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MedMira Granted Hepatitis C Patent in Europe
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Patent Further Protects MedMira's Diagnostic Technology
Halifax, Nova Scotia, January 3, 2006 - MedMira Inc., (" MedMira" ) (TSX Venture: MIR, NASDAQ: MMIRF) the global market leader in premium rapid diagnostic solutions, announced today that it has been granted a patent for the HCV Mosaic Antigen by the European Patent Office. This is the company's first major patent on its rapid diagnostic technology in Europe, and paves the way for the world's first combination HIV and Hepatitis C instant rapid test.
Hepatitis C (HCV) impacts over 170 million people worldwide according to the World Health Organization, which also indicates over 40% of individuals with HIV are coinfected with HCV. A combination rapid HIV/HCV test can play a critical role in patient outcomes.
Patent # EP 1328 811 B1 will ensure that MedMira's rapid HCV diagnostic technology is protected as it is brought to market in Europe. The patented technology is a key component in MedMira's rapid HCV tests and HIV/HCV combination tests slated for market entry in 2007.
" We are very pleased to receive this patent for our groundbreaking technology," said Hermes Chan, president and COO of MedMira, and principal inventor of the HCV Mosaic Antigen. " Considerable R&D efforts were dedicated to developing this technology in the past years. Protecting this valuable diagnostic solution through the patent process was an important step in bringing the complete line of rapid HCV diagnostic products to the European market."
The HCV Mosaic Antigen is a highly immunoreactive mosaic antigen composition
containing a plurality of different antigenic peptides encoded from the core region of the HCV genome. The granted patent also describes a test kit utilizing the antigen, and a method for its use for the purpose of detecting antibodies to HCV in a test sample.
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 and the SFDA in the People's Republic of China have approved MedMira's RevealG2 and MiraWell rapid HIV tests, respectively.
MedMira's Reveal G2 and MiraWell rapid HIV tests are currently used in clinical laboratories, hospitals, and clinics where professional counselling and patient treatment are immediately available.
The MiraCareRapid HIV Antibody Test, MedMira's over-the-counter (OTC) product, is available 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 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 www.medmira.com.
Contacts:
Dr. James Smith
Andrea Young
Investor Relations/Corporate Communications
Tel: 902-450-1588
Tel. 902-450-1588
E-mail: ir@medmira.com
Email: ayoung@medmira.com
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