Meridian Bioscience Establishes Direct Sales in Australia Through Bioline Australia
CINCINNATI--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Meridian Bioscience, Inc., (NASDAQ: VIVO) is pleased to announce the commencement of a new, direct distribution arrangement in Australia for the Meridian diagnostic products. Meridian is transitioning the sales of the Meridian diagnostic products from its current distributor to its direct sales force through Bioline (Aust) Pty Ltd. (Bioline Australia), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meridian Bioscience, Inc.
"We are looking forward to the opportunity to bring the Meridian infectious disease diagnostic products on board. There is a strong alignment between Meridian products and our current customer base. It is exciting to offer Meridiana™s new molecular test, illumigene®, that has a very good fit in our market."
Bioline Australia, The PCR Company, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of molecular biology reagents for the life science, pharmaceutical and commercial diagnostic markets. The combination of the Bioline PCR products with the Meridian portfolio of infectious disease diagnostic tests provides a unique range of products to the market. Having both product lines offered through one source will help better serve our current customers and, at the same time, increases the opportunities to reach new ones. Bioline PCR reagents complement Meridiana™s new molecular platform, illumigene®, providing a wide menu of molecular components, reagents and diagnostic tests to a broad range of laboratories.
Richard L. Eberly, Chief Commercial Officer of Meridian Bioscience, Inc., stated, aCombining our Australian business through Bioline/Meridian was a strategic decision toward strengthening our global distribution. Additionally, Bioline and Meridian have several common factors; both have innovative, high quality products which help deliver faster and more accurate results while improving patient care and both are focused on delivering strong technical support and outstanding customer service.a
Colin Denver, Regional Sales Director of Bioline Australia, stated, aWe are looking forward to the opportunity to bring the Meridian infectious disease diagnostic products on board. There is a strong alignment between Meridian products and our current customer base. It is exciting to offer Meridiana™s new molecular test, illumigene®, that has a very good fit in our market.a
Bioline Australia can be reached by phone at 61(02)9209-4180, fax 61(02)9209-4763 or visit their website: [ www.bioline.com ]
Meridian is a fully integrated life science company that manufactures, markets and distributes a broad range of innovative diagnostic test kits, purified reagents and related products and offers biopharmaceutical enabling technologies. Utilizing a variety of methods, these products and diagnostic tests provide accuracy, simplicity and speed in the early diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions, such as gastrointestinal, viral and respiratory infections. Meridiana™s diagnostic products are used outside of the human body and require little or no special equipment. The Company's products are designed to enhance patient well-being while reducing the total outcome costs of healthcare. Meridian has strong market positions in the areas of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections, serology, parasitology and fungal disease diagnosis. In addition, Meridian is a supplier of rare reagents, specialty biologicals and related technologies used by biopharmaceutical companies engaged in research for new drugs and vaccines. The Company markets its products and technologies to hospitals, reference laboratories, research centers, veterinary testing centers, diagnostics manufacturers and biotech companies in more than 60 countries around the world. The Companya™s shares are traded through NASDAQa™s Global Select Market, symbol VIVO. Meridian's website address is [ www.meridianbioscience.com ].
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor from civil litigation for forward-looking statements accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements. Except for historical information, this report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which may be identified by words such as "estimates", "anticipates", "projects", "plans", "seeks", "may", "will", "expects", "intends", "believes", "should" and similar expressions or the negative versions thereof and which also may be identified by their context. Such statements, whether expressed or implied, are based upon current expectations of the Company and speak only as of the date made. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized. These statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation, the following: Meridian's continued growth depends, in part, on its ability to introduce into the marketplace enhancements of existing products or new products that incorporate technological advances, meet customer requirements and respond to products developed by Meridian's competition. While Meridian has introduced a number of internally developed products, there can be no assurance that it will be successful in the future in introducing such products on a timely basis. Ongoing consolidations of reference laboratories and formation of multi-hospital alliances may cause adverse changes to pricing and distribution. Recessionary pressures on the economy and the markets in which our customers operate, as well as adverse trends in buying patterns from customers can change expected results. Costs and difficulties in complying with laws and regulations administered by the United States Food and Drug Administration can result in unanticipated expenses and delays and interruptions to the sale of new and existing products. Changes in the relative strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar can also change expected results. One of Meridian's main growth strategies is the acquisition of companies and product lines. There can be no assurance that additional acquisitions will be consummated or that, if consummated, will be successful and the acquired businesses will be successfully integrated into Meridian's operations. There may be risks that acquisitions may disrupt operations and may pose potential difficulties in employee retention and there may be additional risks with respect to Meridiana™s ability to recognize the benefits of acquisitions, including potential synergies and cost savings or the failure of acquisitions to achieve their plans and objectives. The Company cannot predict the possible effects of recently-enacted United States healthcare legislation and any similar initiatives in other countries on its results of operations. In addition to the factors described in this paragraph, Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors of our Form 10-K contains a list and description of uncertainties, risks and other matters that may affect the Company.