Healthcare Industry News: focused ultrasound
News Release - December 20, 2006
China Medical Successfully Develops Down Syndrome Diagnostic Reagents
BEIJING--(HSMN NewsFeed)--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 hCG(beta)") 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 hCG(beta) 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.
Source: China Medical Technologies
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