ZymeTx and Physician Sales & Service/ WorldMedical, Inc.
Physician Sales and Service Adds ZstatFlu to Product Line
OKLAHOMA CITY--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 6, 2000-- The nation's leading national physician-office medical supply
distributor, Physician Sales & Service Inc. (PSS), a division of PSS WorldMedical, Inc., has entered into an agreement with
ZymeTx (NASDAQ: ZMTX - news) to market the Company's ZstatFlu(TM) rapid influenza point-of-care diagnostic test in
the United States.
``This agreement assures ZymeTx an active sales presence in the marketplace during the critical months of January through
April, when the flu is most prevalent,' commented Norman Proulx, President and CEO of ZymeTx. ``We believe that PSS'
extensive front-line sales force can quickly and efficiently expand the awareness of ZstatFlu and its effectiveness within the
physician community.'
PSS distributes medical products and supplies to 105,000 medical office sites in all 50 states and in Europe through a sales
team comprised of more than 750 sales professionals. PSS carries over 56,000 different products from over 1,000 major
medical product manufacturers.
``PSS has well-established relationships with several hundred thousand physicians and medical professionals throughout the
United States,' continued Proulx. ``The agreement with PSS puts into place a trained force of more than 750 sales
professionals with representation in key market segments where ZstatFlu has strong appeal. The immediate and direct access
to thousands of medical clinics, laboratories and doctors as the winter flu season is getting underway should allow us to
significantly leverage the sales potential of our flu diagnostic.'
ZstatFlu is a 20-minute test able to detect both Influenza A and B with 99 percent specificity. Using a simple and quick throat
swab, the test requires less than a minute of actual hands-on time to administer.
``We are pleased to add the leading flu diagnostic test to the products we distribute in the medical community,' commented
Douglas J. Harper, Senior Vice President and Chief Sales/Marketing Officer. ``The physician market is ready for a flu
diagnostic with the unique technology of ZstatFlu, and the introduction of new influenza therapeutics this year has made
accurate flu diagnosis pivotal to prescribing the appropriate treatment. ZstatFlu is the ideal companion product to any of the
new flu therapeutics.'
About the Companies
ZymeTx, Inc. is an emerging biotechnology company engaged in the development of unique products for the diagnosis and
treatment of viral diseases, viral management and disease surveillance. The Company developed ZstatFlu and National Flu
Surveillance Network(TM) (NFSN), a network of surveillance sites located across the country with physicians using
ZstatFlu to track influenza in their communities and practices (see www.fluwatch.com). NFSN, with more than 800 sites
nationwide, is able to detect regional influenza outbreaks so physicians could alert their patients to the danger and prescribe
antiviral medications to ease the impact of the disease. ZstatFlu and National Flu Surveillance Network are trademarks of
ZymeTx, Inc.
PSS/WorldMedical, Inc. is a specialty marketer and distributor of medical products to physicians, alternate-site imaging
centers, long-term care providers and hospitals through 110 service centers to customers in all 50 states and five European
countries. Since its inception in 1983, PSS has become a leader in all three market segments it services with a focused
market-specific approach to customer services, a consultative sales force, strategic acquisitions, strong arrangements with
product manufacturers and a unique culture of performance. Additional information on PSS/WorldMedical, Inc. can be
obtained by accessing its homepage at pssd.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements and information that are subject to certain risks, trends and
uncertainties covered in more detail in the Companies' statements and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. These risks, trends and uncertainties include business and economic conditions, conditions affecting the health
care industry including continued challenges in customer reimbursement, the ultimate outcome of the Companies' SEC
reviews which may be different from the Companies' expectations, competitive forces, the loss or adverse financial
condition of large customers and the ability to integrate acquired operations successfully, that could cause results to differ
materially from those projected.
Contact:
ZymeTx, Inc.
Norman R. Proulx, CEO or
G. Carl Gibson, CFO, 405/271-1314
www.zymetx.com
or
The Gooden Group
Jane Braden, 405/715-3232 |
