LAS VEGAS, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Pacific Corporation announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary Ampac Fine Chemicals LLC (AFC) (formerly Aerojet Fine Chemicals) was named by European-based Roche as one of several production partners in its global manufacturing network for the production of Tamiflu(R), the anti-viral drug used to treat influenza. AFC’s specific role in the supply chain is to employ its over 50-years of experience in highly energetic chemistry and specifically engineered cGMP-facilities to produce “Azide,” the penultimate intermediate in the production of the final Tamiflu(R) active pharmaceutical ingredient (oseltamivir).
Dr. Aslam Malik, President of Ampac Fine Chemicals LLC, said, “We are delighted to have this opportunity to continue our valued relationship with Roche and contribute to the global pandemic influenza preparedness effort. AFC has a rich history in the development and commercial-scale production of pharmaceutical materials that require the use of energetic chemistry, such as Roche’s ‘Azide.’ In addition, the ‘Azide’ production process employs as a key raw material pharmaceutical-grade sodium azide, for which our sister company, American Azide Corporation, is the largest manufacturer in the United States.”
AFC is a U.S.-based company with demonstrated capabilities in process development, scale-up, and cGMP-compliant commercial production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API’s) and registered intermediates for pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers. Its specially engineered facilities and experienced staff allow AFC to safely produce highly energetic compounds at commercial scale. In addition, AFC’s other technology platforms include production of highly potent compounds and industrial-scale chromatographic separation using simulated moving bed chromatography (SMB).
About American Pacific Corporation
American Pacific is a chemical and aerospace company with the following products: (i) fine chemicals in the form of active pharmaceutical ingredients and registered intermediates, (ii) perchlorate chemicals used in space propulsion and other applications, (iii) liquid in-space propellant thrusters used for attitude control on satellites, (iv) Halotron, a clean fire extinguishing agent, (v) sodium azide and other energetic products used in various applications and (vi) water treatment equipment. Fine chemicals are produced at Ampac Fine Chemicals (AFC) in Rancho Cordova, California. Perchlorates and other energetic chemicals as well as Halotron and water treatment equipment (PSI) are manufactured at the Wecco division in Cedar City, Utah. The in-space propulsion business, Ampac-ISP, is located at Niagara, New York, and Westcott in the U.K. American Pacific also participates in a joint venture packaged explosive manufacturer, Energetic Systems, Inc. (ESI) with facilities in Hallowell, Kansas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Additional information about American Pacific can be obtained by visiting the Company’s web site at www.apfc.com.
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improve people’s health and quality of life. Roche is a world leader in diagnostics, the leading supplier of medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market leader in virology. In 2005 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totaled 27.3 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.2 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 70,000 people in 150 countries and has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. Additional information about the Roche Group is available on the Internet (www.roche.com).
Risk Factors/Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of the Company, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the risks regarding (a) commercial demand or regulatory approval of our customer’s products, (b) competition for our customer’s business, (c) our ability to comply with customer product specifications and manufacturing instructions, and (d) other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers of this release are referred to Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2005 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2005, for further discussion of these and other factors that could affect future results. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and American Pacific assumes no obligation to update for actual results or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
American Pacific Corporation
CONTACT: John R. Gibson, CEO & President of American Pacific Corporation,+1-702-735-2200; or Dr. Aslam Malik, President of Ampac Fine Chemicals LLC,+1-800-311-9668
