Message #13 From:
NewsBot Date: December 20, 2006 05:30:00 AM
CMED News China Medical Successfully Develops Down Syndrome Diagnostic Reagents
BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--China Medical Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”)
(NASDAQ: CMED), a leading China-based medical device company that
develops, manufactures and markets high intensity focused ultrasound
products and advanced in-vitro diagnostic systems, today announced that
it has successfully completed the development of two Down syndrome
diagnostic reagents that use chemiluminescence immunoassay technology.
The Company is expected to introduce these two new reagents in early
2007, bringing the Company’s total kit
offering to 58 from 56.
The two new Down syndrome reagents are designed to measure the free beta
subunit of human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (“Free
hCGβ”) and
Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein A (“PAPP-A”),
respectively, in maternal serum, which are important markers of Down
syndrome. These two reagents can be used to improve the efficacy of
assessment of fetal anomalies within the first trimester of pregnancy.
The human Alpha-fetoprotein (“AFP”)
reagent which the Company currently offers can be used in combination
with the Free hCGβ kit for determining if a
fetus is affected by Down syndrome in the second trimester of pregnancy.
According to statistics from the Chinese Ministry of Health, there were
approximately 16 million newborn infants in China in 2005. Every year,
approximately 6% of new babies are born with congenital disorders. Given
this high rate of occurrence, prenatal assessment has become a commonly
recommended diagnostic procedure in China. Prenatal risk assessment and
early detection programs increase treatment and management options for
parents and China Medical believes that the introduction of the Down
syndrome reagents will strengthen early detection of fetal anomalies
during pregnancy.
“We are pleased to expand our capabilities in
the high growth areas of maternal health screening,”
stated Mr. Xiaodong Wu, Chairman and CEO of China Medical. “Our
innovative screening technologies are expected to improve parental
options during pregnancy and deliver high value to the Company.”
About China Medical Technologies:
China Medical Technologies is a leading China-based medical device
company that develops, manufactures and markets products using high
intensity focused ultrasound for the treatment of solid cancers and
benign tumors and advanced in-vitro diagnostics products using enhanced
chemiluminescence technology, to detect and monitor various diseases and
disorders. For more information, please visit our website at www.chinameditech.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements
constitute “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, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be
identified by terminology such as “will,”“expects,”“anticipates,”“future,”“intends,”“plans,”“believes,”“estimates” and
similar statements. Among other things, the Company’s
statements that it expects to introduce the abovementioned reagents, and
that it expects that such reagents can be used to improve the efficacy
of assessment of fetal anomalies in the first and second trimesters of
pregnancy and deliver high value to the Company, are forward-looking
statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and
other risks is included in China Medical’s
filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its
annual report on Form 20-F. China Medical does not undertake any
obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required under
applicable law.