Sinovac Receives Certificate of Approval to Distribute PANFLU.1 (H1N1) in Mexico
October 22 2009 - 8:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
First China-Developed Vaccine Approved for Human Use in Mexico
BEIJING, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (NYSE
Amex: SVA), a leading developer and provider of vaccines in China,
today announced that it has received a Certificate of Approval from
the Secretaria de Salud to distribute PANFLU.1, its H1N1 pandemic
influenza (swine flu) vaccine, in Mexico. The certificate is valid
through October 13, 2014. Laboratorios Imperiales S.A. de C.V., a
biopharmaceutical company with operations in Mexico since 1935, is
the exclusive distributor of Sinovac's vaccine products in the
Mexican market, pursuant to a prior distribution agreement signed
in 2005 with its affiliate. The application for Anflu was filed in
Mexico as well. PANFLU.1 is the first China-developed vaccine
approved for human use in Mexico and the first H1N1 vaccine to be
registered in Mexico. Sinovac will need to obtain permission from
the Chinese government prior to exporting its H1N1 vaccine to
Mexico. Sinovac is in the process of fulfilling existing orders for
a total of 6.3 million doses of PANFLU.1 for the Chinese central
government. As previously announced, Sinovac expects to complete
the delivery of 4.5 million doses to the Chinese central government
by the end of October. Mr. Weidong Yin, Chairman, President and CEO
of Sinovac, commented, "Receiving the certificate of approval to
distribute PANFLU.1 in Mexico is a significant milestone for
Sinovac. Importantly, this approval is a continuation of our
corporate strategy to register and distribute our vaccines in
international markets through strategic collaborations. We
appreciate the ongoing efforts of our distribution partner,
Laboratorios Imperiales, who has worked closely with the Mexican
authorities to obtain this certificate of approval. We will
continue to collaborate closely with authorities in China and
Mexico in order to facilitate the distribution of PANFLU.1, and
potentially other vaccines in our portfolio, in this important
market." To date, there have been 45,809 confirmed cases of H1N1
pandemic influenza in Mexico, of which 271 have died. About Sinovac
Sinovac Biotech Ltd. is a China-based biopharmaceutical company
that focuses on the research, development, manufacture and
commercialization of vaccines that protect against human infectious
diseases. Sinovac's vaccine products include Healive(R) (hepatitis
A), Bilive(R) (combined hepatitis A and B), and Anflu(R)
(influenza). Panflu(TM), Sinovac's pandemic influenza vaccine
(H5N1), has already been approved for government stockpiling.
Sinovac is developing vaccines for enterovirus 71, universal
pandemic influenza, Japanese encephalitis, and human rabies. Its
wholly owned subsidiary, Tangshan Yian, is conducting field trials
for independently developed inactivated animal rabies vaccines.
Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking
statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor"
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words
or phrases such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future,"
"intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements.
Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from
management in this press release contain forward-looking
statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including
statements about Sinovac's beliefs and expectations, are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve
inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in any forward-looking statement. Sinovac does not
undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement,
except as required under applicable law. For more information,
please contact: Helen G. Yang Sinovac Biotech Ltd. Tel:
+86-10-8289-0088 x9871 Fax: +86-10-6296-6910 Email: Investors: Amy
Glynn/Stephanie Carrington The Ruth Group Tel: +1-646-536-7023/7017
Email: Media Janine McCargo The Ruth Group Tel: +1-646-536-7033
Email: DATASOURCE: Sinovac Biotech Ltd. CONTACT: Helen G. Yang,
Sinovac Biotech Ltd., +86-10-8289-0088 x9871, +86-10-6296-6910
(fax), ; Investors: Amy Glynn/Stephanie Carrington, The Ruth Group,
+1-646-536-7023/7017, or ; Media: Janine McCargo, The Ruth Group,
+1-646-536-7033,
Copyright