11/2005 Press Release
Eurofins and BioAlliance Announce Sale of VIRalliance Diagnostics Business to Eurofins Scientific
Paris/Memphis/Brussels -- November 8, 2005 -- Eurofins Scientific, Inc. (ESI), Memphis, TN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eurofins Scientific, SA has agreed in principle to acquire the VIRalliance(VIR) diagnostics business of BioAlliance Pharma, SA, Paris, France, a late stage biopharmaceutical company focused on drug resistance. The transaction is expected to close prior the end of the calendar year, and complements Eurofins’ rapidly-growing testing portfolio which supports the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, and addresses the needs of medical professionals. As part of the transaction, VIR will relocate its business to North America.
VIRalliance develops and markets drug resistance diagnostics and is a pioneer in the development of phenotypic antiviral drug resistance assays. The prevalence of drug resistance in HIV infection and Hepatitis has risen dramatically in recent years with an ever increasing number of drug experienced and naïve patients being infected with drug resistant or multi-drug resistant viral strains. The analysis of drug resistance plays a critical role in optimizing therapeutic regimens and in drug development. VIRalliance’s products, PHENOSCRIPT and VIROSCRIPT offer an immediate entry to the growing resistance testing market for companies marketing HIV diagnostic tests, related clinical services or drug development organizations.
“We are excited about the addition of VIRalliance resistance diagnostics to our testing portfolio,” said Thomas W. Burnell, CEO of Eurofins Scientific, Inc., “And we look forward to providing healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical companies with these assays to help guide the selection of appropriate treatment regimens and for use in the development of new products to treat HIV, hepatitis and other serious diseases.”
“This divestiture of VIRalliance to Eurofins will allow BioAlliance to focus on development of innovative therapeutics and better position the company for future growth,” said Gilles Avenard, M.D., chief operating officer of BioAlliance Pharma and president of VIRalliance
VIRalliance
VIRalliance develops and markets drug resistance diagnostics and is a pioneer in the development of phenotypic antiviral drug resistance assays. The prevalence of drug resistance in HIV infection and hepatitis has risen dramatically in recent years with an ever increasing number of drug-experienced and naïve patients being infected with drug resistant or multi-drug resistant viral strains. The analysis of drug resistance plays a critical role in optimizing therapeutic regimens and in drug development. VIRalliance’s products, PHENOSCRIPT and VIROSCRIPT offer an immediate entry to the growing resistance testing market for companies marketing HIV diagnostic tests, related clinical services or drug development organizations.
About BioAlliance Pharma
BioAlliance Pharma is a privately held late stage biopharmaceutical company focused on drug resistance through development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics targeting markets in cancer, HIV, severe infections and supportive care. The company has two broad proprietary drug delivery systems represented by the Lauriad® adhesive technology and the Transdrug® nanoparticle technology that provide multiple product opportunities. Together with a New Chemical Entities program focused on development of new drugs in oncology and HIV, the company is able to address worldwide markets in the EU, US, and Asia.
The company’s lead product within its adhesive technology program, the miconazole Lauriad® 50 mg Bioadhesive Buccal Tablet, has been investigated in two completed Phase III trials in Europe for treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in cancer and HIV patients. EU registration is on track for filing
before the end of Q3 2005 and a pivotal Phase III trial in the same indication is planned to start in the U.S. later this year. A near term follow-on product, acyclovir Lauriad® for treatment of oral herpes, using the same delivery system, has recently completed Phase I clinical studies in the EU. A Phase I/II trial in hepatocellular carcinoma utilizing the company’s doxorubicin Transdrug® nanoparticle delivery technology is ongoing in Europe, and has been granted orphan drug status by the EMEA and the US FDA.
For additional company background, click here.
Company Contact
Richard Keatinge
Vice President, Business Development
BioAlliance Pharma SA
Tel : +33 (0) 1 45 58 76 00
richard.keatinge@bioalliancepharma.com
Media Contact
Andrew Lloyd & Associates
Andrew Lloyd
Tel : +44 1 273 675100
Gilles Petitot
Tel : +33 1 56 54 07 00
Eurofins – a global leader in bio-analysis
Eurofins Scientific is a life sciences company operating internationally to provide a comprehensive range of analytical testing services to clients from a wide range of industries including the pharmaceutical, food and environmental sectors.
With over 2,800 staff in more than 50 laboratories across 15 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 10,000 reliable analytical methods for evaluating the authenticity, origin, safety, identity, composition and purity of biological substances and products. The Group is committed to provide its customers with high quality services, accurate results in time and, if requested, expert advice by our highly qualified staff.
The Eurofins Group is one of the global market leaders in this field of applied life sciences. It intends to pursue its dynamic growth strategy and expand both, its technology portfolio and its geographic reach. Through R&D, in-licensing and acquisitions, the Group draws on the latest developments in the field of biotechnology to offer its clients unique analytical solutions and the most comprehensive range of testing methods.
As one of the most innovative and quality oriented international player in its industry, Eurofins is ideally positioned to support its clients’ increasingly stringent quality and safety standards and the demands of regulatory authorities around the world.
The shares of Eurofins Scientific are listed on Euronext in the Paris (ISIN FR0000038259) and Frankfurt (WKN 910251) Stock Exchanges (Reuters EUFI.LN, Bloomberg ERSC FP, ESF, EUFI.DE).
Important disclaimer:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements and estimates that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements and estimates contained herein represent the judgment of Eurofins Scientific as of the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees for future performance, and the forward-looking events discussed in this release may not occur. Eurofins Scientific disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements and estimates. All statements and estimates are made based on the data available to the Company as of the date of publication, but no guarantee can be made as to their validity.
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