- partnership provides enhanced access to rapidly expanding
cattle reproduction market in Australia -
BELLEVILLE, ON, June 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Bioniche Life
Sciences Inc. (TSX: BNC), a research-based, technology-driven
Canadian biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has
signed a partnership agreement with Bayer Animal Health, a division
of Bayer Australia Limited, for the distribution of two cattle
reproduction products.
The agreement takes effect on July 1,
2010, at which time, Bayer Animal Health will become the
exclusive distributor of Bioniche's Cue-Mate(R) and Pregnecol(R)
products in Australia. Cue-Mate
and Pregnecol are high quality products with a proven track record
in delivering consistent results and enhancing reproductive
performance in both beef and dairy cattle.
"This is an important partnership for Bioniche Animal Health in
Australia," said Andrew Grant, Divisional President of Bioniche
Animal Health Export Sales, Europe
and A/Asia. "More than ever, beef
and dairy producers are striving to improve their reproductive
performance, and our products offer exciting new options to do
this. A market of over 15 million cows remains relatively untapped,
and market education is critical for Cue-Mate and Pregnecol to
grow. Bayer will assist us in both expanding the market and in
establishing a greater presence within it - the growth
opportunities are significant."
Udo Klein, General Manager of
Bayer Animal Health in Australia
and New Zealand, adds "With
Bayer's extensive network of representatives across Australia, these products will now be more
widely understood by and accessible to cattle producers and
veterinarians looking to boost their business via targeted breeding
programs."
Pregnecol is a well-established pregnant mare serum
gonadotrophin (PMSG) - or equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) -
choice of veterinarians and producers in Australia, and Bioniche is the only supplier
of domestically sourced and manufactured product. Cue-Mate offers
an efficient and flexible progesterone treatment system, using
specially designed treatment pods that attach to a reusable
"wishbone" carrier system to deliver the progesterone for maximum
effect. Cue-Mate is the estrus synchronization device of choice for
a growing number of Australian farmers.
Lyndon Constable, Director Sales
and Marketing, Bioniche Animal Health (A/Asia), Australia and New
Zealand, says, "Over recent years, Bioniche has worked with
leading veterinarians and industry stakeholders in both
Australia and New Zealand to specifically evaluate
opportunities for eCG use in non-cycling dairy cattle and in beef
and dairy whole herd synchrony programs. We plan to continue to
invest significantly in research to identify and support high value
applications for these products. In turn, Bayer will accelerate the
delivery of this knowledge to a wider audience, resulting in rapid
market growth and improved reproductive performance for our
customers."
About Cue-Mate(R)
Cue-Mate is an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device for
cattle. It is used for the synchronization of estrus in cattle
reproductive programs. Cue-Mate has a wide range of applications
which include controlled breeding programs, artificial insemination
(AI) programs, superovulation of donors and synchronization of
embryo recipients.
Cue-Mate has become the estrus synchronization device of choice
for a growing number of farmers. It delivers the reliable efficacy
farmers can count on, while offering a design that maximizes
retention, cow comfort and animal safety.
About Pregnecol(R)
Pregnecol is a product made from pregnant mare serum
gonadotrophin (PMSG) - also known as equine chorionic gonadotrophin
(eCG). The product has a range of uses in cattle, sheep, pigs and
goats. In cattle, Pregnecol is a reproductive hormone that is
mainly used for induction of oestrous in anovular cows and in
fixed-time artificial insemination.
Unlike other PMSG (eCG) preparations, tightly-controlled
procedures ensure Pregnecol is sourced, manufactured and processed
to final product within Australia
- a certified FMD and BSE-free country.
About Bayer
Bayer is an international, research-based enterprise with core
competencies in three business areas: health care, nutrition and
high-tech materials. These key activities are represented by three
business groups: Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience and Bayer
MaterialScience.
The Bayer Group is headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany and is represented by some 350
companies employing approximately 108,400 people. Around 850 of
these employees are located in Australia. Bayer Australia Limited is a fully
owned subsidiary of Bayer AG and has had a presence in Australia since 1925.
Research and development are key to Bayer's success and, as
such, most of today's business activities are based on Bayer's own
innovations. Bayer's products and services, numbering over 5,000 to
date, are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of
life. The company's mission statement is "Bayer: Science For A
Better Life".
In Australia, Bayer has
invested significantly in local research and manufacturing. Its
focus on people, partnerships and innovation underlies all aspects
of our operations.
Bayer prides itself on a well trained, competent and committed
workforce and upholds the principle of sustainable development,
which places corporate social responsibility on an equal level with
economic and ecological performance.
In 2009, Bayer launched B-Green (its local commitment to
fighting Climate Change). B-Green focuses on four key areas on
which Bayer believes it can have the greatest impact: Greenhouse
Gas emissions, Water, Waste and Community (partnerships). Bayer has
set reasonable targets for 2014.
In 2009, Bayer's operations in Australia generated $627 million in revenue.
For further information, visit www.bayer.com.au.
About Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. is a research-based,
technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the
discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of proprietary
products for human and animal health markets worldwide. The
fully-integrated company employs approximately 190 skilled
personnel and has three operating divisions: Human Health, Animal
Health, and Food Safety. The Company's primary goal is to develop
proprietary cancer therapies supported by revenues from marketed
products in human and animal health. For more information, please
visit www.Bioniche.com.
About Bioniche Animal Health
Bioniche Animal Health develops, manufactures and markets animal
health biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It has product
development, manufacturing and marketing facilities in Belleville, Ontario, Canada; marketing and
production facilities in Athens,
Georgia, U.S.A.; Pullman,
Washington, U.S.A.; and Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. The Company has
progressively grown by using biotechnology to provide the animal
health market with innovative solutions to meet the changing needs
of the animal health industry.
The Company has a product portfolio of more than sixty products,
which can be categorized primarily in the following groups:
Reproduction and embryo transfer products; products based on
hyaluronans; immunostimulant products; polyclonal antibodies;
vaccine products; and nutraceuticals. These products are marketed
directly to veterinarians in Canada, the United
States, Australia and
Europe, and through selected
distributors in the rest of the world.
Bioniche Animal Health (A/Asia)
Pty. Ltd. began as Vetrepharm Australasia Pty. Ltd. in 1988. In
1999, the unit's name was changed to Bioniche Animal Health
A/Asia. The business unit has a
broad base, which includes sales and marketing, research and
development, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production and
finished sterile injectables facilities. The Australian business is
conducted from two sites: Melbourne, Victoria, where sales and marketing, customer
support and technical service are located; and Armidale,
New South Wales, where production
(manufacturing facility, farm/research and development facility) is
located.
Except for historical information, this news release may contain
forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current
expectation regarding future events. These forward-looking
statements involve risk and uncertainties, which may cause, but are
not limited to, changing market conditions, the successful and
timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of
corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and
pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the
regulatory approval process, and other risks detailed from time to
time in the Company's ongoing quarterly and annual reporting.
SOURCE Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.