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Microbix Receives Approval To Market Thrombolytic Agent Kinlytic(TM) (urokinase) In Canada

^{Published on 2009-11-10 05:18:06 - Market Wire}
 

Approval allows Microbix, the only worldwide source of low-molecular-weight urokinase, to export its clot-busting therapy globally

TORONTO, Nov. 10 /CNW/ - Microbix Biosystems Inc. (MBX:TSX) today announced that KINLYTIC (urokinase for injection) has been approved in Canada for marketing and export. Health Canada's issuance of a Drug Identification Number for KINLYTIC gives Microbix the opportunity to market the product in Canada and export the clot-busting therapy to markets worldwide.

Urokinase, which Microbix has re-branded as KINLYTIC, has been administered to over four million patients and generated peak annual worldwide sales of more than $300 million, prior to Abbott Laboratories discontinuing sales in 1999 due to manufacturing issues. In 2008, Microbix completed the acquisition of all urokinase assets from ImaRx Therapeutics, Inc., making Microbix the only worldwide source of low-molecular-weight urokinase.

According to IMS data, the total Canadian clot-busting market exceeds $26 million for the last twelve months and has grown 20% on a year-over-year basis. Significant underserved markets also exist for urokinase in a large number of countries and Microbix expects to rapidly submit regulatory filings for approval in those countries.

Microbix will submit an application to Health Canada for approval of its acquired urokinase inventory and targets its release for mid-year 2010. The inventory will supply market needs for nearly three years and generate revenue of about $30 million. Microbix plans to use this revenue to scale up KINLYTIC manufacturing at its Skyway production facility in time to re-supply its inventory with capacity to produce $70 million worth of product annually.

Mark A. Cochran, Microbix Chief Business Officer said, "Microbix is pleased to bring back to the medical community an effective and safe therapy with life-saving benefits. We now have the potential to expand the drug's indications into larger markets such as catheter clearance, oncology and ophthalmology and to use the existing product sales to accelerate urokinase production at our facility in Toronto."

Approval in Canada also allows the company to provide KINLYTIC for use in clinical trials in Canada and other countries. To this end, Microbix has been in discussions with several companies to license its product for studies in new indications such as urology, oncology and ophthalmology. In earlier studies, the therapy has shown promise for treating colon, prostate and other solid tumors. The company sees significant licensing and revenue opportunities ahead for KINLYTIC for these new indications.

Urokinase has been used to treat patients in the United States and Canada for over 30 years. The therapy has been shown to be effective in dissolving large clots in the peripheral circulation system and for clearing blocked catheters used in oncology and dialysis treatments.

Dr, Karthikeshwar Kasirajan, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, and a physician who has treated patients with urokinase for many years said, "Based on my years of experience in the clinic, urokinase is the best thrombolytic agent for dissolving acute thrombi. I have come to rely on this product as my treatment of choice as it is the safest thrombolytic and results in better outcomes for patients. Its absence has negatively impacted both clinicians and patients, and so I am very pleased that Microbix is reintroducing urokinase to the medical community."

About Microbix

Microbix Biosystems Inc. (MBX:TSX), is a leader in sales of virology products and focused on influenza vaccine (VIRUSMAX(TM)) manufacturing, and development of animal semen sex selection technology (SST(TM)) and KINLYTIC(TM), an anti-thrombotic agent for pulmonary embolism. Microbix develops biological technologies and commercializes them through global partners. The Company has intellectual property in large market biotherapeutic drugs, vaccine technologies and animal reproduction technologies. Established in 1988, Microbix is headquartered in Toronto.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements including the risks associated with failure to complete agreements to finance, develop and commercialize KINLYTIC on a timely basis, non-adoption of the drug combination, resistance to business model for commercialization and implementation; risks associated with commercializing the technologies; and risks associated with the efficacy of the drug combination in cancer treatment and the thrombolytic indication. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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