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| ASX/MEDIA
RELEASE |
12th
April 2005 |
Top
5 Global Pharmaceutical Company:
Significant Progress in
BioSiliconTM
Drug
Delivery Evaluation
Global
nanotechnology company pSivida Limited (ASX:PSD,
NASDAQ:PSDV, Xetra:PSI) is
pleased to announce that its evaluation of selected compounds from an
undisclosed top five global pharmaceutical company has progressed successfully.
The collaboration agreement was signed at the end of December 2004, and covers a
staged evaluation of the pharmaceutical company’s proprietary compounds in
pSivida’s porous silicon, controlled release platform (BioSiliconTM). The
initial stage of the planned 12-month programme has concluded meeting the agreed
technical success criteria, and in turn triggering the next payment to pSivida
under the terms of the agreement. More advanced assessment of the first compound
will continue, whilst a second compound will enter the planned technical
evaluation.
pSivida’s
Managing Director, Mr Gavin Rezos said, “We are delighted with the rapid
progress which has been made in meeting this first milestone in the programme.
The work has been conducted in the laboratories of our UK operating subsidiary,
pSiMedica Ltd, and supports the efficiency and expertise of our scientists.
Importantly, the data also provides further validation of our technology
platform in leveraging the drug delivery of proprietary therapeutics.”
-ENDS-
Released
by:
|
In
Australia: |
In
US: |
|
Josh
Mann, CFA |
Beverly
Jedynak |
|
Investor
Relations |
President |
|
pSivida
Limited |
Martin
E. Janis & Company, Inc. |
|
Tel:
+ 61 8 9226 5099 |
Tel:
312-943-1100 ext. 12 |
|
joshuamann@psivida.com |
bjedynak@janispr.com |
NOTES
TO EDITORS:
pSivida
Limited
pSivida
is a global nanotechnology company committed to the biomedical sector and the
development of products in healthcare. The company’s focus is the development
and commercialisation of a modified form of silicon (porosified or
nano-structured silicon) known as BioSilicon™. As a new and exciting
biocompatible material, BioSilicon™ offers multiple potential applications
across the high growth healthcare sector, including controlled release drug
delivery, targeted cancer therapies (including brachytherapy and localized
chemotherapy), tissue engineering and orthopedics. Potential diagnostics
applications are being developed through its subsidiary AION Diagnostics
Limited.
pSivida
owns the intellectual property rights to BioSilicon™ for use in or on humans and
animals. The IP portfolio consists of 24 patent families, 26 granted patents and
over 80 patent applications. The core patent, which recognises BioSilicon™ as a
biomaterial was granted in the UK in 2000 and in the US in 2001.
pSivida
is listed on NASDAQ (PSDV), the
Australian Stock Exchange (PSD) and in
Germany on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on the XETRA system (German Symbol:
PSI. Securities Code (WKN) 358705).
pSivida’s shares also trade in the United Kingdom on the OFEX International
Market Service (IMS) under the ticker symbol PSD.
The
Company’s strategic partner and largest shareholder is the QinetiQ group, the
largest science and technology company in Europe. QinetiQ is the former UK
government Defence Evaluation Research Agency and was instrumental in
discovering BioSilicon™. pSivida enjoys a strong relationship with QinetiQ
having access to its cutting edge research and development facilities. For more
information on QinetiQ visit www.qinetiq.com.
For more
information visit www.psivida.com
This
document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time, we can give no assurance
that such expectations will prove to be correct. Given these uncertainties,
readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in
these forward-looking statements due to many important factors including: our
failure to develop applications for BioSilicon(TM) due to
regulatory, scientific or other issues. Other reasons are contained in
cautionary statements in the Registration Statement on Form 20-F filed with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, under
Item 3.D, "Risk Factors" therein. We do not undertake to update any oral or
written forward-looking statements that may be made by or on behalf of
pSivida.