MedMira Increases Global Sales Force to Capitalize on Product Approvals
June 29 2006 - 8:29AM
PR Newswire (US)
Opportunities in Europe, China, and Developing Nations Being
Pursued HALIFAX, June 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedMira Inc.,
("MedMira") (TSX Venture: MIR, NASDAQ: MMIRF) a global market
leader in premium rapid diagnostic solutions, announced today that
it has expanded its global sales team in order to capitalize on
market penetration opportunities from recently completed key
regulatory approvals. The expansion includes two new regional
account managers dedicated to the Europe/Middle East and Latin
America markets. Jaime Carreno and Pierre Sevigny together bring
over 25 years of experience selling medical and technical products
in these markets to the MedMira team. "We are very pleased to have
these individuals on board and dedicated to leveraging sales
opportunities in these important regions," said Hermes Chan,
President & COO, MedMira Inc. "Ramping up our sales
capabilities will enable us to better meet the needs of
distributors and customers in critical global markets, like Latin
America and Europe." After receiving CE Mark in early 2006 for its
MiraCare(TM) Rapid HIV Antibody Test (MiraCare HIV), MedMira
strategically selected countries in which to register with the
Competent Authority, governing bodies within each member country
regulating the sale of medical devices. MedMira's Regulatory Team
has completed 13 registrations, the final step in the regulatory
process, and will continue to pursue registrations in strategic
country markets where sales opportunities exist. In Asia, MedMira
has engaged MediServe Inc., a leading consulting group to head-up
the company's sales and marketing activities in that region.
MediServe is a partnership of project managers, medical doctors and
healthcare practitioners, each with over 10 years of marketing and
healthcare experience in Asia. The partners have a strong track
record of serving international players such as Merck and their
strengths include sales and distribution channel management and
outsourcing business projects. MediServe was on-site at MedMira
corporate headquarters in Halifax early this month to receive
in-depth product training and finalize plans to launch MedMira's
recently approved whole blood rapid HIV test in China. In April
2006, MedMira received a fast- tracked approval for the first and
only whole blood rapid HIV test available in China. This approval
enables MediServe to quickly capitalize on a key competitive
advantage for MedMira in the China market. "With this latest whole
blood approval and our new on-the-ground sales and marketing team
in place, the timing is right to create a unique niche market for
MedMira in China," said Chan. "We will also turn our attention to
increasing MedMira's presence in developing nations, becoming part
of their large scale testing programs." Richard Van Maanen, a
biotechnology consultant and a former sales and marketing executive
with another leading diagnostics manufacturer has been engaged by
MedMira. Mr. Van Maanen will focus on increasing MedMira's profile
with the international agencies and non-government organizations
(NGOs) that provide testing solutions and programs to Africa and
other developing nations. He will also identify qualified
distributors and initiate local product registrations for MedMira
in the Sub-Saharan region. MedMira's new sales & marketing team
members will be travelling to various countries in their respective
territories in the coming months, seeking new distributors in
untapped markets, managing distributor relationships and
capitalizing on sales opportunities for MedMira products.
Additionally, MedMira will be taking part in the American
Association for Clinical Chemistry's Clinical Lab Expo, July 25-27
in Chicago and the XVI International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2006) in
Toronto, August 13-18. AIDS 2006 is a biennial conference that
draws members of the international scientific, political, and
business communities together to discuss and develop strategies to
fight HIV/AIDS. On the regulatory front, MedMira continues
preparations to enter the US market with an over-the-counter (OTC)
rapid HIV test. MedMira has submitted a proposed solution to the
FDA and is ready to begin the market entry and regulatory process
once the proposal is reviewed. MedMira's proposed US OTC solution
is built on the company's solid experience in the Hong Kong OTC
market, where it successfully launched its MiraCare HIV test in
2005. About MedMira MedMira is the leading global manufacturer and
marketer of in vitro flow- through rapid diagnostic tests.
MedMira's tests provide reliable, rapid diagnosis in just 3 minutes
for the detection of human antibodies in human serum, plasma or
whole blood for diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C. The United
States FDA, the SFDA in the People's Republic of China and European
Union have approved MedMira's Reveal(R) G2, MiraWell(R) and
MiraCare(TM) rapid HIV tests, respectively. MedMira's Reveal(R) G2
and MiraWell(R) rapid HIV tests are currently used in clinical
laboratories, hospitals, and clinics where professional counselling
and patient treatment are immediately available. MiraCare(TM) is
sold through MedMira's distributor network to pharmacies, hospitals
and laboratories in the European Union. It is also available over-
the-counter (OTC) in pharmacies throughout Hong Kong and Macao
Special Administrative Regions, in the People's Republic of China.
MedMira delivers rapid diagnostic solutions to healthcare
communities around the globe. Its corporate offices and
manufacturing facilities are located in Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada with a representative office and joint venture manufacturing
facility in Guilin, China. 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. The
TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this statement. For
more information visit MedMira's website at
http://www.medmira.com/. DATASOURCE: MedMira Inc. CONTACT: Dr.
James Smith, Investor Relations, Tel: (902) 450-1588, E-mail: ;
Andrea Young, Corporate Communications, Tel. (902) 450-1588, Email:
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