Initial PAHO Order is a Gateway to Latin American Market Opportunities
HALIFAX, April 2 /CNW/ - MedMira Inc., ("MedMira") (TSX Venture: MIR, NASDAQ: MMIRF), a global market leader in premium rapid diagnostic solutions, announced today that it is now an approved supplier to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and has received an initial purchase order for rapid HIV tests from the Ministry of Health in Belize. The PAHO, headquartered in Washington, D.C., with 35 member states, is an international public health agency working with Latin America and Caribbean countries on priority health issues such as HIV. It also serves as the regional office for the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Americas.
"This initial PAHO order for Belize is an important milestone in building MedMira's reputation as a quality supplier of rapid tests for Latin American and Caribbean countries and a gateway for future revenue opportunities in larger markets like Brazil and Venezuela," said Hermes Chan, President & CEO, MedMira Inc. "Being recognized as an approved supplier by the PAHO will facilitate further growth for us in the region with our Multiplo line of rapid tests and ease some of the challenges and complexities inherent in doing business in the Latin American market."
The MedMira rapid HIV tests purchased by the PAHO for the Ministry of Health in Belize will be used for testing at the point of care, as well as in the laboratory as part of an HIV/AIDS prevention program underway in the country.
Chan continued, "Many other organizations working in Latin America routinely refer to PAHO vendor lists for procurement of products outside of the PAHO programs and being an approved PAHO vendor is sometimes a requirement for other tender opportunities."
To learn more about the PAHO visit www.paho.org
About MedMira
MedMira is a leading developer and manufacturer of flow-through rapid diagnostics. The company's tests provide hospitals, labs, clinics and individuals around the world with reliable, rapid diagnosis for diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C in just three minutes. The company's tests are sold under the Reveal(R), MiraWell(R), MiraCare(TM) and Multiplo(TM) brands in global markets. MedMira's rapid HIV test is the only one in the world to achieve regulatory approvals in Canada, the United States, China and the European Union.
In January 2006, MedMira launched the Maple Biosciences division to develop and commercialize diagnostic instruments based on two revolutionary biosensor-based technology platforms. The solutions developed by Maple Biosciences will enable routine laboratory tests to be performed in a matter of minutes, increasing laboratory automation, streamlining the diagnosis of multiple conditions and diseases and positioning MedMira to be a leading participant in the emerging fields of personalized medicine and molecular diagnostics. For more information visit www.maplebio.com.
MedMira's corporate offices and manufacturing facilities are located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with a representative office in China. Maples Biosciences' labs are located in Toronto, Ontario. For more information visit MedMira's website at www.medmira.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risk and uncertainties and reflect the company's current expectation regarding future events. Actual events could materially differ from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to, changing market conditions, successful and timely completion of clinical studies, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, establishment of corporate alliances and other risks detailed from time to time in the company quarterly filings.
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