Amersin Announces 30% Increase in Ribavirin Production to Meet Market Demand Following Recent Avian Flu Outbreaks in Asia
Amersin is a public company listed on the US OTCBB under the trading symbol AMLS and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under the trading symbol HUQ. Its subsidiary is increasing production of the antiviral Ribavirin in response to market demand created, in part, by recent human cases of avian influenza (H5N1).
New York, NY (PRWEB) January 31, 2005 -- Amersin Life Sciences Corporation
(OTCBB: AMLS), announced today that its subsidiary, Hubei Tongji Benda Ebei
Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (HBPharma), will increase production of Ribavirin
injections by 30% in response to market demand.
Ribavirin is a systemic
antiviral sold under the brand names Copegus®(1),and Rebetol®(2) in the United
States, under the brand name Virazol®(3) in the United States and Canada and as
Tribavirin in other parts of the world. It is has been used to treat severe
viral pneumonia in infants and young children and, in combination with other
agents such as Interferon alfa-2b or Peginterferon alfa-2b, to treat hepatitis
C, a viral liver infection.
“Our Ribavirin injection is used by
hospitals in China as a front line viral defense” said Mr. Yiqing Wan, President
of the Amersin subsidiary, “This increased demand for Ribavirin seems to result
in part from concern regarding the high mortality rate associated with recent
human cases of Avian flu in the region. We do not yet have an approved treatment
regimen specifically for H5N1 so hospitals will rely in the interim on agents
that have proven effective at treating other viruses.”
Lethal outbreaks
of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) were reported in poultry by
several Asian countries last June including: Cambodia, China, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. This was followed by renewed sporadic reports of
human cases in Vietnam and Thailand. The World Heath Organization (WHO)
confirmed 52 cases of H5N1 resulting in 39 deaths between January 28th, 2004 and
January 21st, 2005.
According to Professor Wei Sheng Mao, speaking at a WHO
press conference during the 55th session of the Western Pacific Regional
Committee, ‘unless an enormous prevention effort is mounted very quickly, the
threat of avian influenza may be greater than that of SARS’. He went on to
emphasize that prevention and cure will be a long-term task.
“Our
subsidiary has one of the largest injection production facilities in China and
the capacity to rapidly increase production further should it become necessary”
commented Amersin CEO, Mr. Reid Li. “We have increased its R&D effort in an
attempt to develop new pathogen specific antiviral agents to meet the challenges
that lie ahead and are committed to strengthening its position as a major player
in treating anti-viral respondent diseases in China and abroad.”
About
Amersin Life Sciences Corporation:
Amersin is engaged in the acquisition and
vertical integration of operating subsidiaries and controlling joint venture
interests in China to include all facets of pharmaceutical life sciences from
research through raw materials and dosage form production to distribution. Its
recent acquisition of a controlling interest in the profitable HBPharma
subsidiary is a cornerstone in its plan to expand through strategic acquisition
and vertical integration to become one of the leading American corporations to
profit from the burgeoning life sciences sector in China. Additional information
is available via the web at http://www.amersin.com.
"Safe Harbor”
Statement:
This news release contains certain "forward-looking" statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially
from forward-looking statements. Information about many risk factors is set
forth in Amersin’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties listed in the
sections entitled "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis” in Amersin’s most recent Quarterly Report
available through the EDGAR filing system at http://www.sec.gov. Amersin is under no obligation, and
expressly disclaims any obligation, to update or alter its forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
(1)(2)(3) - trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective mark holders
For more information, please contact:
Howard
Milne, Corporate Communications
Amersin Life Sciences Corporation
e-mail
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Voice: 604-881-2899 ext 220
Fax:
604-881-2892
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/1/prweb202961.htm