MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - DRAXIS Health Inc. announces that Dr. Martin Barkin today informed the board of directors that he will retire as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective December 31, 2007.
Dr. Barkin joined the senior management of DRAXIS in 1992. Over the last fifteen years, he has been instrumental in guiding the Company through a period of significant growth from a small Canadian pharmaceutical marketing company to its current position as a provider of specialized pharmaceutical and radiopharmaceutical products in markets globally.
Brian King, Chair of the board of directors, indicated that, “The Board of Directors wishes to acknowledge and thank Martin for the significant contribution that he has made to the growth and strategic positioning of DRAXIS during his time at the Company and for his dedication to its employees, its goals and its progress over the years. The Board of Directors has commenced a process to identify Dr. Barkin’s successor.”
With Dr. Barkin’s impending retirement, Dan Brazier, presently Chief Operating Officer, will immediately take on the roles and responsibilities currently held by Dr. Barkin until a successor is appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Dr. Barkin said, “I have worked closely together with Dan Brazier for the last several months in the Office of the President and he has been assuming more and more of my responsibilities. I have become very comfortable with his abilities and, therefore, the time was now right for me to inform the board of my intentions to retire at the end of this year.”
About DRAXIS Health Inc.:
DRAXIS Health, through its wholly owned operating subsidiary, DRAXIS Specialty Pharmaceuticals Inc., provides products in three categories: sterile products, non-sterile products and radiopharmaceuticals. Sterile products include liquid and freeze-dried (lyophilized) injectables plus sterile ointments and creams. Non-sterile products are produced as solid oral and semi-solid dosage forms. Radiopharmaceuticals are used for both therapeutic and diagnostic molecular imaging applications. Pharmaceutical contract manufacturing services are provided through the DRAXIS Pharma division and radiopharmaceuticals are developed, produced, and sold through the DRAXIMAGE division. DRAXIS employs approximately 500 staff in its Montreal facility.
For additional information please visit www.draxis.com
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and as contemplated under other applicable securities legislation. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe” or other similar words. These statements discuss future expectations concerning results of operations or financial condition or provide other forward-looking information. Our actual results, performance or achievements could be significantly different from the results expressed in, or implied by, those forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, which speaks only as of the date made.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results or performance of the Company to be materially different from such statements or from any future results or performance implied thereby. Factors that could cause the Company’s results or performance to differ materially from a conclusion, forecast or projection in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, and relating to the Company generally, reference is made to the Company’s most recent filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov) and the filings made by the Company with Canadian securities regulators (available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com). The forward-looking statements contained in this document represent the Company’s expectations as at October 31, 2007. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT: DRAXIS Health Inc., Jerry Ormiston, Executive Director, Investor
Relations, Phone: 1-877-441-1984
