing HIV
epidemic. EuroHIV, the European HIV/AIDS surveillance network,
estimates that over 2 million people in Europe are living with HIV,
and infection rates are on the rise. According to UNAIDS, 100,000
new cases of HIV were diagnosed in 2004 in Europe. 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(R) 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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