MedMira Acquires Technology to Develop New Tests for Cancer
April 03 2006 - 4:54PM
PR Newswire (US)
Emerging Cancer Markers Commercialized Through Maple Biosciences
HALIFAX, April 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedMira Inc.,
("MedMira") (TSX Venture: MIR, NASDAQ: MMIRF) the global market
leader in premium rapid diagnostic solutions, announced today that
it has entered into an agreement to acquire an emerging cancer
marker technology, to commercialize through the company's Maple
Biosciences division. The technology, developed by Dr. Shou- Ching
Tang, a practicing oncologist, leading researcher on the prognostic
significance of BAG-1 for cancer patients, and a member of the
MedMira Board of Directors, focuses on BAG-1, a protein found in
certain types of caner cells including breast, lung and prostate
cancers. "We continually evaluate emerging diagnostic technologies
that can be integrated with our current and future product lines in
order to deliver advanced solutions to the healthcare market," said
Stephen Sham, chairman and CEO, MedMira. "Dr. Tang's BAG-1
technology, together with Maple Biosciences' advanced testing
platform will create an evolutionary product to meet increasing
demands for cancer diagnostics." The BAG-1 technology will be
integrated with the Maple Biosciences platform to bring faster,
more advanced tests for breast, lung and prostate cancers to the
clinical laboratory market. The simple test, which will displace
the current 30 year old technology, uses a tissue sample to provide
comprehensive diagnostic, prognostic results, as well as critical
information used in formulating a patient's treatment and therapy
plan. The BAG-1 technology will be most powerful when combined with
other cancer markers to diagnose a specific type of cancer. "I look
forward to working with the team at MedMira as we integrate our two
technologies to create versatile and dynamic cancer diagnostic
tool. MedMira's experience in bringing advanced diagnostics to
market will ensure that this technology will benefit cancer
patients directly," said Dr. Shou- Ching Tang. "Commercializing the
BAG-1 technology will give healthcare providers and patients a
faster, more complete diagnosis of various types of cancer." Under
the terms of the acquisition agreement MedMira will acquire the
BAG-1 technology for a purchase price of $600,000. The purchase
price will be paid in instalments as milestones in the
commercialization of this technology, as specified in the
agreement, are achieved. The purchase price will be paid through
the issuance of common shares at the closing market price of
MedMira common shares the business day immediately preceding the
date the milestone is achieved, with a minimum issue price of
$0.476. The maximum number of shares to be issued is 1,260,504
common shares. The shares issued will be subject to a 4 month hold
period. This transaction is subject to the approval of the TSX
Venture Exchange. About Dr. Shou-Ching Tang M.D., PhD, FACP,
FRCP(C) Dr. Shou-Ching Tang is currently the Senior Asscociate
Consultant at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. He served as
the Associate Center Director for Clinical Research and Director of
Solid Tumor Oncology, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive
Cancer Centre and Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of
Hematology and Oncology, University of Miami. Dr. Tang's academic
credentials include an M.D., Honours Medicine, West China
University of Medical Sciences (the former Sichuan Medical
College), Chengdu, Sichuan, China and a Ph.D., Molecular Biology,
Division of Medical Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada. He is a Fellow of the American College of
Physicians (FACP) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
of Canada (FRCPC). Dr. Tang has extensive research and medical
experience and has served on numerous committees and review boards.
Dr. Tang has also published many research papers, including the
publications on the prognostic significance of BAG-1, for breast
and lung cancer patients, which were published by the following
respected scientific journals; Oncogene, Journal of Clinical
Oncology and the International Journal of Cancer. 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 is available over-the-counter (OTC) in
pharmacies throughout Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative
Regions, in the People's Republic of China. MiraCare(TM) is sold
through MedMira's distributor network to pharmacies, hospitals and
laboratories in the European Union. 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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