AVANT Appoints Lohmann as Exclusive Distributor of its Poultry Vaccines
NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 3, 2002--AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVAN - News) announced today that it has appointed Lohmann Animal Health International (LAHI) as the exclusive distributor of its Megan Health poultry vaccines in North America. Financial terms of the distribution agreement with LAHI were not disclosed.
LAHI, a private company, is a leader in the poultry industry in North America, with an extensive product line of vaccines and related products, a well-established sales and marketing team, and a dedicated customer and technical support group. LAHI is committed to building a powerful force in the avian health industry through its operating companies, Maine Biological and Vineland Laboratories.
"We, with our partner LAHI, look forward to continued service to the poultry industry with our currently marketed Salmonella vaccine, Megan®Vac 1 and our new upcoming products, Megan®Egg for laying hens and Antipath(TM), an E. coli vaccine for young chickens," said Avery W. Catlin, Chief Financial Officer of AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. "We believe this arrangement with LAHI enhances AVANT's ability to better serve our customers in the field of animal health, while maintaining our own internal focus on the development of human vaccines for disease prevention and treatment."
AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. is engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of products that harness the human immune system to prevent and treat disease. The company is developing a broad portfolio of vaccines against viral and bacterial diseases, including single-dose oral vaccines aimed at protecting travelers from cholera, typhoid fever and other illnesses. In addition, the company is conducting clinical studies of a proprietary vaccine candidate for cholesterol management. AVANT further leverages the value of its technology portfolio through corporate partnerships. Current collaborations encompass the development of an oral human rotavirus vaccine, vaccines to combat threats of biological warfare, and vaccines addressed to human food safety and animal health.
Additional information on AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. can be obtained through our site on the World Wide Web: avantimmune.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking statements which reflect AVANT's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Investors should not rely on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the ability to successfully complete development and commercialization of products, including the cost, timing, scope and results of preclinical and clinical testing; (2) the ability to successfully complete product research and further development, including animal, pre-clinical and clinical studies, and the adaptation of our attenuated vaccine technology to different infectious diseases; (3) the ability of the company to manage multiple late stage clinical trials for a variety of product candidates; (4) the volume and profitability of product sales of Megan®Vac 1 and other future products; (5) changes in existing and potential relationships with corporate collaborators; (6) the cost, delivery and quality of clinical and commercial grade materials supplied by contract manufacturers (7) the timing, cost and uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals; (8) the ability to obtain substantial additional funding; (9) the ability to develop and commercialize products before competitors; (10) the integration of Megan Health's business and programs; (11) the ability to retain certain members of management; and (12) other factors detailed from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Contact:
AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.
Una S. Ryan, Ph.D., 781/433-0771
or
Avery W. Catlin, 781/433-0771
info@avantimmune.com
or
For Media:
Kureczka/Martin Associates
Joan Kureczka, 415/821-2413
jkureczka@aol.com |
