(TRINITY-BIOTECH)(TRIBY) Trinity Biotech plc Launches
Uni-Gold(TM) HIV With Smithkline Beecham
DUBLIN, Ireland--(BW HealthWire)--January 20, 1998--TRINITY
BIOTECH plc (Nasdaq: TRIBY) today announced that it has signed an
agreement with SmithKline Beecham International (SB) to launch in
Africa its rapid Uni-Gold test for HIV. SB had previously test
marketed the company's 7-step SeroCard test in Nigeria, and was
awaiting the one step Uni-Gold test for an extended African launch.
Under the terms of the agreement, SB will sell the products under
license from Trinity Biotech and will market them under the SB label.
As part of the agreement, Trinity Biotech has supplied SB with an
initial shipment to South Africa and arrangements for additional
shipments to other countries are being finalized. Currently, there
are 20 million cases of HIV infection in Africa, growing at a rate of
10% per annum.
A major breakthrough, the Uni-Gold HIV is a 5-minute test, that
can be performed without the need for instruments or highly-trained
staff, using blood from a finger prick. It is ideal for screening
tests in small hospital facilities that cannot afford, or maintain
instruments needed for existing HIV tests on the market.
Commenting on the agreement, Ronan O'Caoimh, Chief Executive
Officer of Trinity Biotech plc, stated, "We are very pleased that
SmithKline Beecham has chosen Trinity Biotech as its partner in
Africa. This agreement allows us to significantly broaden our
customer base in rapidly growing international markets and provides
us with an immediate opportunity to increase the sale of our
products. We believe this agreement validates Trinity's Uni-Gold
technology and affirms the need for rapid diagnostics in the
worldwide marketplace. We look forward to providing the African
medical community with additional cost-effective and time efficient
products and will continually strive to extend our line of Uni-Gold
tests to reach other markets worldwide."
Mr. Malcolm Allison, Director of International Marketing at SB,
commented, "Trinity Biotech's Uni-Gold HIV product was chosen for its
unique ability to provide accurate test results in a limited amount
of time, without the need of a trained professional. We anticipate
additional orders for the company's product, and look forward to an
ongoing relationship with Trinity Biotech to service the needs of our
growing client base in international markets for diagnostic
products."
SMITHKLINE BEECHAM, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical
companies, discovers, develops, manufactures and markets
pharmaceuticals, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, and health-
related consumer products, and provides healthcare services including
clinical laboratory testing, disease management, and pharmaceutical
benefit management. For company information, visit SmithKline
Beecham on the World Wide Web at sb.com.
TRINITY BIOTECH develops, manufactures and markets over 85
diagnostic tests which address all three segments of the diagnostic
market: 1) rapid tests for the emerging point-of-care (POC) market;
2) simplified tests for the over-the-counter (OTC) market and 3) test
kits for the clinical laboratory or traditional market. The
Company's tests are sold around the world in over 85 countries. For
additional information visit the company's web site at
trinitybiotech.com.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. The statements which are not historical facts
contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, the results of
research and development efforts, the effect of regulation by the
United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies,
the impact of competitive products, product development,
commercialization and technological difficulties, and other risks
detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
--30--emb/ny*
CONTACT: Jonathan O'Connell
Chief Financial Officer
joconnell@trinitybiotech.ie
800/603-8076
or
Investor Relations
Bruce Voss/bruce@lhai.com
310/575-4848
Olga Fleming/olga@lhai.com
212/838-3777
Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates,Inc.
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