Listed TSX, Symbol: CNJ
TORONTO & WINNIPEG, Canada, April 10 /CNW/ - Cangene Corporation today
announces that Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec have signed five-year
agreements to purchase three of Cangene's products. There is an option for
two, one-year extensions on the agreements. Under these agreements, Cangene
will continue to supply WinRho(R) SDF (Rho D Immune Globulin (human) for
Injection) and VariZIG(TM) (Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin (Human)) and will
now supply HepaGam B(TM) (Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human) Injection) for
preventing recurrence of hepatitis B virus infection following liver
transplantation.
"We are pleased to continue our partnership with Canadian Blood Services
and Héma-Québec in supplying these products to Canadians," said Dr. John
Langstaff. "We have been a long-time supplier of WinRho(R) and as our approved
product portfolio has grown, so has our relationship with these two
organizations."
About Cangene's immune globulins
Immune globulins are proteins that function as antibodies.
Therapeutically, immune globulins are used to provide a specific immune
function when there is a medical need. WinRho(R) SDF is an antibody
preparation specific for a certain type of red blood cell and is indicated for
preventing hemolytic disease of the newborn and treating immune
thrombocytopenic purpura ("ITP"; a type of blood clotting disorder).
VariZIG(TM) is an antibody preparation specific for the virus that causes
chickenpox (Varicella zoster) and is indicated for preventing or reducing the
severity of maternal infections with the virus in pregnant women. HepaGam
B(TM) is an antibody preparation specific for hepatitis B virus and is
indicated in Canada with conditions for preventing recurrence of hepatitis B
virus infection following liver transplantation in hepatitis-B-positive
recipients; it is the only hepatitis B immune globulin licensed for this
indication in Canada.
About Cangene Corporation
Cangene is one of Canada's largest and earliest biopharmaceutical
companies. It was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Cangene has approximately 650 employees in eight locations across North
America. It operates three large manufacturing facilities-two in Winnipeg,
Manitoba and one in Baltimore, Maryland-where it produces its own products and
undertakes contract manufacturing for a number of companies. Cangene operates
three U.S. and one Canadian plasma-collection facilities. In addition, it has
a regulatory affairs, sales and investor relations office in Toronto, Ontario.
The Company uses patented manufacturing processes to produce
plasma-derived and recombinant therapeutic proteins. Cangene has five FDA
and/or Health Canada-approved products. In addition, the Company has several
more products in development at various stages. Three of Cangene's products
have been accepted into the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile--botulism
antitoxin, anthrax immune globulin and vaccinia immune globulin, a product
used to counteract certain complications arising from smallpox vaccination.
Capitalizing on its drug manufacturing expertise, Cangene also operates a
significant contract research and manufacturing business using its Winnipeg
facilities and the resources of Baltimore, Maryland-based Chesapeake
Biological Laboratories, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary). An expansion in
2006 at the Winnipeg location increased the Company's capacity to fractionate
plasma to accommodate the growing manufacturing requirements. Cangene's
website, www.cangene.com, includes product and investor information, including
past news releases. Chesapeake's website is www.cblinc.com.
Forward-looking information
The reader should be aware that Cangene's businesses are subject to risks
and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified; consequently, actual
results may differ materially from past results and those expressed or implied
by any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to
such risks or uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the regulatory
environment including the difficulty of predicting regulatory outcomes;
changes in the value of the Canadian dollar; the Company's reliance on a small
number of customers including government organizations; the demand for new
products and the impact of competitive products, service and pricing;
availability and cost of raw materials, especially the cost, availability and
antibody concentration in plasma; fluctuations in operating results;
government policies or actions; progress and cost of clinical trials; reliance
on key strategic relationships; costs and possible development delays
resulting from use of legal, regulatory or legislative strategies by the
Company's competitors; uncertainty related to intellectual property protection
and potential cost associated with its defence; the Company's exposure to
lawsuits, and other matters beyond control of management.
Risks and uncertainties are discussed more extensively in the MD&A
section of the Company's most recent annual report and annual information
form, which are available on the Company's website or on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com. Scientific information that relates to unapproved products or
unapproved uses of products is preliminary and investigative. No conclusions
can or should be drawn regarding the safety or efficacy of such products.
Only regulatory authorities can determine whether products are safe and
effective for the uses being investigated. Healthcare professionals are
directed to refer to approved labeling for products and not rely on
information presented in news releases. Drug names and prescribing information
may differ in various countries.
The cautionary statements referred to above should be considered in
connection with all written or oral statements, especially forward-looking
statements, that are made by the Company or by persons acting on its behalf
and in conjunction with its periodic filings with Securities Commissions,
including those contained in the Company's news releases and most recently
filed annual information form. Forward-looking statements can be identified by
the use of words such as "expects", "plans", "will", "believes", "estimates",
"intends", "may", "bodes" and other words of similar meaning (including
negative and grammatical variations). Should known or unknown risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should management's assumptions prove
inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated. The
Company undertakes no obligation to publicly make or update any
forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.
%SEDAR: 00002351EF
For further information: John McMillan, Vice President, Commercial
Development at (204) 275-4310 or by email at jmcmillan@cangene.com
