ProMetic Provides Business Update - Over CAD$35 Million Worth of Business Secured in January
06/02/2008 23:21
PR Newswire
MONTREAL, Canada, February 6 /PRNewswire/ --
- Shipment of Prion Capture Resin to MacoPharma in Q1 2008;
- MacoPharma Increased its Forecast for P-Capt(R) Filters Sale in 2008;
- Use of Affinity Prion Adsorbent for Plasma-Derived Products to
Generate in Excess of CAD$25 M Over the Next 5 Years - CAD$4 M in 2008;
- 10th Product Approved by the FDA and or the EMEA, Contributing to
Revenue Growth.
ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (TSX:PLI) ("ProMetic") today provided an
update on its business activities.
"Key milestones were achieved in January, a prelude to the announced
growth for 2008 and beyond," stated Pierre Laurin, ProMetic's President and
Chief Executive Officer. "With our Protein Technologies Business expected
to be EBITDA positive this year, and to generate an EBITDA in excess of
CAD$15 M in 2009, as well as a partnering of PBI-1402 in 2008, we clearly are
on track to deliver value to our shareholders," added Mr. Laurin.
- ProMetic to ship prion capture resin in Q1 2008 for incorporation into
the P-Capt(R) filter. This is in response to MacoPharma's increased
product requirements to meet the expected sales of the P-Capt(R) filter
to Ireland and the UK in 2008. This favorably impacts ProMetic revenue
as of the first half of 2008.
- ProMetic confirmed the decision of a major European plasma fractionator
to scale-up the prion removal process. This process ensures the removal
of any abnormal prion proteins that may be present in donated plasma
and will add another level of safety to the already established
treatment protocols.
- Expected completion of the scale-up phase is June 2008, providing
ProMetic approximately CAD$1 M;
- Including Kedrion, this will signify two major European plasma
fractionators using the prion reduction resin at scale,
representing annual recurring revenue of $5 M. The initial five-
year supply agreement is in final stage of negotiation with
commercial quantities of resin supply commencing as soon as mid-
2008, following regulatory approval of the product.
- The Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has granted approval to
Zymogenetics, Inc. for the commercial sale of Recothrom(R) a
recombinant thrombin product which is manufactured using a synthetic-
ligand affinity adsorbent supplied by ProMetic. This is one of ten
licenced products that have now been approved for sale by the FDA
and/or the European Medicines Agency ("EMEA") which uses ProMetic's
purification technology as part of their manufacture or function.
- Improved sensitivity by 80-fold of existing diagnostic devices was
achieved by pre-treating the samples with PRDT's enhanced concentration
technology. The results showed an added level of sensitivity to the BSE
detection process, thereby reducing the risk of "false outcomes" with
existing tests. This could allow for the detection of infectious prions
at an earlier phase in the development of the disease, thus improving
the safety of the food industry for the countries testing for BSE.
A more comprehensive update for PBI-1402 will be provided shortly as the
Company is pursuing its clinical development and as partnership discussions
are accelerating.
About ProMetic Life Sciences Inc.
ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (http://www.prometic.com) is a
biopharmaceutical company specialized in the research, development,
manufacture and marketing of a variety of commercial applications derived
from its proprietary Mimetic Ligand(TM) technology. This technology is used
in large-scale purification of biologics and the elimination of pathogens.
ProMetic is also active in therapeutic drug development with the mission to
bring to market effective, innovative, lower cost, less toxic products for
the treatment of hematology and cancer. Its drug discovery platform is
focused on replacing complex, expensive proteins with synthetic "drug-like"
protein mimetics. Headquartered in Montréal (Canada), ProMetic has R?
facilities in the U.K., the U.S. and Canada, manufacturing facilities in the
U.K. and business development activities in the US, Europe, Asia and in the
Middle-East.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements about ProMetic's
objectives, strategies and businesses that involve risks and uncertainties.
These statements are "forward-looking" because they are based on our current
expectations about the markets we operate in and on various estimates and
assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks
affect our business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be
inaccurate. Such risks and assumptions include, but are not limited to,
ProMetic's ability to develop, manufacture, and successfully commercialize
value-added pharmaceutical products, the availability of funds and resources
to pursue R? projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical
studies, the ability of ProMetic to take advantage of business opportunities
in the pharmaceutical industry, uncertainties related to the regulatory
process and general changes in economic conditions. You will find a more
detailed assessment of the risks that could cause actual events or results to
materially differ from our current expectations on page 21 of ProMetic's
Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2006, under the
heading "Risk Factors". As a result, we cannot guarantee that any
forward-looking statement will materialize. We assume no obligation to update
any forward-looking statement even if new information becomes available, as a
result of future events or for any other reason, unless required by
applicable securities laws and regulations.
For further information: Company Inquiries: Pierre Laurin, President and CEO, ProMetic Life Sciences Inc., +1-514-341-2115, p.laurin@prometic.com; Dominic Sicotte, Echoes Financial Network Inc., +1-514-842-9551, dsicotte@echoesfinancial.com; Anne Leduc, Manager, Communications, ProMetic Life Sciences Inc., +1-514-341-2115, a.leduc@prometic.com; Investor Relations: Bruce Voss, Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates Lippert, +1-310-691-7100, Bvoss@lhai.com; Kim Golodetz, Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, +1-212-838-3777, Kgolodetz@lhai.com; Media Relations: Jules Abraham, Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, +1-212-838-3777, Jabraham@lhai.com