NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- 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(R)(see Note) and Rebetol(R)(see Note) in the United States; under the brand name Virazol(R)(see Note) in the United States and Canada; and as Tribavirin in other parts of the world. It is 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 frontline viral defense," said Mr. Yiqing Wan, President of the Amersin subsidiary. "This increased demand for Ribavirin seems to be a result, in part, of concerns 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 28, 2004 and January 21, 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 from 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 the 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.
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