Press Releases
Novartis and American Red Cross Blood Services sign long-term supply agreement for Nucleic Acid Testing products
Multi-year agreement provides American Red Cross with access to state-of-the-art technology to ensure safety of the US blood supply and prevent spread of diseases
EMERYVILLE, Calif., June 27, 2006
The American Red Cross and Chiron, the diagnostics business of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, announced today the signing of a multi-year agreement for the supply of Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) products. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The agreement extends the existing contract for the PROCLEIX® HIV-1/HCV Assay and amends the contract to include the PROCLEIX® West Nile Virus (WNV) Assay.
In addition, use of the PROCLEIX® TIGRIS® System has been expanded under the investigational New Drug application, allowing the American Red Cross to fully automate NAT for blood screening at multiple testing sites.
The PROCLEIX WNV Assay adds another level of safety to the blood supply by allowing blood centers to detect the virus in blood donations well before detectable antibodies develop. Additionally, the PROCLEIX TIGRIS System is designed to enable testing of individual samples; this is important during the WNV peak season to increase sensitivity without compromising turnaround time.
"Blood safety is a critical concern for the American Red Cross," said Jack McGuire, Interim President and CEO of the American Red Cross. "We have intercepted a significant number of infected blood samples since working with Chiron's NAT blood screening tests. We look forward to our continued collaboration with Chiron to help ensure a safe blood supply."
To prevent the spread of infectious disease, the American Red Cross in 1999 became one of the first US blood banking organizations to implement NAT when it initiated use of the PROCLEIX HIV-1/HCV Assay.
This new agreement secures the long term supply of PROCLEIX® Assays and Systems to the American Red Cross, enabling the network of five National Testing Laboratories (NTLs) to test more than 6.5 million units of blood collected by the Red Cross's 36 blood regions every year.
"This new contract with the American Red Cross reinforces the positive relationship both parties have enjoyed since 1999. We have partnered with the American Red Cross to enhance the safety of the US blood supply and look forward to continuing this effort well into the next decade," said Gene Walther, President of Chiron, the diagnostics business of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics. "As part of Novartis, we will continue our commitment to invest in research and development of innovative products to meet the urgent and ongoing need for safe blood."
About Chiron PROCLEIX® Assays and Systems
Chiron's PROCLEIX® Assays and Systems use state-of-the-art nucleic acid testing (NAT) technology to detect RNA in plasma from voluntary donors of whole blood and blood components and from other living donors; plasma specimens from organ donors; and blood specimens from cadaveric donors. With NAT, early stages of infection can be detected when infectious agents are present but cannot be detected by immunodiagnostic screening technologies.
The PROCLEIX HIV-1/HCV Assay for the simultaneous detection of HIV-1 and HCV is approved for use in the United States, the European Union, Australia and major markets in Asia. The PROCLEIX WNV Assay for the detection of West Nile virus is approved for use in the United States and also bears the CE Mark. Both assays were developed in collaboration between Chiron and Gen-Probe Incorporated. The PROCLEIX TIGRIS System is approved for use in the European Union, Australia and major markets in Asia, and is currently under review by US FDA. It is available in the US under an investigational protocol. For more information about Chiron products and services, visit www.ebloodbank.com.
Disclaimer
This release contains certain forward-looking statements, relating to the Group's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "long-term", "multi-year", "look forward", "continuing", "will", or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals or future sales of PROCLEIX. Such statements reflect current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. There can be no guarantee that PROCLEIX will be approved for sale in any market or that it will reach any particular sales levels. Management's expectations regarding PROCLEIX could be affected by, among other things, unexpected clinical trial results, including additional analysis of clinical data, or new clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the company's ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; competition in general; increased government, industry, and general public pricing pressures; and other risks and factors referred to in the Company's current Form 20-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Novartis
Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics is a new division of Novartis focused on the development of preventive treatments and tools. The division has two businesses: Novartis Vaccines, and Chiron, the blood testing and molecular diagnostics business. Novartis Vaccines is the world's fifth-largest vaccines manufacturer and second-largest supplier of flu vaccines in the US. Novartis Vaccines' products also include meningococcal, paediatric and travel vaccines. The Chiron business is dedicated to preventing the spread of infectious diseases through the development of novel blood-screening tools that protect the world's blood supply.
Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in offering medicines to protect health, treat disease and improve well-being. Our goal is to discover, develop and successfully market innovative products to treat patients, ease suffering and enhance the quality of life. Novartis is the only company with leadership positions in both patented and generic pharmaceuticals. We are strengthening our medicine-based portfolio, which is focused on strategic growth platforms in innovation-driven pharmaceuticals, high-quality and low-cost generics, human vaccines and leading self-medication OTC brands. In 2005, the Group's businesses achieved net sales of USD 32.2 billion and net income of USD 6.1 billion. Approximately USD 4.8 billion was invested in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 96,000 people and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com/.
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