Beximco Pharma Regulatory News (BXP)

21 Sep 2006 14:32

Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd21 September 2006 Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd Beximco Pharma Introduces CFC-Free Inhalers Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited (LSE: BXP), the leading drug manufacturer inBangladesh, announces that it has introduced the country's first CFC freeMetered Dose Inhalers ("MDIs"), used for the treatment of asthma and chronicobstructive pulmonary diseases ("COPD"). HFA-based inhalers, unlike those that use CFCs, do not contain chlorine andtherefore do not harm the ozone layer. MDIs currently manufactured in Bangladeshcontain CFC as a propellant, which is safe for human use but is believed to be amajor cause of ozone depletion. In 1987, 183 countries, including Bangladesh,agreed to a treaty called "Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete theozone layer" which urges countries to implement a gradual phasing out of CFCusage. As a result, Bangladesh is phasing out the import of CFCs, and fromJanuary 1, 2010 there will be no import allocation of CFCs for Bangladesh. Many major pharmaceutical companies in the world are undertaking extensiveresearch and development to produce CFC free MDIs, however, manufacturing HFAMDIs is a big challenge as it involves a very high level of expertise andsophisticated technology, which is extremely demanding for companies indeveloping and less developed countries. The CEO of Beximco Pharma Mr. Nazmul Hassan commented, "There are over 7 million people in Bangladesh suffering from asthma and COPD.While many leading global pharmaceutical companies are struggling to developCFC-free MDIs, we have successfully developed HFA based inhalers for the firsttime in Bangladesh and have been exporting our MDI brands to a number of ourexisting export markets including Singapore, Kenya and Pakistan." For more information, please contact: Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited +880 2 8619 151Nazmul Hassan Libertas Capital +44 (0)20 7569 9650Aamir Quraishi Financial Dynamics +44 (0)20 7831 3113David YatesJohn Gilbert About Beximco Pharma Beximco Pharma has more than nine years of experience in manufacturing MDIproducts, including salbutamol, beclomethasone, salmeterol, salmeterol plusfluticasone, budesonide ipratropium, tiotropium, levosalbutamol, and ciclesonideinhalers and has emerged as one of the leading pharmaceutical companies inasthma & COPD market in the South Asia region. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange