ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 25, 2003--Calypte Biomedical Corporation (OTCBB:CYPT), the developer and marketer of the only two FDA approved HIV-1 antibody tests for use with urine samples, announced that it has appointed Enfield Medical Co. Ltd. as its exclusive distributor for Taiwan.
Enfield is a Taipei-based company, acknowledged as one of the top ten medical product importers in the country. Enfield Medical was founded in 1988, and actively markets a number of premium global brands of healthcare products. Enfield is a subsidiary of Excelsior Healthcare Group whose alliances include hospitals, IT services, logistic and inventory management, performance improvement and E-commerce.
"With the appointment of Enfield, we have successfully, and meaningfully expanded our Asian presence," said Tony Cataldo, Calypte's Executive Chairman.
Richard VanMaanen, Director of International Business Development at Calypte, stated, "As with all of Calypte's urine HIV distribution agreements, Enfield's rights are exclusive within its territory, and Enfield has specific obligations regarding minimum purchases during the agreement. We are eager to work with Enfield in obtaining all of the requisite registrations, and to promoting safer and more patient-friendly approaches to HIV testing for their country."
Jack Chen, CEO and Chairman of Enfield, said, "We have been providing state of art medical products to Taiwan for 25 years, and Calypte's products will meet people's prevention needs here in Taiwan."
Statistics released in November 2002 by the Taiwanese Department of Health estimated a cumulative total of approximately 4,500 HIV cases -- a 16% increase over the previous year. Roughly three quarters of the new infections occurred in young people aged between 20 and 39 years. In response to the statistics, the Department of Health has targeted 2006 as the year in which Taiwan must achieve a zero growth rate in new infections.
About Calypte Biomedical:
Calypte Biomedical Corporation headquartered in Alameda, California, is a public healthcare company dedicated to the development and commercialization of urine-based diagnostic products and services for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), sexually transmitted diseases and other infectious diseases. Calypte's tests include the screening EIA and supplemental Western Blot tests, the only two FDA-approved HIV-1 antibody tests that can be used on urine samples. When compared with existing blood-based tests, our testing algorithms are non-invasive, easier to use, less expensive and have significantly less risk than blood-based testing, and they have 99.7% sensitivity in subjects previously identified as HIV-1 infected and 100% specificity in subjects at low risk when combined with the urine-based Western Blot supplemental test(a). The company believes that accurate, non-invasive urine-based testing methods for HIV and other infectious diseases may make important contributions to public health by helping to foster an environment in which testing may be done safely, economically, and painlessly. Calypte markets its products in countries worldwide through international distributors and strategic partners.
(a) "The performance of testing urine samples for HIV-1 antibodies is reduced in some populations in comparison to testing blood. Please refer to the product inserts for details."
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Such statements reflect management's current views, are based on certain assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results, events, or performance may differ materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors, and will be dependent upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain additional financing and access funds from our existing financing arrangements that will allow us to continue our current and future operations and whether demand for our product and testing service in domestic and international markets will continue to expand. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that may impact the Company's success are more fully disclosed in the Company's most recent public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and its subsequent filings with the SEC.
CONTACT: Calypte Biomedical Corporation Richard VanMaanen, 613/728-3130 dvanmaanen@calypte.com or Sitrick And Company Joe Bunning, 310/788-2850 (investor relations) joe_bunning@sitrick.com
SOURCE: Calypte Biomedical Corporation
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