TORONTO, March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Spectral Diagnostics Inc. , a company developing products for the treatment of sepsis, today announced that the 29th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine in Brussels, Belgium from March 24-27, 2009 will feature a key scientific symposium entitled, “The Role of Endotoxin”, that will include presentations from six thought leaders in the field of sepsis. Presentations will include topics such as defining the role that endotoxin plays in sepsis and organ dysfunction; using Spectral’s Endotoxin Activity Assay (EAA(TM)) to determine optimum management of patients with intra-abdominal infections; and, the role of diagnosing and treating endotoxemia in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.
“The prominence given to endotoxin at this significant international conference reflects the increased recognition within the critical care community of its role in sepsis,” said Dr. Paul Walker, President and CEO of Spectral Diagnostics. “Results presented at this conference highlight the efficacy of our EAA(TM) in identifying patients most likely to benefit from anti-endotoxin therapies and the effectiveness of the Toraymyxin(TM) product to remove endotoxin and improve patient outcomes.”
Spectral recently acquired the rights to Toraymyxin(TM) for the United States, where there is a significant unmet need for the approximately 100,000 patients that develop severe sepsis or septic shock each year. Additional information on the 29th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine can be found at www.intensive.org.
About Spectral Diagnostics
Spectral is a leader in the battle against sepsis. Spectral’s lead product is its Endotoxin Activity Assay (EAA(TM)), the only FDA cleared assay for the measurement of endotoxin. With the growing awareness for the role of endotoxemia in sepsis and the increasing number of therapies being developed for this indication, Spectral is well-positioned to drive the adoption of the EAA(TM), which can be used to identify patients, enable therapeutics and monitor treatment. In March 2009, Spectral obtained the exclusive development and commercial rights in the U.S. for Toraymyxin(TM), a therapeutic for the treatment of sepsis that removes endotoxin from the bloodstream. Spectral will seek FDA approval for Toraymyxin(TM) and intends to commercialize the product together with EAA(TM). Spectral is listed on TSX under the symbol SDI.
Forward-looking statement
Information in this news release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Implicit in this information, particularly in respect of the future outlook of Spectral and anticipated events or results, are assumptions based on beliefs of Spectral’s senior management as well as information currently available to it. While these assumptions were considered reasonable by Spectral at the time of preparation, they may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned that actual results are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of Spectral to take advantage of business opportunities in the biomedical industry, the granting of necessary approvals by regulatory authorities as well as general economic, market and business conditions, and could differ materially from what is currently expected.
CONTACT: Dr. Paul Walker, President & CEO, (416) 626-3233 ex. 2100; Casey
Gurfinkel, Investor Relations, (416) 815-0700 ext. 283,
cgurfinkel@equicomgroup.com
