Quigley CEO, Ted Karkus, Announces Phase One of 2010 Strategic Plan; Karkus Reports that the Primary Focus will be on Leveraging
December 03 2009 - 4:38PM
PR Newswire (US)
DOYLESTOWN, Pa., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ted Karkus,
Chairman and CEO of The Quigley Corporation, (NASDAQ:QGLY)
http://www.quigleyco.com/ announced today that the Company has
completed its evaluation of its opportunities to develop
prescription pharmaceutical and OTC products and has concluded that
it is in its best interests to focus primarily on the OTC/Personal
Care marketplace, which may include but are not limited to its
Cold-EEZE® and Kids-EEZE® brands, as well as other homeopathic,
dietary supplement, cosmetic, cosmeceutical, first aid, functional
food and beverage products. Mr. Karkus, the Company's Board of
Directors, the Company's executive team, and an outside consultant
have concluded that the costs and risks associated with continuing
to develop a line of prescription pharmaceutical products are not
warranted. Mr. Karkus stated, "The Company has determined that
further material investment in the Pharma subsidiary's existing
products under development would be curtailed in light of its view
concerning market opportunities, regulatory pathways, the need for
further robust and consistent preclinical and clinical testing and
continued requirements in the areas of commercial formulation and
development." However, the Company has identified certain Pharma
subsidiary products that it feels may warrant further reasonable
investment in order to determine whether they present significant
commercial opportunities. The products it will continue to
investigate include QR333 (potential topical symptomatic relief of
diabetic peripheral neuropathy); QR440 (potential relief of
inflammation and joint pain); and QR448 (potential anti-infective
against infectious bronchitis in poultry). Mr. Karkus has announced
that future investment of Company resources in the Quigley Pharma
Division will be significantly reduced in favor of continued
development and building of the Cold-EEZE® brand and a broader
consumer product platform. "We are particularly interested in
leveraging our distribution network in mass, pharmacy and grocery
retail by acquiring or developing additional personal care and OTC
products. Focusing on products that can quickly be brought to
market and do not require years of research and development should
significantly reduce product development costs and lead time, while
at the same time yielding increased revenues and profits," said Mr.
Karkus. He added "We are aggressively searching for product
acquisitions and researching line extensions of our Cold-EEZE® and
Kids-EEZE® brands to accomplish these goals, diversity our product
offerings and to set the stage for future growth of our Company."
About The Quigley Corporation The Quigley Corporation (NASDAQ:QGLY)
(http://www.quigleyco.com/) is a diversified natural health medical
science company. Its Cold Remedy segment is a leading marketer and
manufacturer of the Cold-EEZE® family of lozenges and sugar free
tablets clinically proven to significantly reduce the severity and
duration of the common cold. Cold-EEZE® customers include leading
national wholesalers and distributors, as well as independent and
chain food, drug and mass merchandise stores and pharmacies. The
Quigley Corporation has several wholly owned subsidiaries including
Quigley Manufacturing Inc., which consists of an FDA approved
facility to manufacture Cold-EEZE® lozenges and fulfill other
contract manufacturing opportunities, and Quigley Pharma, Inc.,
(http://www.quigleypharma.com/), which conducts research in order
to develop and commercialize a pipeline of patented botanical and
naturally derived potential prescription drugs. Forward-Looking
Statements Certain statements in this press release are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve known and
unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the
Company's actual performance or achievements to be materially
different from the results, performance or achievements expressed
or implied by the forward-looking statement. Factors that impact
such forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in
worldwide general economic conditions, changes in interest rates,
government regulations, and worldwide competition. CONTACT: Ted
Karkus Carl Hymans Chairman of the Board, CEO G.S. Schwartz &
Co. (215) 345-0919 ext. 114 (212) 725-4500 ext. 304 DATASOURCE:
Quigley Corporation CONTACT: Ted Karkus, Chairman of the Board,
CEO, +1-215-345-0919 ext. 114; or Carl Hymans, G.S. Schwartz &
Co., +1-212-725-4500 ext. 304, mailto:@schwartz.com Web Site:
http://www.quigleyco.com/
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