Meridian Bioscience, Inc. Receives FDA Clearance For New illumigene(R) C. difficile Pediatric Claim

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio (NASDAQ:VIVO - News) today announced that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new pediatric claim for its illumigene C. difficile (Clostridium difficile) molecular amplification test. C. difficile is a bacterium that is frequently associated with antibiotic therapy often causing diarrhea and, in severe cases, a life-threatening inflammation of the colon. The illumigene molecular test is designed to target the region of the C. difficile DNA that is presented in all toxin A and/or toxin B producing strains. The illumigene test provides highly accurate results in under an hour. Meridian Bioscience’s illumigene test is the only C. difficile test that is cleared by the FDA for use on children under the age of two.

Recent epidemiological data have indicated that the rate of community associated pediatric C. difficile increased by more than seventy percent from 1997 through 2006, which in turn is leading to increased hospitalizations among children. Rapid and accurate detection of C. difficile is critical in determining proper patient treatment. Meridian’s new illumigene C. difficile test provides a high level of sensitivity, with a simple workflow requiring less than two minutes of hands-on time per sample. The Company’s illumigene C. difficile test is available world-wide and its performance and customer acceptance has been very positive.

Jack Kraeutler, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Meridian is constantly working to provide our global customers innovative products that truly address their needs. As we monitored the C. difficile market, we recognized and acted upon the increasing prevalence of pediatric C. difficile in order to be able to address the growing needs of our clinical lab customers. Recently, we have completed another clinical study that evaluated a large number of random specimens from patients suspected of having C. difficile disease. We discovered that approximately 12% of these specimens were from children under two years of age. This new pediatric indicator for illumigene C. difficile will provide our customers with a critical tool to help detect and manage this devastating infection in young children. The early success of the illumigene technology, along with new claims and additional tests to be introduced in the near future using the illumigene technology, confirms our commitment to this unique molecular amplification technology.”

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. Such statements, whether expressed or implied, are based upon current expectations of the Company and speak only as of the date made. The Company 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. 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. 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 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. Changes in the relative strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar can also change expected results. One of Meridian's main 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. The Company cannot predict the possible effects of recently-enacted United States healthcare legislation and any similar initiatives in other countries on its results of operations. In addition to the factors described in this paragraph, Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors of our Form 10-K contains a list and description of uncertainties, risks and other matters that may affect the Company.

Meridian is a fully integrated life science company that manufactures, markets and distributes a broad range of innovative diagnostic test kits, purified reagents and related products and offers biopharmaceutical enabling technologies. Utilizing a variety of methods, these products and diagnostic tests provide accuracy, simplicity and speed in the early diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions, such as gastrointestinal, viral and respiratory infections. Meridian’s diagnostic products are used outside of the human body and require little or no special equipment. The Company's products are designed to enhance patient well-being while reducing the total outcome costs of healthcare. Meridian has strong market positions in the areas of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections, serology, parasitology and fungal disease diagnosis. In addition, Meridian is a supplier of rare reagents, specialty biologicals and related technologies used by biopharmaceutical companies engaged in research for new drugs and vaccines. The Company markets its products and technologies to hospitals, reference laboratories, research centers, veterinary testing centers, diagnostics manufacturers and biotech companies in more than 60 countries around the world. The Company’s shares are traded through NASDAQ’s Global Select Market, symbol VIVO. Meridian's website address is www.meridianbioscience.com.