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| ASX/MEDIA RELEASE |
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December
6,
2005
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AION
Diagnostics Develops Product Pipeline and Commences Preclinical
Trials
Perth,
Australia - December 6, 2005 - AION Diagnostics Ltd (AION) today announced
that
it has developed plans for 15 different potential products, as well as
commencing preclinical trials on products in the areas of Imaging and
BioSensors. The first of these products is expected to be marketed in 2008.
AION
has already started discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).
AION
has
also moved its primary place of incorporation to the U.S, the world’s largest
healthcare and financial market, while creating a new Australian subsidiary.
AION Diagnostics Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of global bio-nanotech
company, pSivida Limited (ASX:PSD,
NASDAQ:PSDV, Xetra:PSI) and
owns
the rights to commercialize diagnostics applications of pSivida’s intellectual
property for human and animal healthcare.
“AION
has
come a long way since being spun out of pSivida in September 2004,” said AION
Managing Director Dr Anna Kluczewska. “We’ve discovered, proved and patented the
use of BioSilicon™
in
medical imaging. We believe this technology represents a milestone in
preventative medicine, enabling improved diagnosis before disease impacts
the
body, rather than after.”
AION
is
focused on the development of products that facilitate accurate and immediate
diagnosis, at the early pre-symptomatic stage. Pre-symptomatic detection
is a
significant advance in the diagnostic sector and will also significantly
impact
the therapeutics sector as early correct diagnosis of disease will alter
the
course of disease and the resultant demand for therapeutics. AION has targeted
markets where there is a strong patient, provider and government need for
early
diagnosis that results in the opportunity to save lives and reduce the financial
burden on the healthcare system.
pSivida
shareholders will receive an entitlement and distribution of AION shares
in any
public listing.
-ENDS-
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pSivida
Limited
Brian
Leedman
Investor
Relations
AION
Diagnostics
Tel:
+ 61 8 9226 5099
brian.leedman@aiondiagnostics.com
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US
Public Relations
Beverly
Jedynak
President
Martin
E. Janis & Company, Inc
Tel:
+1 (312) 943 1100 ext. 12
bjedynak@janispr.com
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UK
& Europe Public Relations
Mark
Swallow / Helena Podd
Citigate
Dewe Rogerson
Tel:
+44 (0)20 7638 9571
mark.swallow@citigatedr.co.uk
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NOTES
TO EDITORS:
pSivida
is a global bio-nanotech 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™.
pSivida
owns the intellectual property pertaining to BioSilicon™ for use in or on humans
and animals. The IP portfolio consists of 29 patent families, 36 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.
pSivida
is a founding member of the NASDAQ Health Care Index and the Merrill Lynch
Nanotechnology Index.
The
Company's strategic partner and largest shareholder is QinetiQ, a leading
international defence, security and technology company, formed in July 2001
from
the UK Government's Defence Evaluation & Research Agency (DERA).
QinetiQ was instrumental in discovering BioSilicon(TM) and pSivida enjoys
a
strong relationship with it 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
and
www.aiondiagnostics.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 BioSiliconTM
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.