Calypte Announces Distribution Agreements in Eight African Countries Regulatory Trials to Begin in Three Additional African Countries PLEASANTON, Calif., July 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Calypte Biomedical Corporation (Amex: HIV) today announced that it has executed distribution agreements with two distributors for the marketing and sale of its Aware(TM) rapid HIV antibody tests in eight countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the terms of these agreements, Lily-Max (Pty) Ltd. based in Kampala, Uganda will retain exclusive distribution rights in the Republic of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo; Bioweb (Pty) Ltd. will retain exclusive distribution rights in Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Chad.
Calypte previously announced that it received a positive recommendation that the Uganda National Drug Authority grant approval for the importation of the Aware(TM) rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Tests. Subsequent to this recommendation, Calypte received its first purchase order from Lily-Max Ltd., its Ugandan distributor, and will complete shipment of this order out of its Thailand manufacturing facility.
Dr. J. Richard George, President and CEO of Calypte said, "We're making great progress in moving our strategy forward in the African continent by building what we believe to be a solid foundation that leverages the strengths and resources of these well-abled distributors. We have expanded our representation from two sub-Saharan countries to ten in total, and we will be aggressively pursuing sales as the regulatory process is completed in the appropriate territories. We expect to complete regulatory trials in at least four countries during the second half of this year."
Mr. George M. Kabiri, Director of Lily-Max said, "I am confident that the collaboration between Lily-Max and Calypte Biomedical will yield a very successful venture for the benefit of both companies, and the territory we represent. We are very excited that, with the initial order made for the products, Lily-Max will be able to stock and supply the entire range of Calypte tests to our respective territories."
Liam Kelly and Kevin Ward, co-Directors of Bioweb, stated "We are most excited to be part of Calypte's roll-out campaign in Africa, and look forward to partnering with them in our territories. These are countries in which we have worked closely with our own distributors in building up a successful sales track record. We firmly believe we can now build on these relationships to pursue sales of Calypte products."
Additionally, regulatory trials have been initiated in Zimbabwe for Aware(TM) BSP, a rapid test for HIV antibodies using whole blood, serum, and plasma samples. Calypte has also signed clinical agreements to begin trials for all three Aware(TM) rapid tests in Kenya and Cameroon. These regulatory trials are scheduled to begin this month, and Calypte will be working closely with both Lily-Max and Bioweb to develop a regulatory strategy for the other six countries in their territories.
Calypte has developed three twenty-minute rapid tests for the detection of antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses - the viruses that cause AIDS. Each of the three tests is designed for use on a different sample type: Aware(TM) BSP uses whole blood, serum or plasma samples; Aware(TM) OMT uses oral fluid samples, and Aware(TM) U uses urine samples.
About Calypte Biomedical:
Calypte Biomedical Corporation is a US-based healthcare company focused on the development and commercialization of diagnostic testing products for the detection of sexually transmitted diseases. Calypte specializes in novel tests such as the HIV-1 BED Incidence EIA and is engaged in developing and commercializing new diagnostic test products for the rapid detection of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, several of which do not require blood samples. Calypte believes that there is a significant need for rapid detection of such diseases globally to control their proliferation, particularly in lesser-developed countries, which lack the medical infrastructure to support laboratory-based testing. Calypte believes that testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infectious diseases may make important contributions to public health, and could increase the likelihood of treating those with undetected HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Such statements reflect management's current views, are based on certain assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results, events, or performance may differ materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors, and will be dependent upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the Company's ability to obtain additional financing, if and as needed, and access funds from its existing financing arrangements that will allow it to continue its current and future operations and whether demand for its test products in domestic and international markets will generate sufficient revenues to achieve positive cash flow and profitability. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that may impact the Company's success are more fully disclosed in the Company's most recent public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its annual report on Form 10-KSB/A (No. 2) for the year ended December 31, 2004 and its subsequent filings with the SEC.
Contact: Company, Richard George, President and CEO of Calypte Biomedical Corporation, +1-925-730-7200 or email, rgeorge@calypte.com or Investor Relations, Tim Clemensen of Rubenstein Investor Relations, +1-212-843-9337 or email, tclemensen@rubensteinir.com
SOURCE Calypte Biomedical -0- 07/05/2005 /Contact: Company, Richard George, President and CEO of Calypte Biomedical Corporation, +1-925-730-7200 or email, rgeorge@calypte.com, or Investor Relations, Tim Clemensen of Rubenstein Investor Relations, +1-212-843-9337 or email, tclemensen@rubensteinir.com/ /Web site: http://www.calypte.com/ (HIV)
CO: Calypte Biomedical Corporation; Lily-Max (Pty) Ltd.; Bioweb (Pty) Ltd. ST: California, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo IN: HEA MTC SU: CON
NM-JS -- CLTU501 -- 9423 07/05/2005 10:11 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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