Chiron (NASDAQ:CHIR)
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Rocleix Testing Begins In England
EMERYVILLE, CA, December 10 /PRNewswire/ --
-- 850,000 units to be tested annually with Chiron Nucleic Acid Test--
EMERYVILLE, CA, December 10th, 2003-
Chiron Corporation (NASDAQ:CHIR) announced today that the National Blood
Service in England has begun Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) at its Brentwood site
with the company's Procleix(r) HIV-1/HCV Assay. The Assay is expected to test
about one third of the 2.6 million units of blood annually tested in England
"The start of Procleix testing in England underscores Chiron's commitment
to expand its expertise in blood safety to new geographies," said Jack
Goldstein, president, Chiron Blood Testing. "We are pleased to be able to
help the National Blood Service meet its needs and look forward to working
with the agency to help ensure the safety of the UK's blood supply."
"Assuring the security of the blood supply in England is our top priority
and, wherever possible we try to avoid being dependent on a single system or
supplier," said Richard Bedford, Assistant Director, National Blood Service.
"Modifying our NAT HCV screening system to include the Chiron Procleix System
to test one third of our donated blood, represents a significant step forward
for us."
The Procleix Assay was developed [MJW1] with Gen-Probe Incorporated to
detect the presence of all known HIV-1 groups and subtypes and all known
hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in human plasma during the very early
stages of infection, when those agents are present but cannot be detected by
immunodiagnostic tests. It has been shown that the introduction of NAT
testing can close the window period (the time from infection to detection) by
as much as 10 days for HIV-1 and by as much as 60 days for HCV.
Amplified nucleic acid testing (NAT) is a highly sensitive method of
detecting infectious organisms in donated blood, thereby improving the safety
of the world's blood supply. NAT is used worldwide and is mandated by many
European national health authorities to screen blood donations for HIV-1 and
HCV.
About Procleix
Procleix Assays and Systems incorporate state-of-the-art NAT technology
to detect viral RNA and DNA in donated blood and plasma during the very early
stages of infection, when these infectious agents are present but cannot be
detected by immunodiagnostic tests. The Procleix HIV-1/HCV Assay, developed
in collaboration with Gen-Probe, has been commercially available in Europe
since 1999 and also bears the CE Mark. The Procleix HIV-1/HCV Assay is
approved for use in the United States, Australia and major markets in Europe.
The Procleix Ultrio Assay, which detects HIV-1, HCV and HBV in a single test,
will be commercially available in Europe in early 2004. For more information
about Chiron Blood Testing visit, www.eBloodBank.com.
About Chiron Corporation
Chiron Corporation, headquartered in Emeryville, California, is a global
pharmaceutical company that leverages a diverse business model to develop and
commercialize high-value products that make a difference in people's lives.
The company has a strategic focus on cancer and infectious disease. Chiron
applies its advanced understanding of the biology of cancer and infectious
disease to develop products from its platforms in proteins, small molecules
and vaccines. The company commercializes its products through three business
units: biopharmaceuticals, vaccines and blood testing. For more information
about Chiron, visit the company's website at www.chiron.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding sales growth, product development initiatives and new
product marketing that involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to
change. A full discussion of the company's operations and financial
condition, including factors that may affect its business and future
prospects, is contained in documents the company has filed with the SEC,
including the form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, and the
form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2002, and will be contained in all
subsequent periodic filings made with the SEC. These documents identify
important factors that could cause the company's actual performance to differ
from current expectations, including the outcomes of clinical trials,
regulatory review and approvals, manufacturing capabilities, intellectual
property protections and defenses, stock-price and interest-rate volatility,
and marketing effectiveness. In particular, there can be no assurance that
Chiron will increase sales of existing products, successfully develop and
receive approval to market new products, or achieve market acceptance for
such new products. There can be no assurance that Chiron's out-licensing
activity will generate significant revenue, nor that its in-licensing
activities will fully protect it from claims of infringement by third
parties.
Consistent with SEC Regulation FD, we do not undertake an obligation to
update the forward-looking information we are giving today.
Note: Procleix and Ultrio are trademarks of Chiron Corporation.
DATASOURCE: Capital MS&L Ltd
Contacts:
Chiron Corporate Communications
& Investor Relations
Media: +1 510.923.6500
Investors: +1 510.923.2300
Mary Clark, Director, Manning, Selvage & Lee
EU Media: +44 (0) 20.7878.3245