Press Releases
Chiron Signs Multi-Year Agreements with U.S Blood Collection Organizations
EMERYVILLE, Calif., Nov. 19, 2002
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (Nasdaq: CHIR) announced today that multi-year agreements have been signed with the primary blood collection organizations in the US. for supply, service and support of Chiron's PROCLEIX>® HIV-1/HCV Assay and System. Details of the agreements with the American Red Cross, America's Blood Centers, Association of Independent Blood Centers and the U.S. Military were not disclosed. "Chiron has worked closely with its customers to bring this important new technology to the market," said Jack Goldstein, President of Chiron Blood Testing. "We look forward to continuing our partnerships as we develop future products that will further enhance the safety of the U.S. blood supply."
"America's Blood Centers is a network of community-based blood centers and we are proud to be among the first to implement the PROCLEIX System in several of our regional centers. Because of the sensitivity of the test, our blood supply is safer than it's ever been," stated Jim MacPherson, CEO of America's Blood Centers. "The top priority of the American Red Cross is the safety of the blood supply for patients nationwide. We work hard every day and use new technologies that we believe will enhance our efforts to make the supply safer still," said Dr. Jerry Squires, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of the American Red Cross. "Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood and we encourage everyone who's eligible to schedule an appointment to donate today."
The PROCLEIX System incorporates state-of-the-art nucleic acid testing (NAT) technology to detect HIV-1 and HCV RNA in donated blood and plasma during the very early stages of infection, when these infectious agents are present but cannot be detected by immunodiagnostic screening technologies. Chiron and its collaborator, Gen-Probe Incorporated, received FDA licensure of the PROCLEIX HIV-1/HCV Assay on February 27, 2002. Currently more than 70% of the U.S. blood supply is tested with the PROCLEIX System. Chiron and Gen-Probe are currently developing the PROCLEIX® ULTRIO® Assay, which will combine hepatitis B with the company's existing assay for HCV and HIV-1. The HBV component of this assay has the potential to close the window period between infection and detection of hepatitis B from 59 to 34 days, a reduction of 42% over currently available tests.
About Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, headquartered in Emeryville, California, is a global pharmaceutical company that leverages a diverse business model to develop and commercialize high-value products that make a difference in people's lives. The company has a strategic focus on cancer and infectious disease. Chiron applies its advanced understanding of the biology of cancer and infectious disease to develop products from its platforms in proteins, small molecules and vaccines. The company commercializes its products through three business units: biopharmaceuticals, vaccines and blood testing. For more information about Chiron, visit the company's website at www.chiron.com. For more information about Chiron Blood Testing, visit www.ebloodbank.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding sales growth, product development initiatives, and new product marketing that involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change. A full discussion of the company's operations and financial condition, including factors that may affect its business and future prospects, is contained in documents the company has filed with the SEC, including the form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, and the form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, and will be contained in all subsequent periodic filings made with the SEC. These documents identify important factors that could cause the company's actual performance to differ from current expectations, including the outcome of clinical trials, regulatory review and approvals, manufacturing capabilities, intellectual property protections and defenses, stock-price and interest-rate volatility, and marketing effectiveness. In particular, there can be no assurance that Chiron will increase sales of existing products, successfully develop and receive approval to market new products, or achieve market acceptance for such new products. There can be no assurance that Chiron's out-licensing activity will generate significant revenue, nor that its in-licensing activities will fully protect it from claims of infringement by third parties. In addition, the company may engage in business opportunities, the successful completion of which is subject to certain risks, including shareholder and regulatory approvals and the integration of operations.
Consistent with SEC Regulation FD, we do not undertake an obligation to update the forward-looking information we are giving today.
NOTE: PROCLEIX and ULTRIO are trademarks of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc.
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