Novartis Corporation (JOBS) to Acquire Majority Stake in Hard To Treat Diseases Incorporated China Subsidiary H1N1 Vaccine Partner for $125 Million

Bookmark and Share

SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Hard To Treat Diseases (HTDS.PK) www.htdsmedical.com, announced today that Novartis, a US$41 billion international healthcare company, is acquiring an 85% stake in HTDS' H1N1 Vaccine partner, Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., for US$125 million. Novartis of Switzerland will begin a five-year, $1 billion China initiative with two aims: the company will dramatically increase its investment in its China R&D facility, and it will seek to make China one its top three markets worldwide. The comments were made by Novartis' CEO, Daniel Vasella, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. http://www.chinabiotoday.com/articles/20091103_1

HTDS' Chinese subsidiary, Mellow Hope, is the exclusive agent of Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-pharmaceutical for International marketing and sales. Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-pharmaceutical has been granted a H1N1 license on September 24, 2009 by the Chinese government agency, SFDA.

Terry Yuan, HTDS' President/CEO said "We believe that when you start to appreciate what Novartis' commitment to our partner in China fully means, and the see the large financial commitment to our partner just for the China market, you can begin to appreciate the enormous value to HTDS of our exclusive international marketing and sales relationship with Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical. Further, the more you appreciate this value, the more you will find yourself understanding our value to them when they appointed us exclusive agent for international marketing and sales. As Mellow Hope owns all of registrations, clinical trials and brands for Zhejiang Tianyuan's international markets, the new Novartis-Zhejiang-Tianyuan entity will continue to leverage our assets and expertise in its international market. The Novartis purchase was announced by Novartis-Zhejiang-Tianyuan on November 4, 2009 (see link below) http://www.marketwatch.com/story/novartis-to-buy-85-of-chinese-vaccines-producer-2009-11-04?siteid=yhoof2. HTDS management, elected not to release this immediately, to allow the HTDS management and its advisors to digest and analyse the long term effects of this transaction for HTDS. HTDS management is very optimistic and foresees its relationship and business with Zhejiang Tianyuan will only be further strengthened by the participation of Novartis."

Novartis reports that it has made the purchase of a majority interest in Zhejiang Tianyuan through proposed acquisition of a majority stake for US$125 million to expand its human vaccines presence in China. Zhejiang Tianyuan is a privately-held vaccines company providing a competitive product portfolio and pipeline in China, where Novartis has a limited vaccines presence. Tianyuan and Novartis are to collaborate on building a vaccines industry leader targeting unmet medical needs in China, the world's third-largest vaccines market. Acquisition of 85% stake in Tianyuan for approximately US$125 million will require Chinese regulatory and government approvals.

Tianyuan is a privately-owned vaccine company offering a range of marketed vaccine products in China and R&D projects focused on various preventable viral and bacterial diseases. Tianyuan has been delivering dynamic and profitable growth, having more than doubled its net sales to approximately US$25 million in 2008.

About Hard To Treat Diseases (HTDS)

HTDS operates 2 medical subsidiaries in Mainland China (Mellow Hope) www.mellowhope.com and Serbia, Europe (Slavica Bio Chem.) (www.slavicabiochem.com)

Mellow Hope is China-based and the biggest exporter of Biological Vaccines in China. It has a product line that encompasses vaccines for influenza, tetanus, diphtheria and other diseases; Blood based products including human rabies immunoglobulin; and active pharmaceutical ingredient (or APIs) for injection such as celesta in.

In Serbia the company's primary focus involves the enhancement and modification of existing approved drugs such as "Virazole" for the purpose of chemical repair of damage to the CNS (central nervous system), MS (Multiple Sclerosis), SARS, Hepatitis C and HIV.

To receive future updates, via email including quarterly newsletters and company updates which may not be newsworthy, however important to the reader and followers of the company please sign up today for free at www.minamargroup.com/updates

Safe Harbor Statement

Information in this news release may contain statements about future expectations, plans, prospects or performance of Hard to Treat Diseases Inc. that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the Safe Harbor Provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words or phrases "can be", "expects", "may affect", "believed", "estimate", "project" and similar words and phrases are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Hard to Treat Diseases Inc. cautions you that any forward-looking information provided by or on behalf of Hard to Treat Diseases Inc. is not a guarantee of future performance. None of the information in this press release constitutes or is intended as an offer to sell securities or investment advice of any kind. Hard to Treat Diseases Inc.'s actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, some of which are beyond Hard to Treat Diseases Inc.'s control. In addition to those discussed in Hard to Treat Diseases Inc.'s press releases, public filings, and statements by Hard to Treat Diseases Inc.'s management, including, but not limited to, Hard to Treat Diseases Inc.'s estimate of the sufficiency of its existing capital resources, Hard to Treat Diseases Inc.'s ability to raise additional capital to fund future operations, Hard to Treat Diseases Inc.'s ability to repay its existing indebtedness, the uncertainties involved in estimating market opportunities, and in identifying contracts which match Hard to Treat Diseases Inc.'s capability to be awarded contracts. All such forward-looking statements are current only as of the date on which such statements were made. Hard to Treat Diseases Inc. does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which any such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

CONTACT: For medical and scientific dialogue inquiry only, please contact medicalinfo@htdsmedical.com; For any corporate matters, please contact www.minamargroup.com/helpdesk; For any retail investor relations matters, please contact www.minamargroup.net/helpdesk, (IR); For (M&A) and Corporate Matters www.minamargroup.com

CONTACT: For medical and scientific dialogue inquiry only, please contact
medicalinfo@htdsmedical.com; For any corporate matters, please contact
www.minamargroup.com/helpdesk; For any retail investor relations matters,
please contact www.minamargroup.net/helpdesk, (IR); For (M&A) and Corporate
Matters www.minamargroup.com

Back to news