Partnership to Expand LeadCare in China

CINCINNATI, Dec. 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —
Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIVO) today announced that its Magellan Diagnostics business unit has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with MedCaptain Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (MedCaptain, www.medcaptain.com/en/), a leading innovator in the fields of infusion management, in-vitro diagnostics, and rehabilitation care in the Chinese market.  Magellan Diagnostics’ LeadCare® II blood lead testing system is the only FDA and CFDA cleared, rapid and portable system capable of providing a quantitative blood lead result in just three minutes.  LeadCare II is used in thousands of pediatric and primary care settings in the United States to help doctors diagnose lead exposure quickly and easily.

Based on Guidelines from the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, testing for blood lead levels is a priority for monitoring heavy metal poisoning of children and adults considered at high risk. Lead is a well-known neurotoxin that can cause deficits in fertility, fetal growth, intellectual development, learning capabilities and behavior.  Often the only way to know if an individual has been exposed to lead is to conduct a blood lead test.

The need for blood lead testing is widespread across the globe, especially in areas like China where battery manufacturing/recycling, e-waste, mining and smelting industries are common. The prevalence of lead exposure varies across China, yet is believed to be 9% to 25% of the population.  Having access to portable, accurate, easy to use testing will provide clinicians greater ability to take action, reducing the impact of lead exposure on their patients.

Discussing this agreement, Amy Winslow, President and CEO of Magellan Diagnostics noted, “Our new relationship with MedCaptain is an early indicator of expected synergies between Meridian and Magellan. Following LeadCare II’s approval by the China Food and Drug Administration(CFDA) in August, Meridian’s Asia Pacific team was able to quickly identify a motivated and knowledgeable distribution partner. Together with MedCaptain, Meridian and Magellan will focus on growth in a geography where lead exposure is a significant health risk.”

Lourdes Weltzien, President of Meridian Asia Pacific, who will oversee the partnership, commented, “We are excited about our exclusive relationship with the capable MedCaptain team, which will drive our expansion in China.  Environmental pollutants in the air, food and water continue to affect children in China.  We are looking forward to having a positive impact with a device that can be used anywhere and provide answers in three minutes.  We will focus on creating awareness about the dangers of lead exposure and how to prevent it so that the children of China can reach their full potential.”

Distribution activities with MedCaptain will begin in January 2017. Partnering with Meridian Bioscience and Magellan Diagnostics, MedCaptain will invest in educating Chinese physicians and consumers about the risks and management of lead poisoning through a series of seminars and academic conferences.

About Magellan Diagnostics, Inc.  
Magellan Diagnostics is a medical device company that provides point-of-care systems, clinical laboratory instruments, and analytical laboratory services focused on lead testing. A business unit of Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Magellan is headquartered outside Boston in Billerica, Massachusetts, and is dedicated to offering high-quality, reliable products that help identify children and adults at risk of harm due to lead exposure.  We are committed to educating clinicians, policy makers, payers, families and communities about the permanent health damage caused by lead and how to detect and address lead exposure.  For more information, visit www.magellandx.com.

About Meridian Bioscience, Inc. 
Meridian is a fully integrated life science company that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes a broad range of innovative diagnostic test kits, rare reagents, specialty biologicals and components. Utilizing a variety of methods, our diagnostic tests provide accuracy, simplicity and speed in the early diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions, such as infections and lead poisoning. Meridian’s diagnostic products are used outside of the human body and require little or no special equipment. The Company’s diagnostic products are designed to enhance patient well-being while reducing the total outcome costs of health care. Meridian has strong market positions in the areas of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections, and blood lead level testing. In addition, Meridian is a supplier of rare reagents, specialty biologicals and components used by organizations in the life science and agri-bio industries engaged in research. Its products are also used by companies as components in the manufacture of diagnostics. The Company markets its products and technologies to hospitals, reference laboratories, research centers, diagnostics manufacturers and agri-bio companies in more than 70 countries around the world. The Company’s shares are traded on the NASDAQ 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.  All statements that address operating performance or events or developments that Meridian expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including, but not limited to, statements relating to per share diluted earnings and revenue, are forward-looking statements.  Such statements, whether expressed or implied, are based upon current expectations of the Company and speak only as of the date made.  Specifically, Meridian’s forward-looking statements are, and will be, based on management’s then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance.  Meridian 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, and its ability to effectively sell such products.  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 or in protecting its intellectual property.  Meridian relies on proprietary, patented and licensed technologies. As such, the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights, as well as the potential for intellectual property litigation, would impact its results.  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, including those 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, as can the uncertainty of regulatory approvals and the regulatory process.  The international scope of Meridian’s operations, including changes in the relative strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar and general economic conditions in foreign countries, can impact results and make them difficult to predict.  One of Meridian’s 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 Meridian’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.  Meridian cannot predict the possible impact of U.S. health care legislation enacted in 2010 – the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care Education and Reconciliation Act – and any modification or repeal of any of the provisions thereof, and any similar initiatives in other countries on its results of operations.  Efforts to reduce the U.S. federal deficit, breaches of Meridian’s information technology systems and natural disasters and other events could have a materially adverse effect on Meridian’s results of operations and revenues.  In addition to the factors described in this paragraph, Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission contain a list and description of uncertainties, risks and other matters that may affect the Company. Readers should carefully review these forward-looking statements and risk factors and not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.

Original Source: http://bit.ly/2ieZNGA 

Contact:
Jack Kenny
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
Meridian Bioscience, Inc.
Phone:  513.271.3700
Email: mbi@meridianbioscience.com