Female Health Company to Expand Production Capacity for FC2 Female Condom(TM)
26 Setembro 2006 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Expansion Anticipates That Second-Generation Female Condom Will
Play Key Role in Global Battle Against HIV/AIDS CHICAGO, Sept. 26
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Female Health Company (OTC:FHCO)
(BULLETIN BOARD: FHCO) today announced plans to install a third
production line for its FC2 Female Condom(TM), increasing its
annualized production capacity for the second-generation product to
approximately 21 million units. This is in addition to the
Company's existing capacity to produce its first generation FC1
Female Condom(TM) at its plant in London. Currently, The Female
Health Company is manufacturing its second- generation FC2 product
on one production line in Malaysia. A second production line is
scheduled to come on line in India. Today's announcement that a
third production line will be installed (in Malaysia) will bring
the total capacity to manufacture FC2 female condoms at an
annualized rate of approximately 21 million units by February 2007.
"Based upon our discussions with major public sector customers that
are involved in the global battle against the HIV/AIDS pandemic and
Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL) our partner in India, we have elected
to add a third FC2 production line," stated O.B. Parrish, Chief
Executive Officer of The Female Health Company. The demand for the
female condom has been increasing rapidly with revenue growth of
24% for FY 2005 and 27% for the first nine months of FY 2006. "We
look forward to making FC2 available to public health organizations
throughout the world at lower prices than our FC1 Female
Condom(TM), due to the reduced capital and manufacturing costs
involved in the production of our second-generation product. We
believe FC2 can play a critical role in world health by allowing
more women to protect themselves against unintended pregnancy and
sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS." "Following the
Company's recent announcement that it had been advised by the World
Health Organization that FC2 meets international health standards
and the receipt of registration by governmental authorities in
India, we expect demand for FC2 to accelerate significantly during
our fiscal year that begins next month," continued Parrish. The
Company will immediately begin to fill new orders with FC2 wherever
proper approvals exist to do so. A new production line for FC2 can
be installed in approximately six months subsequent to initiation
of the project. This modular design allows our Company to respond
quickly to increases in demand, and management will consider the
installation of FC2 production lines as demand increases. About The
Female Health Company, Inc. The Female Health Company, based in
Chicago, Illinois, manufactures and markets the FC Female
Condom(R), which is primarily distributed by public health
organizations and donor groups in over 70 countries around the
world. The Company owns certain worldwide rights to the FC Female
Condom(R), including patents that have been issued in the United
States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the
European Patent Convention, the People's Republic of China, Canada,
South Korea and Australia. FC Female Condom(R) is the only
available FDA approved product controlled by a woman that offers
dual protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including
HIV/AIDS, and unintended pregnancy. "Safe Harbor" statement under
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Action of 1995: The
statements in this release which are not historical fact are
forward-looking statements based upon the Company's current plan
and strategies, and reflect the Company's current assessment of the
risks and uncertainties related to its business, including such
things as product demand and market acceptance; the economic and
business environment and the impact of government pressures;
currency risks; capacity; efficiency and supply constraints; and
other risks detailed in the Company's press releases, shareholder
communication and Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Actual events affecting the Company and the impact of such events
on the Company's operations may vary from those currently
anticipated. For more information about the Female Health Company,
dial toll-free via fax, 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter company code
"FHCO." Also, visit the Company's website at
http://www.femalehealth.com/ and http://www.femalecondom.org/ . If
you would like to be added to the Company's e-mail alert list,
please send an e-mail to . DATASOURCE: The Female Health Company,
Inc. CONTACT: William R. Gargiulo, Jr., +1-231-526-1244, or Donna
Felch, +1-312-595-9742, both of The Female Health Company Web site:
http://www.femalehealth.com/ http://www.femalecondom.org/
Copyright