2007'02.11.Sun
77 New Medicines Now in Development for HIV/AIDS

December 19, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy-seven new medicines and vaccines are in development to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions, according to a survey released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). (Photo: http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/sa/200612011122.gif ) Recent reports show AIDS has killed more than 25 million people and infected an estimated 40 million people worldwide. As many as 1.2 million U.S. residents are estimated to have HIV infection. "We are greatly encouraged by the new, critically-important medicines in development to treat HIV/AIDS," said PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin. "PhRMA member companies are leading the search for vaccines and treatments for this terrible disease." PhRMA's survey reveals that of the 77 new medicines in development, researchers are studying 19 new vaccines and 35 antivirals. These drugs are either in human clinical trials or are awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Examples of other new HIV/AIDS medicines being researched include: * One medicine, the first in a new class of drugs known as integrase inhibitors, has been shown to decrease viral load in patients with significant HIV drug resistance. * A vaccine combines DNA snippets from the AIDS virus with a protein that boosts immune response. The vaccine may prevent infection, limit the damage the virus causes, or both. * A medicine in development binds itself to a receptor protein found on the surface of human cells and blocks the HIV virus from entering the cell. The survey also notes that 88 medicines to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions have been approved since the virus that causes AIDS was first identified more than 20 years ago; the first such medicine was developed in 1987, just six years after the HIV virus was identified. The increased availability and utilization of newer prescription medicines has helped to reduce the U.S. death rate from AIDS substantially in recent years. Since the early 1990s, medicines also have significantly reduced mother- to-child transmission of HIV in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that since the mid-1990s, when the first protease inhibitors (a class of anti-HIV drugs that prevent HIV-infected cells from producing new copies of the virus) were launched and combination drug therapy was introduced, the U.S. death rate from AIDS has dropped about 70 percent. New treatments have also reduced hospitalization and the total cost of care, according to a 2001 New England Journal of Medicine study. Despite astounding progress, AIDS remains a devastating and growing worldwide health problem in developing countries, and particularly in sub- Saharan Africa, China, Russia and India. An estimated 38.6 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2005, with an estimated 4.1 million people becoming newly infected with HIV last year, according to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). From 1998 to 2004, pharmaceutical companies have contributed more than $4.1 billion to improve health care in the developing world, according to the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations. Projects include building HIV/AIDS clinics, AIDS education and prevention programs, programs to prevent mother- to-child transmission of HIV, and donations of medicines for AIDS and related diseases. Companies also are providing AIDS drugs at significantly reduced prices in 18 countries. "With HIV/AIDS medicines, a disease that was once a virtual death sentence can now be controlled and treated as if it were a chronic disease," added Tauzin. "And the new medicines our scientists are working on right now bring hope for even more promising results in the future." To read the report on the PhRMA Web site, click on the following link: http://www.phrma.org/news_room/ The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $39.4 billion in 2005 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry- wide research and investment reached a record $51.3 billion in 2005. PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: http://www.buysafedrugs.info SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and
PR
2007'02.11.Sun
77 New Medicines Now in Development for HIV/AIDS

December 19, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy-seven new medicines and vaccines are in development to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions, according to a survey released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). (Photo: http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/sa/200612011122.gif ) Recent reports show AIDS has killed more than 25 million people and infected an estimated 40 million people worldwide. As many as 1.2 million U.S. residents are estimated to have HIV infection. "We are greatly encouraged by the new, critically-important medicines in development to treat HIV/AIDS," said PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin. "PhRMA member companies are leading the search for vaccines and treatments for this terrible disease." PhRMA's survey reveals that of the 77 new medicines in development, researchers are studying 19 new vaccines and 35 antivirals. These drugs are either in human clinical trials or are awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Examples of other new HIV/AIDS medicines being researched include: * One medicine, the first in a new class of drugs known as integrase inhibitors, has been shown to decrease viral load in patients with significant HIV drug resistance. * A vaccine combines DNA snippets from the AIDS virus with a protein that boosts immune response. The vaccine may prevent infection, limit the damage the virus causes, or both. * A medicine in development binds itself to a receptor protein found on the surface of human cells and blocks the HIV virus from entering the cell. The survey also notes that 88 medicines to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions have been approved since the virus that causes AIDS was first identified more than 20 years ago; the first such medicine was developed in 1987, just six years after the HIV virus was identified. The increased availability and utilization of newer prescription medicines has helped to reduce the U.S. death rate from AIDS substantially in recent years. Since the early 1990s, medicines also have significantly reduced mother- to-child transmission of HIV in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that since the mid-1990s, when the first protease inhibitors (a class of anti-HIV drugs that prevent HIV-infected cells from producing new copies of the virus) were launched and combination drug therapy was introduced, the U.S. death rate from AIDS has dropped about 70 percent. New treatments have also reduced hospitalization and the total cost of care, according to a 2001 New England Journal of Medicine study. Despite astounding progress, AIDS remains a devastating and growing worldwide health problem in developing countries, and particularly in sub- Saharan Africa, China, Russia and India. An estimated 38.6 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2005, with an estimated 4.1 million people becoming newly infected with HIV last year, according to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). From 1998 to 2004, pharmaceutical companies have contributed more than $4.1 billion to improve health care in the developing world, according to the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations. Projects include building HIV/AIDS clinics, AIDS education and prevention programs, programs to prevent mother- to-child transmission of HIV, and donations of medicines for AIDS and related diseases. Companies also are providing AIDS drugs at significantly reduced prices in 18 countries. "With HIV/AIDS medicines, a disease that was once a virtual death sentence can now be controlled and treated as if it were a chronic disease," added Tauzin. "And the new medicines our scientists are working on right now bring hope for even more promising results in the future." To read the report on the PhRMA Web site, click on the following link: http://www.phrma.org/news_room/ The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $39.4 billion in 2005 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry- wide research and investment reached a record $51.3 billion in 2005. PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: http://www.buysafedrugs.info SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and
2007'02.11.Sun
77 New Medicines Now in Development for HIV/AIDS

December 19, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy-seven new medicines and vaccines are in development to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions, according to a survey released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). (Photo: http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/sa/200612011122.gif ) Recent reports show AIDS has killed more than 25 million people and infected an estimated 40 million people worldwide. As many as 1.2 million U.S. residents are estimated to have HIV infection. "We are greatly encouraged by the new, critically-important medicines in development to treat HIV/AIDS," said PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin. "PhRMA member companies are leading the search for vaccines and treatments for this terrible disease." PhRMA's survey reveals that of the 77 new medicines in development, researchers are studying 19 new vaccines and 35 antivirals. These drugs are either in human clinical trials or are awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Examples of other new HIV/AIDS medicines being researched include: * One medicine, the first in a new class of drugs known as integrase inhibitors, has been shown to decrease viral load in patients with significant HIV drug resistance. * A vaccine combines DNA snippets from the AIDS virus with a protein that boosts immune response. The vaccine may prevent infection, limit the damage the virus causes, or both. * A medicine in development binds itself to a receptor protein found on the surface of human cells and blocks the HIV virus from entering the cell. The survey also notes that 88 medicines to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions have been approved since the virus that causes AIDS was first identified more than 20 years ago; the first such medicine was developed in 1987, just six years after the HIV virus was identified. The increased availability and utilization of newer prescription medicines has helped to reduce the U.S. death rate from AIDS substantially in recent years. Since the early 1990s, medicines also have significantly reduced mother- to-child transmission of HIV in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that since the mid-1990s, when the first protease inhibitors (a class of anti-HIV drugs that prevent HIV-infected cells from producing new copies of the virus) were launched and combination drug therapy was introduced, the U.S. death rate from AIDS has dropped about 70 percent. New treatments have also reduced hospitalization and the total cost of care, according to a 2001 New England Journal of Medicine study. Despite astounding progress, AIDS remains a devastating and growing worldwide health problem in developing countries, and particularly in sub- Saharan Africa, China, Russia and India. An estimated 38.6 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2005, with an estimated 4.1 million people becoming newly infected with HIV last year, according to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). From 1998 to 2004, pharmaceutical companies have contributed more than $4.1 billion to improve health care in the developing world, according to the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations. Projects include building HIV/AIDS clinics, AIDS education and prevention programs, programs to prevent mother- to-child transmission of HIV, and donations of medicines for AIDS and related diseases. Companies also are providing AIDS drugs at significantly reduced prices in 18 countries. "With HIV/AIDS medicines, a disease that was once a virtual death sentence can now be controlled and treated as if it were a chronic disease," added Tauzin. "And the new medicines our scientists are working on right now bring hope for even more promising results in the future." To read the report on the PhRMA Web site, click on the following link: http://www.phrma.org/news_room/ The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $39.4 billion in 2005 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry- wide research and investment reached a record $51.3 billion in 2005. PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: http://www.buysafedrugs.info SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and
2007'02.11.Sun
77 New Medicines Now in Development for HIV/AIDS

December 19, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy-seven new medicines and vaccines are in development to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions, according to a survey released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). (Photo: http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/sa/200612011122.gif ) Recent reports show AIDS has killed more than 25 million people and infected an estimated 40 million people worldwide. As many as 1.2 million U.S. residents are estimated to have HIV infection. "We are greatly encouraged by the new, critically-important medicines in development to treat HIV/AIDS," said PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin. "PhRMA member companies are leading the search for vaccines and treatments for this terrible disease." PhRMA's survey reveals that of the 77 new medicines in development, researchers are studying 19 new vaccines and 35 antivirals. These drugs are either in human clinical trials or are awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Examples of other new HIV/AIDS medicines being researched include: * One medicine, the first in a new class of drugs known as integrase inhibitors, has been shown to decrease viral load in patients with significant HIV drug resistance. * A vaccine combines DNA snippets from the AIDS virus with a protein that boosts immune response. The vaccine may prevent infection, limit the damage the virus causes, or both. * A medicine in development binds itself to a receptor protein found on the surface of human cells and blocks the HIV virus from entering the cell. The survey also notes that 88 medicines to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions have been approved since the virus that causes AIDS was first identified more than 20 years ago; the first such medicine was developed in 1987, just six years after the HIV virus was identified. The increased availability and utilization of newer prescription medicines has helped to reduce the U.S. death rate from AIDS substantially in recent years. Since the early 1990s, medicines also have significantly reduced mother- to-child transmission of HIV in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that since the mid-1990s, when the first protease inhibitors (a class of anti-HIV drugs that prevent HIV-infected cells from producing new copies of the virus) were launched and combination drug therapy was introduced, the U.S. death rate from AIDS has dropped about 70 percent. New treatments have also reduced hospitalization and the total cost of care, according to a 2001 New England Journal of Medicine study. Despite astounding progress, AIDS remains a devastating and growing worldwide health problem in developing countries, and particularly in sub- Saharan Africa, China, Russia and India. An estimated 38.6 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2005, with an estimated 4.1 million people becoming newly infected with HIV last year, according to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). From 1998 to 2004, pharmaceutical companies have contributed more than $4.1 billion to improve health care in the developing world, according to the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations. Projects include building HIV/AIDS clinics, AIDS education and prevention programs, programs to prevent mother- to-child transmission of HIV, and donations of medicines for AIDS and related diseases. Companies also are providing AIDS drugs at significantly reduced prices in 18 countries. "With HIV/AIDS medicines, a disease that was once a virtual death sentence can now be controlled and treated as if it were a chronic disease," added Tauzin. "And the new medicines our scientists are working on right now bring hope for even more promising results in the future." To read the report on the PhRMA Web site, click on the following link: http://www.phrma.org/news_room/ The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $39.4 billion in 2005 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry- wide research and investment reached a record $51.3 billion in 2005. PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: http://www.buysafedrugs.info SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and
2007'02.11.Sun
77 New Medicines Now in Development for HIV/AIDS

December 19, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy-seven new medicines and vaccines are in development to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions, according to a survey released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). (Photo: http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/sa/200612011122.gif ) Recent reports show AIDS has killed more than 25 million people and infected an estimated 40 million people worldwide. As many as 1.2 million U.S. residents are estimated to have HIV infection. "We are greatly encouraged by the new, critically-important medicines in development to treat HIV/AIDS," said PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin. "PhRMA member companies are leading the search for vaccines and treatments for this terrible disease." PhRMA's survey reveals that of the 77 new medicines in development, researchers are studying 19 new vaccines and 35 antivirals. These drugs are either in human clinical trials or are awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Examples of other new HIV/AIDS medicines being researched include: * One medicine, the first in a new class of drugs known as integrase inhibitors, has been shown to decrease viral load in patients with significant HIV drug resistance. * A vaccine combines DNA snippets from the AIDS virus with a protein that boosts immune response. The vaccine may prevent infection, limit the damage the virus causes, or both. * A medicine in development binds itself to a receptor protein found on the surface of human cells and blocks the HIV virus from entering the cell. The survey also notes that 88 medicines to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions have been approved since the virus that causes AIDS was first identified more than 20 years ago; the first such medicine was developed in 1987, just six years after the HIV virus was identified. The increased availability and utilization of newer prescription medicines has helped to reduce the U.S. death rate from AIDS substantially in recent years. Since the early 1990s, medicines also have significantly reduced mother- to-child transmission of HIV in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that since the mid-1990s, when the first protease inhibitors (a class of anti-HIV drugs that prevent HIV-infected cells from producing new copies of the virus) were launched and combination drug therapy was introduced, the U.S. death rate from AIDS has dropped about 70 percent. New treatments have also reduced hospitalization and the total cost of care, according to a 2001 New England Journal of Medicine study. Despite astounding progress, AIDS remains a devastating and growing worldwide health problem in developing countries, and particularly in sub- Saharan Africa, China, Russia and India. An estimated 38.6 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2005, with an estimated 4.1 million people becoming newly infected with HIV last year, according to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). From 1998 to 2004, pharmaceutical companies have contributed more than $4.1 billion to improve health care in the developing world, according to the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations. Projects include building HIV/AIDS clinics, AIDS education and prevention programs, programs to prevent mother- to-child transmission of HIV, and donations of medicines for AIDS and related diseases. Companies also are providing AIDS drugs at significantly reduced prices in 18 countries. "With HIV/AIDS medicines, a disease that was once a virtual death sentence can now be controlled and treated as if it were a chronic disease," added Tauzin. "And the new medicines our scientists are working on right now bring hope for even more promising results in the future." To read the report on the PhRMA Web site, click on the following link: http://www.phrma.org/news_room/ The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $39.4 billion in 2005 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry- wide research and investment reached a record $51.3 billion in 2005. PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: http://www.buysafedrugs.info SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and
2007'02.11.Sun
77 New Medicines Now in Development for HIV/AIDS

December 19, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy-seven new medicines and vaccines are in development to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions, according to a survey released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). (Photo: http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/sa/200612011122.gif ) Recent reports show AIDS has killed more than 25 million people and infected an estimated 40 million people worldwide. As many as 1.2 million U.S. residents are estimated to have HIV infection. "We are greatly encouraged by the new, critically-important medicines in development to treat HIV/AIDS," said PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin. "PhRMA member companies are leading the search for vaccines and treatments for this terrible disease." PhRMA's survey reveals that of the 77 new medicines in development, researchers are studying 19 new vaccines and 35 antivirals. These drugs are either in human clinical trials or are awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Examples of other new HIV/AIDS medicines being researched include: * One medicine, the first in a new class of drugs known as integrase inhibitors, has been shown to decrease viral load in patients with significant HIV drug resistance. * A vaccine combines DNA snippets from the AIDS virus with a protein that boosts immune response. The vaccine may prevent infection, limit the damage the virus causes, or both. * A medicine in development binds itself to a receptor protein found on the surface of human cells and blocks the HIV virus from entering the cell. The survey also notes that 88 medicines to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions have been approved since the virus that causes AIDS was first identified more than 20 years ago; the first such medicine was developed in 1987, just six years after the HIV virus was identified. The increased availability and utilization of newer prescription medicines has helped to reduce the U.S. death rate from AIDS substantially in recent years. Since the early 1990s, medicines also have significantly reduced mother- to-child transmission of HIV in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that since the mid-1990s, when the first protease inhibitors (a class of anti-HIV drugs that prevent HIV-infected cells from producing new copies of the virus) were launched and combination drug therapy was introduced, the U.S. death rate from AIDS has dropped about 70 percent. New treatments have also reduced hospitalization and the total cost of care, according to a 2001 New England Journal of Medicine study. Despite astounding progress, AIDS remains a devastating and growing worldwide health problem in developing countries, and particularly in sub- Saharan Africa, China, Russia and India. An estimated 38.6 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2005, with an estimated 4.1 million people becoming newly infected with HIV last year, according to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). From 1998 to 2004, pharmaceutical companies have contributed more than $4.1 billion to improve health care in the developing world, according to the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations. Projects include building HIV/AIDS clinics, AIDS education and prevention programs, programs to prevent mother- to-child transmission of HIV, and donations of medicines for AIDS and related diseases. Companies also are providing AIDS drugs at significantly reduced prices in 18 countries. "With HIV/AIDS medicines, a disease that was once a virtual death sentence can now be controlled and treated as if it were a chronic disease," added Tauzin. "And the new medicines our scientists are working on right now bring hope for even more promising results in the future." To read the report on the PhRMA Web site, click on the following link: http://www.phrma.org/news_room/ The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $39.4 billion in 2005 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry- wide research and investment reached a record $51.3 billion in 2005. PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: http://www.buysafedrugs.info SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and
2007'02.11.Sun
77 New Medicines Now in Development for HIV/AIDS

December 19, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy-seven new medicines and vaccines are in development to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions, according to a survey released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). (Photo: http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/sa/200612011122.gif ) Recent reports show AIDS has killed more than 25 million people and infected an estimated 40 million people worldwide. As many as 1.2 million U.S. residents are estimated to have HIV infection. "We are greatly encouraged by the new, critically-important medicines in development to treat HIV/AIDS," said PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin. "PhRMA member companies are leading the search for vaccines and treatments for this terrible disease." PhRMA's survey reveals that of the 77 new medicines in development, researchers are studying 19 new vaccines and 35 antivirals. These drugs are either in human clinical trials or are awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Examples of other new HIV/AIDS medicines being researched include: * One medicine, the first in a new class of drugs known as integrase inhibitors, has been shown to decrease viral load in patients with significant HIV drug resistance. * A vaccine combines DNA snippets from the AIDS virus with a protein that boosts immune response. The vaccine may prevent infection, limit the damage the virus causes, or both. * A medicine in development binds itself to a receptor protein found on the surface of human cells and blocks the HIV virus from entering the cell. The survey also notes that 88 medicines to treat HIV/AIDS and related conditions have been approved since the virus that causes AIDS was first identified more than 20 years ago; the first such medicine was developed in 1987, just six years after the HIV virus was identified. The increased availability and utilization of newer prescription medicines has helped to reduce the U.S. death rate from AIDS substantially in recent years. Since the early 1990s, medicines also have significantly reduced mother- to-child transmission of HIV in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that since the mid-1990s, when the first protease inhibitors (a class of anti-HIV drugs that prevent HIV-infected cells from producing new copies of the virus) were launched and combination drug therapy was introduced, the U.S. death rate from AIDS has dropped about 70 percent. New treatments have also reduced hospitalization and the total cost of care, according to a 2001 New England Journal of Medicine study. Despite astounding progress, AIDS remains a devastating and growing worldwide health problem in developing countries, and particularly in sub- Saharan Africa, China, Russia and India. An estimated 38.6 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2005, with an estimated 4.1 million people becoming newly infected with HIV last year, according to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). From 1998 to 2004, pharmaceutical companies have contributed more than $4.1 billion to improve health care in the developing world, according to the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations. Projects include building HIV/AIDS clinics, AIDS education and prevention programs, programs to prevent mother- to-child transmission of HIV, and donations of medicines for AIDS and related diseases. Companies also are providing AIDS drugs at significantly reduced prices in 18 countries. "With HIV/AIDS medicines, a disease that was once a virtual death sentence can now be controlled and treated as if it were a chronic disease," added Tauzin. "And the new medicines our scientists are working on right now bring hope for even more promising results in the future." To read the report on the PhRMA Web site, click on the following link: http://www.phrma.org/news_room/ The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $39.4 billion in 2005 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry- wide research and investment reached a record $51.3 billion in 2005. PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: http://www.buysafedrugs.info SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and
2007'02.11.Sun
Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw Launches Hong Kong Office

December 19, 2006

- Jeffrey H. Chen Hired to Spearhead the Firm's Asian Securitization and Structured Finance Practice - HONG KONG, Nov. 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP has received its operating license from the Law Society of Hong Kong and will officially open its doors in the Landmark Building of Hong Kong's Central Business District on January 1, 2007. Initially, the Hong Kong office will focus on securitization and structured finance throughout Asia, but will soon provide a broad range of legal services to local Asian companies seeking advice regarding the U.S. and Europe, and to foreign companies operating in Asia. "Our primary goal is to provide clients with a base in China to develop integrated growth between the United States, Europe and Asia," said Ty Fahner, Chairman, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw. "Additionally, the firm intends to assist Chinese companies looking to grow internationally. It promises to be a rewarding endeavor for the firm and its current and future global clients alike." Jeffrey H. Chen, formerly a partner with Jones Day in Hong Kong, has joined Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw to grow the firm's Asian capabilities. Mr. Chen, a finance partner specializing in securitization, is recognized in the 2007 directories of IFLR 1000 and Chambers Global as a leading lawyer in his field. He will work alongside senior London corporate partner, Stephen Bottomley, who is relocating to Hong Kong. "Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw is one of the top securitization and structured finance firms in the world," commented Chen. "The firm is at the front line of every legal, regulatory and accounting development and reform in the industry. The firm has established an impressive network of clients and contacts in the United States and Europe and the arrival in Asia gives me an unparalleled opportunity to integrate my practice with this leading structured finance firm." Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw has pioneered securitization and structured finance since the practice's inception in the 1970s. The firm has dominated the field in the U.S. and Europe where it has been a leading force in every type of product innovation in developed markets and at the vanguard of transactions in emerging markets of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Attorneys at the firm authored The Securitization of Financial Assets, the leading treatise on asset securitization used by lawyers worldwide, and created and sponsor the highly regarded website http://www.securitization.net . The lawyers in the securitization group are also experts in Basel II, Regulation AB and the Securities Offering Reform. "We are prepared to bring the entirety of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw's unmatched securitization expertise to the Asian markets," commented Paul Maher, London Senior Partner and Vice-Chairman elect. "Part of the firm's strategy is to ensure that we are able to surpass our clients expectations in locations that are increasingly important to their business. We feel that having two highly respected partners in Jeff and Stephen gives us the best possible start." The Hong Kong office expands the firm's Asian footprint. For more than eight years Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw's Global Trade Practice has operated a consulting office in Mainland China under the name MBP Consulting. The Global Trade Practice, which includes several former trade negotiators and senior U.S. Government policy officials, including former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor, has provided support to a diverse group of multinational clients ranging from real estate, financial services and insurance to energy, pharmaceuticals and mining. The group advises in a variety of areas in China including developing market-entry strategies, identifying local partners for joint ventures, identifying investment opportunities, securing regulatory approvals, and developing and executing strategies to address market access barriers. "The Hong Kong office will significantly broaden the capabilities we'll be able to offer both our U.S. and European clients," said Peter Scher, head of the Global Trade Group and chair of the firm's China Task Force. "We look forward to working closely with Jeff and Stephen to identify key areas for growth throughout Asia." The firm's license takes effect on December 1, 2006, and the office expects to be fully operational early in the first quarter of 2007. About Jeffrey Chen and Stephen Bottomley: Jeffrey H. Chen has experience throughout Asia and the U.S. working with both local and multi-national companies, focusing on cross-border financing structures of all kinds and on engineering various types of hybrid instruments. He is also experienced in various local laws across Asian jurisdictions and coordinates local law compliance issues such as netting and collateral across the region. In recent years, Mr. Chen has advised on a number of award-winning transactions out of South Korea, Taiwan and China. Stephen Bottomley, a partner in the London office since 1988, advises on a wide range of corporate matters, specializing in corporate finance, M&A and venture capital work and in particular advising on London AIM admissions. He has been acknowledged as a leader in his field by both the Chambers UK and The UK Legal 500 directories as well as being recommended for corporate and M&A work in the PLC Cross-border M&A Handbook 2006/7. Stephen will relocate to Hong Kong to head up the new office in January 2007. Notes to editors: -- Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP is an international legal practice delivering advice to leading companies, financial institutions and multi-national businesses in 14 major cities worldwide, including London, Chicago, New York, Washington, Frankfurt and Paris. -- The international reach of the firm is further enhanced through its trade consulting office in Beijing, a correspondent relationship in Mexico and an alliance with a leading Italian law firm giving access to both Italian and Eastern European markets. -- The firm currently has over 500 partners and more than 1,400 lawyers working together to focus its global legal provision around primary industry and practice groups. Working collaboratively with clients to understand the business environment in which they operate ensures that they receive commercial legal solutions that help them achieve their objectives and success in their businesses. -- The firm recently announced the creation of an 'Office of the Chairman' to take effect from June 1, 2007, with the appointment of James D. Holzhauer as the firm's Chairman and partners Kenneth S. Geller and Paul Maher as Vice-Chairmen. -- Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP is a combination of two limited liability partnerships, each named Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, one incorporated in England and one established in Illinois, USA. -- For further information please visit: http://www.mayerbrownrowe.com or http://www.mayerbrownrowe.com/london . For more information, please contact: Stephen Bottomley, Partner Corporate Group, London Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP Tel: +44-20-7782-8825 Email: sbottomley@mayerbrownrowe.com Peter Scher, Partner Global Trade Group, Washington DC Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP Tel: +1-202-263-3360 Email: pscher@mayerbrownrowe.com Will Hulbert Head of Marketing Communications, London Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP Tel: +44-20-7782-8804 Email: whulbert@mayerbrownrowe.com Aimee Jasculca Public Relations Manager, Chicago Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP Tel: +1-312-701-8241 Email: ajasculca@mayerbrownrowe.com SOURCE Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP ; 42(5):585-594.
2007'02.11.Sun
Certicom Collaborates with Texas Instruments for RFID Authentication and Encryption

December 19, 2006

Certicom Security for RFID Product Authentication protects high-value products against counterfeiting and ensures privacy DALLAS, Nov. 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Certicom Corp. (TSX: CIC) today launched Certicom Security for RFID Product Authentication, a solution that ensures authenticity and prevents counterfeiting of high-value items as they move through the supply chain. In collaboration with Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE: TXN) (TI) Certicom is using its elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) expertise to add item-level RFID tag security that protects product information and proves the legitimacy of products, such as pharmaceuticals and other high-value consumer goods. For products like these that require a high level of security, RFID solutions providers can use Certicom security and TI's family of ISO 15693 RFID tags to deliver product protection with authentication and encryption. (Logo: http://www.xprn.com.cn:9080/xprn/sa/20061107170439-20.jpg ) Certicom and TI are currently engaged with companies in the pharmaceutical supply chain where valuable medicines are susceptible to counterfeiting, which can lead to significant asset losses and patient consumer safety issues. In tandem, they are addressing the high-value goods industry where protection of brand integrity is imperative to reducing product theft and diversion of goods for sale on the black market. Examples of these products range from brand-name apparel and cosmetics to professionally signed baseballs, poker chips, printer ink cartridges and legal documents. Certicom uses standards-based and proven cryptographic protocols for its RFID appliance, including a standardized public-key cryptography scheme from IEEE 1363a. This efficient ECC-based digital signature scheme enables a high level of security to be added to the tag without requiring a lot of computing power and storage. For example, at 160 bits, ECC provides the same level of protection as a 1024-bit RSA key but is approximately one-third the size. "By collaborating with Certicom, we demonstrate a highly efficient, standardized security solution that delivers privacy protection and authentication," said Joseph Pearson, business development manager for TI RFID. "A standardized approach is imperative to provide a proven level of security, and to promote interoperability and compatibility going forward." Certicom Security for RFID Product Authentication works as a distributed system where there may not be dedicated Internet connectivity to a database, to provide real-time authentication of a tagged product. A simple application programming interface (API) enables developers to integrate the product's components with RFID middleware and enterprise applications. "The RFID industry is telling us that what is needed is a security infrastructure that provides the smallest possible standardized digital signatures, along with privacy protection features, with integrated key management to meet the needs of the supply chain constituency, especially the pharmaceutical manufacturers and retailers," said Jim Alfred, director of product management for Certicom. "TI has been instrumental in providing their expertise and insight on the industry when it comes to what is required for RFID product authentication. This is what we are delivering." Certicom Security for RFID Product Authentication will be demonstrated at TI's Booth #3015 at the RFID Healthcare Industry Adoption Summit at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., November 12-15, 2006. The Summit is sponsored by National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Healthcare Distribution Management Association. For more information on how TI and Certicom are collaborating on RFID product authentication and to view the demonstration of Certicom's new security product in action, please visit http://www.ti.com/rfidvidcast . For more information on the product visit http://www.certicom.com/rfid . About Texas Instruments Texas Instruments is the world's largest integrated manufacturer of radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders and reader systems. Capitalizing on its competencies in high-volume semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics packaging, TI is a visionary leader and at the forefront of establishing new markets and international standards for RFID applications. For more information, contact TI-RFid(TM) Systems at 1-800-962- RFID (7343) (North America) or +1 214-567-7343 (International), or visit the Web site at http://www.ti-rfid.com . Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements. In addition to Semiconductor, the company includes the Educational & Productivity Solutions business. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries. Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com . About Certicom Certicom protects the value of your content, applications and devices with government-approved security. Adopted by the National Security Agency (NSA) for classified and sensitive but unclassified government communications, Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) provides the most security per bit of any known public-key scheme. As the undisputed leader in ECC, Certicom security offerings are currently licensed to more than 300 customers including General Dynamics, Motorola, Oracle, Research In Motion and Unisys. Founded in 1985, Certicom's corporate offices are in Mississauga, ON, Canada with worldwide sales and marketing headquarters in Reston, VA and offices in the US, Canada and Europe. Visit http://www.certicom.com . Trademarks TI-RFid is a trademark of Texas Instruments. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. For more information, please contact: Jamie Horton Texas Instruments Tel: +1-214-567-2463 Email: jhorton@ti.com Lisa Courtney Lloyd Certicom Corp. Tel: +1-613-271-7512 Email: lcourtneylloyd@certicom.com SOURCE Texas Instruments 5-
2007'02.11.Sun
New Oriental Issues Statement in Response to Name Confusion

December 19, 2006

BEIJING, Nov. 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. (NYSE: EDU), the largest provider of private educational services in China, today issued a statement to clarify some market confusion between the name of the Company and the privately held Oriental Standard. "To be clear, New Oriental has no affiliation with Oriental Standard, which recently announced that it has raised a round of venture capital financing," said New Oriental's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Michael Yu. Mr. Yu noted that Oriental Standard was spun off from New Oriental Education and Technology Group in 2005. About New Oriental New Oriental is the largest provider of private educational services in China based on the number of program offerings, total student enrollments and geographic presence. New Oriental offers a wide range of educational programs, services and products consisting primarily of English and other foreign language training, test preparation courses for major admissions and assessment tests in the United States, the PRC and Commonwealth countries, primary and secondary school education, development and distribution of educational content, software and other technology, and online education. New Oriental's ADSs, each of which represents four common shares, currently trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "EDU." Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about New Oriental's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Information regarding these risks and uncertainties is included in our registration statement on Form F-1 and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New Oriental does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release is as of November 29, 2006, and New Oriental undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law. For more information, please contact: In China: Ms. Sisi Zhao New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. Tel: +86-10-6260-5566 x8203 Email: zhaosisi@staff.neworiental.org Mr. Rory Macpherson Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Tel: +86-10-8520-6553 Email: rory.macpherson@ogilvy.com In the United States: Mr. Thomas Smith Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Tel: +1-212-880-5269 Email: thomas.smith@ogilvypr.com SOURCE New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. information resources and
2007'02.11.Sun
New Oriental Issues Statement in Response to Name Confusion

December 19, 2006

BEIJING, Nov. 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. (NYSE: EDU), the largest provider of private educational services in China, today issued a statement to clarify some market confusion between the name of the Company and the privately held Oriental Standard. "To be clear, New Oriental has no affiliation with Oriental Standard, which recently announced that it has raised a round of venture capital financing," said New Oriental's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Michael Yu. Mr. Yu noted that Oriental Standard was spun off from New Oriental Education and Technology Group in 2005. About New Oriental New Oriental is the largest provider of private educational services in China based on the number of program offerings, total student enrollments and geographic presence. New Oriental offers a wide range of educational programs, services and products consisting primarily of English and other foreign language training, test preparation courses for major admissions and assessment tests in the United States, the PRC and Commonwealth countries, primary and secondary school education, development and distribution of educational content, software and other technology, and online education. New Oriental's ADSs, each of which represents four common shares, currently trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "EDU." Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about New Oriental's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Information regarding these risks and uncertainties is included in our registration statement on Form F-1 and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New Oriental does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release is as of November 29, 2006, and New Oriental undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law. For more information, please contact: In China: Ms. Sisi Zhao New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. Tel: +86-10-6260-5566 x8203 Email: zhaosisi@staff.neworiental.org Mr. Rory Macpherson Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Tel: +86-10-8520-6553 Email: rory.macpherson@ogilvy.com In the United States: Mr. Thomas Smith Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Tel: +1-212-880-5269 Email: thomas.smith@ogilvypr.com SOURCE New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. information resources and
2007'02.11.Sun
New Test Generators and Upgrades Enable HDMI(TM) v1.3 36-bit Deep Color Display Development and Manufacturing

December 19, 2006

ELGIN, Ill., Nov. 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Data(TM), a worldwide provider of video test equipment, today announced the release of new video signal generators and upgrades supporting High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) version 1.3, enabling display manufacturers to design and manufacture 36-bit deep color displays. HDMI is a prime digital interface for connecting displays to home theatre, broadcast and gaming sources. HDMI version 1.3 (v1.3) of the interface is backwards compatible with previous versions and adds options for wide-gamut color, faster pixel rates, cable equalization, smaller connectors, advanced audio formats, and lip sync correction -- in addition to deep color. Video test equipment is required to check HDMI compliance and interoperability during development of displays and to detect defects during manufacturing. Today, few displays support the latest HDMI options available in v1.3, as manufacturers have had to wait for silicon and video test equipment to catch up with HDMI specification enhancements before proceeding. Quantum Data's new model 881E and 882E generators, built with the latest chips from Silicon Image, are capable of generating triple 12-bit/component colors in 4:4:4 sampling mode up to 165M pixels/second. Added test images reveal "banding" in fine color transitions -- a defect that is supposed to be eliminated by HDMI v1.3's new "deep color" option. As with previous offerings, the new generators output any video format on-demand, render test images, produce test tones, and perform a variety of compliance tests. The new generators will begin shipping in limited quantities in December 2006, with full-production scheduled for Q1 2007. The company also announced the availability of upgrades for converting existing 881C and 882C generators to 881E and 882E generators. For a complete list of features and specifications of the series 880, go to http://www.quantumdata.com/products/index.asp . About Quantum Data Headquartered in Elgin, Ill., Quantum Data, Inc. ( http://www.quantumdata.com ) designs, manufactures and markets test generators for developing, manufacturing and servicing video displays. HDMI(TM) and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing, LLC in the United States and other countries. For more information, please contact: Chuck Evans Quantum Data Tel: +1-847-888-0450 x117 Email: cevans@quantumdata.com SOURCE Quantum Data
2007'02.11.Sun
Beijing QTC Announces a VoIP Telephone Agreement With Beijing Oriental Jiachuang

December 19, 2006

International, Inc., Forwarding to the 3GenisIP Integrated Access System BEIJING, Nov. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The Bralorne Mining Company (OTC Bulletin Board: BLNM) ("BLNM") today announced that its 100% owned subsidiary company -- Beijing Quan Tong Chang Information Service Limited ("Beijing QTC") has signed a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Telephone service agreement with Beijing Oriental Jiachuang International Exhibition Inc. ("Beijing Oriental"), a leading exhibition and conference holding company in China. According to the agreement, Beijing QTC will deploy its 3GenisIP Integrated Access System to Beijing Oriental to support its VoIP Broadband Phone Network service with local, long distance and international calling. 3GenisIP Integrated Access System is launched and named by Beijing QTC and has been already put into commercial use. It is a multi-service of VoIP platform that is extremely flexible. This system combines the benefits of IP networking with the rich features and high availability of circuit-switched systems. Through its integrated VoIP gateway for stations and networking, 3GenisIP system allows integration of offices and companies using in-place IP networks and, enables users to reduce costs significantly. According to the agreement, Beijing QTC will provide its 3GenisIP Integrated Access System to Beijing Oriental, including VoIP enabled integrated access, a packet value-added service of consultancy, account opening, daily query and rapid maintenance and, related business training course. Authorized by two giant telecoms -- China Netcom and China Telecom, Beijing QTC is the low cost primary authorized VoIP network agent for some provinces and cities and, by offering an IP-based convergence systems platform with the distributed technology of controlled calling, including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers, Beijing QTC helps Beijing Oriental to avoid paying for both a broadband connection and a traditional telephone line. Mr. Zhang Feng Ming, President of BLNM, commented, "Since its introduction to the market, 3GenisIP's leading technologies and professional experience is helping our customers to enjoy high-quality VoIP broadband phone network coverage and more diversified service. We are confident that our service can meet Beijing Oriental's requirements and help them deploy secure, reliable broadband networking and, we are excited at the long-term prospects associated with this partnership." About Beijing Oriental Jiachuang International Exhibition Inc. Beijing Oriental Jiachuang International Exhibition Inc. ("Beijing Oriental") is a highly successful exhibition company who has professional experience in organizing, planning and holding large activities and conferences in China. It conducts its core businesses with operating the excellent exhibitions and meetings to provide the comprehensive designing project of the whole exhibiting procedure to its customers and partners. Beijing Oriental believes by embracing the richest information resources and uncompromising business integrity, it is committed to consistently provide the innovative and customized service to an economic, intellectual and social assets to each of our markets in which we operate. About Bralorne Mining Company Bralorne Mining Company was organized for the purpose of acquiring and exploring mineral properties. During February 1999, the Company acquired a mineral claim for $1.00 from a related party, known as "Golden" consisting of one 18 units metric claim situated within the Bridge River gold camp near the town of Gold Bridge, British Columbia and has an expiration date of December 15, 2006. During March 2003, the Company started an exploration program on 9 of the 18 units within the claim. The other 9 units lapsed on March 18, 2003 and the Company has no further interest in them. The remaining 9 are in good standing until December 15, 2006. On November 2, 2006, The Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Gold Profit (Asia) Group Limited ("Gold Profit"), which owns 100% of the registered capital of Beijing Quan Tong Chang Information Service Limited ("Beijing QTC"). Beijing QTC is a telecommunications service provider to deliver economical voice and data services domestically and internationally throughout China. It engaged in the business of distributing telephone services through public pay phones and is also in the business of developing Internet phone solutions for commercial customers, focusing on a convenient local, domestic and international long distance call service with competitive price. Beijing QTC will add international call forwarding to its lines of business in the year 2007. Forward-looking statements 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, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, economic and political factors; developments of the Chinese and North American markets and changes in regulatory matters; our business strategies and future plans of operations; the market acceptance and amount of sales of our products and services; our historical losses; the competitive environment within the industries in which we compete; and our ability to raise additional capital, currently needed for expansion. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements due to several important factors. Bralorne Mining Company Company pany Investor Relations
2007'02.11.Sun
Beijing QTC Announces a VoIP Telephone Agreement With Beijing Oriental Jiachuang

December 19, 2006

International, Inc., Forwarding to the 3GenisIP Integrated Access System BEIJING, Nov. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The Bralorne Mining Company (OTC Bulletin Board: BLNM) ("BLNM") today announced that its 100% owned subsidiary company -- Beijing Quan Tong Chang Information Service Limited ("Beijing QTC") has signed a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Telephone service agreement with Beijing Oriental Jiachuang International Exhibition Inc. ("Beijing Oriental"), a leading exhibition and conference holding company in China. According to the agreement, Beijing QTC will deploy its 3GenisIP Integrated Access System to Beijing Oriental to support its VoIP Broadband Phone Network service with local, long distance and international calling. 3GenisIP Integrated Access System is launched and named by Beijing QTC and has been already put into commercial use. It is a multi-service of VoIP platform that is extremely flexible. This system combines the benefits of IP networking with the rich features and high availability of circuit-switched systems. Through its integrated VoIP gateway for stations and networking, 3GenisIP system allows integration of offices and companies using in-place IP networks and, enables users to reduce costs significantly. According to the agreement, Beijing QTC will provide its 3GenisIP Integrated Access System to Beijing Oriental, including VoIP enabled integrated access, a packet value-added service of consultancy, account opening, daily query and rapid maintenance and, related business training course. Authorized by two giant telecoms -- China Netcom and China Telecom, Beijing QTC is the low cost primary authorized VoIP network agent for some provinces and cities and, by offering an IP-based convergence systems platform with the distributed technology of controlled calling, including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers, Beijing QTC helps Beijing Oriental to avoid paying for both a broadband connection and a traditional telephone line. Mr. Zhang Feng Ming, President of BLNM, commented, "Since its introduction to the market, 3GenisIP's leading technologies and professional experience is helping our customers to enjoy high-quality VoIP broadband phone network coverage and more diversified service. We are confident that our service can meet Beijing Oriental's requirements and help them deploy secure, reliable broadband networking and, we are excited at the long-term prospects associated with this partnership." About Beijing Oriental Jiachuang International Exhibition Inc. Beijing Oriental Jiachuang International Exhibition Inc. ("Beijing Oriental") is a highly successful exhibition company who has professional experience in organizing, planning and holding large activities and conferences in China. It conducts its core businesses with operating the excellent exhibitions and meetings to provide the comprehensive designing project of the whole exhibiting procedure to its customers and partners. Beijing Oriental believes by embracing the richest information resources and uncompromising business integrity, it is committed to consistently provide the innovative and customized service to an economic, intellectual and social assets to each of our markets in which we operate. About Bralorne Mining Company Bralorne Mining Company was organized for the purpose of acquiring and exploring mineral properties. During February 1999, the Company acquired a mineral claim for $1.00 from a related party, known as "Golden" consisting of one 18 units metric claim situated within the Bridge River gold camp near the town of Gold Bridge, British Columbia and has an expiration date of December 15, 2006. During March 2003, the Company started an exploration program on 9 of the 18 units within the claim. The other 9 units lapsed on March 18, 2003 and the Company has no further interest in them. The remaining 9 are in good standing until December 15, 2006. On November 2, 2006, The Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Gold Profit (Asia) Group Limited ("Gold Profit"), which owns 100% of the registered capital of Beijing Quan Tong Chang Information Service Limited ("Beijing QTC"). Beijing QTC is a telecommunications service provider to deliver economical voice and data services domestically and internationally throughout China. It engaged in the business of distributing telephone services through public pay phones and is also in the business of developing Internet phone solutions for commercial customers, focusing on a convenient local, domestic and international long distance call service with competitive price. Beijing QTC will add international call forwarding to its lines of business in the year 2007. Forward-looking statements 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, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, economic and political factors; developments of the Chinese and North American markets and changes in regulatory matters; our business strategies and future plans of operations; the market acceptance and amount of sales of our products and services; our historical losses; the competitive environment within the industries in which we compete; and our ability to raise additional capital, currently needed for expansion. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements due to several important factors. SOURCE Bralorne Mining Company pany Investor Relations
2007'02.11.Sun
Winner Medical Group Inc. Successfully Completes Second Phase of ERP Project

December 19, 2006

- SAP ERP System Will Facilitate Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley as Well as Help to Better Manage Future Growth - SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Winner Medical Group Inc., "Winner Medical" (OTC Bulletin Board: WMDG), has successfully completed the second phase of its Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") project, and the SAP ERP system is now fully implemented and operating throughout Winner Medical and its subsidiaries. The Winner Medical ERP Project formally commenced in January 2006, with Phase I of the project focused on effectively implementing a SAP ERP system at the Winner Medical headquarters in Shenzhen. Phase I was completed in June 2006 and the system has run smoothly since inception. Phase II of the project commenced in July 2006 with the goal of implementingthe ERP system throughout Winner Medical and its subsidiaries. This phase was completed earlier this month and is functioning well. "Winner Medical selected the SAP ERP system because of its technical supremacy and ability to seamlessly integrate all of the core business operations of each of our subsidiaries -- from production to supply to sales and finally to financial records -- into one system," said Jianquan Li, Chief Executive Officer. "It has proven to be an effective and efficient solution for managing and improving our internal controls and corporate governance. We believe the SAP ERP system will not only enable us to better comply with Sarbanes-Oxley regulations, but also help us to manage future growth and maintain our competitive advantage. "To ensure a smooth and timely implementation of the SAP ERP system, Winner Medical engaged IBM consultants to manage the process. Their deep knowledge of business processes and wealth of experience in resolving problems in the area of business and systems integration has proven invaluable," concluded Mr. Li. Winner Medical has commenced Phase III of the project to implement the key components of the SAP ERP system in order to better manage internal controls and facilitate compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. When completed, the SAP ERP system will enable Winner Medical management to accurately assess and report, on an annual basis, as to the effectiveness of Winner Medical's internal controls for financial reporting and enable external auditors to confirm management's assessment. To date, Winner Medical has invested approximately $2.4 million on the implementation of the SAP ERP system throughout all its companies. This investment includes the cost of the IBM consultants, the purchase of the SAP system implementation program, the purchase of IBM servers and other machinery and the labor cost of more than 30 full time employees. About Winner Medical Group Inc. Winner Medical is a holding company comprised of nine wholly owned manufacturing and distribution facilities, two joint venture factories and one trading company. Winner Medical is primarily engaged in the development, manufacturing and distribution of high-quality cotton disposable medical dressings and disposable products. Winner Medical's products include surgical dressings, dressing packs, wound care dressings, protective products, medical instruments, dental products and hygiene products for the institutional and home care markets. Winner Medical products are manufactured in China and sold domestically and abroad, in areas such as Japan, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, France, the United States, South America, Africa and the Middle East. The company is one of very few Chinese companies licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ship finished, sterilized products directly to the US market. To learn more about Winner Medical, visit the company's web site http://www.winnermedical.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements that may include "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, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements" including statements regarding Winner Medical and its subsidiary companies' business strategy, plans and objective and statements of non-historical information. These forward looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although Winner Medical believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Winner Medical's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in Winner Medical's periodic reports that are filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements attributable to Winner Medical or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, Winner Medical does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements. For more information, please contact: United States Company Investor Relations Richard Thomas Kathy Price Vice President The Global Consulting Group Tel: +1 (843) 682-5001 Tel: +1 (646) 284-9430 Email: rthomas@winnermedical.com Email: kprice@hfgcg.com China Company Investor Relations Annie Chen Anne Pang Secretary of the Board Citigate Dewe Rogerson - Hong Kong Email: annie.chen@winnermedical.com Tel: +852 2533 4605 Email: anne.pang@citigatedr-hk.com SOURCE Winner Medical Group Inc. Nagasaki University (Japan) was a recipient of an NHMRC Program Grant (2005-
2007'02.11.Sun
Achievo Launches Redesigned Websites in English, Chinese, Japanese and German

December 19, 2006

Faster Access to Information on Company's Global Software and IT Outsourcing Services SAN RAMON, Calif., Nov. 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Achievo(R) Corporation, the leading global software and information technology outsourcing provider with a local front-end and China back-end service model, today announced the launch of four newly designed websites that provide faster access to information on the company's software and IT outsourcing services. Achievo' s websites are located at http://www.achievo.com (English), http://www.achievo.de (German), http://www.achievo.co.jp (Japanese) and http://www.achievo.cn (Chinese). (Logo: http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/sa/200611291032.jpg ) "Achievo's websites are representative of our local front-end, China back-end service model," said Dr. Robert P. Lee, Achievo's chairman and CEO. "The simultaneous launch of websites in four languages illustrates the importance of seamless communications across cultures. Visitors can view information in a language of their choice and gain access to company and services information more quickly." In addition to making it easier to navigate and find information faster, web content has been updated to reflect the company's operations. Achievo's new design makes information about the company more accessible for existing and potential clients, industry and financial analysts, partners and journalists. Additionally, the websites offer valuable tools for evaluating software and IT outsourcing decisions, including case studies and links to information about outsourcing in trade and business press. "The website redesign offers clients information and resources they have come to expect from us, with an easier and user-friendly interface," said Brian K. Fawkes, Achievo's vice president of corporate communications. "Our websites serve as the command center for information on our global services and capabilities. As our websites evolve to meet the needs of our clients, we will continue to update and add new content on an ongoing basis. New content will include white papers, IT and outsourcing articles, research, services documentation, and collateral materials such as customer case studies. We recognize the importance of providing accurate and timely information that educates and informs so viewers can access the information they need when they need it." About Achievo Achievo is a global offshore software and information technology outsourcing provider with a local front-end and China back-end service model. With expertise in diverse technologies including Java/J2EE, .NET and embedded platforms, the CMM-certified company offers improved efficiencies, scale, diversification, and a combined talent pool to deliver cost-effective, quality-centric, and scalable IT outsourcing services to customers and partners worldwide. Customers include IBM, HP, Sun Microsystems, Netgear, Cadence, Accela, China Academy of Sciences, DaimlerChrysler, Ellie Mae, ESRI, Audi, Fujitsu, Mercedes Benz, Mitsubishi, Siemens, United Way, Hitachi, NEC, Pioneer, NTT Data, Nomura, Toshiba and other Fortune 2000 companies. Headquartered in the Silicon Valley, Achievo has offices in the United States, Canada, Germany, Greater China and Japan. For information on the company and its services, visit http://www.achievo.com . (C) 2006 Achievo Corporation. All rights reserved. Achievo is a registered trademark of Achievo Corporation in the United States and in other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information, please contact: Jayme Curtis Public Relations Achievo Corporation Tel: +1-408-892-8661 Email: jayme.curtis@achievo.com SOURCE Achievo(R) Corporation ment and those improvements
2007'02.11.Sun
Super 8 China Exceeds Development Goal for Second Year

December 19, 2006

BEIJING, Nov. 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Super 8 Hotels (China) Co. Ltd. announced that it has exceeded its 2006 development projection of 100 properties either open or signed by year end by 10 percent -- the second consecutive year the company has exceeded its development goals -- due to continued strong growth in domestic demand for branded economy lodging in China. Super 8 Hotels (China) has 110 properties either open or signed in 58 cities across China, of which 32 are open and operating. In addition, the company announced it will open three properties this month, including Beijing Fangzhuang Yi Ma Super 8 Hotel, Chuzhou Sitailou Super 8 Hotel, and Hohhot Yiju Super 8 Hotel. Mitchell A. Presnick, Super 8 Hotels (China) chairman and chief executive officer, said he is "very satisfied" with his company's development progress in 2006 and thanked his business partners, employees, industry and government friends and guests. "We operate under the ideals of quality, value, and international operations excellence," he said. "Our mission since 1974 has been to provide the Super 8(R) brand's `Clean and Friendly' experience to our guests. "As an American brand, we hope to continue learning from the domestic economy hotel sector and to contribute positively to the stable development of the Chinese economy hotel industry." Super 8 Hotels (China) is licensed by Wyndham Worldwide Corporation of Parsippany, N.J., to develop the Super 8 brand in China. Presnick noted that his company "strongly supports the success of the 2008 Beijing Olympics." Fang Guofan, Super 8 Hotels (China) senior vice president, said his company has hotels properties open or under construction "in all four corners and eight directions of China's vast geography. "Based on our current pipeline of signed deals, our guests will be able to enjoy `Clean and Friendly' Super 8 hotels in China's east, west, north and south, from Beijing to Urumqi, Hohhot to Shenzhen, Lijiang to Shanghai, Shenyang to Xiamen and many places in between". The Super 8 brand, one of 10 lodging brands franchised by Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN), entered China in April 2004. The Super 8 brand is operated in China under license agreement with Tian Rui Hotel Investment Corporation, master license holder for the Super 8 brand for the Territory of China, including Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. For more information, please contact: Melanie Li Marketing Director Super 8 Hotels (China) Tel: +86-10-6580-2258 x8248 Email: mli@super8.com.cn Super 8 Hotels (China) Room 818 Hua Pu International Plaza No. 19 Chao Yang Men Wai Chaoyang District Beijing 100020 Tel: +86-10-6580-2258 Fax: +86-10-6580-2358 Web: http://www.super8.com.cn SOURCE Super 8 Hotels (China) Co. Ltd. pe and
2007'02.11.Sun
Heidrick & Struggles Opens Office in Chongqing, China

December 19, 2006

First Global Executive Search and Leadership Consulting Firm to Open a Third Office in Mainland China SHANGHAI, China, Nov. 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSII), the world's premier executive search and leadership consulting firm, has announced the opening of its third office in mainland China, strategically located in the heart of Chongqing, a major industrial base in southwest China. Chongqing has attracted many multinationals in recent years, including ABB, American Standard, Rockwell, Honda, Suzuki, Isuzu, Yamaha, Mobil, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson. In 2005 Chongqing had a nominal GDP that grew 11.5 percent to 310 billion yuan (US$38.75 billion). According to a spokesperson from the Chongqing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Chongqing is expected to double its per capita GDP in 2007, three years ahead of the timetable set in China's 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010). "With the demand for highly qualified senior talent in fast developing regions across Asia, Heidrick & Struggles has consistently moved with our client organizations into new markets. Our strategy is to invest ahead of other executive search firms in opening new offices and offering innovative leadership consulting services such as assessment and talent management. In line with our growth strategy, we were the first foreign executive search firm to be granted a JV license to operate in China, and we were also the first to open multiple offices across China," said Gerry Davis, Regional Managing Partner, Asia Pacific at Heidrick & Struggles. Added Steve Mullinjer, Managing Partner of Heidrick & Struggles China: "Following the central government's China Western Development strategy, many multinational companies consider Chongqing to be China's 'Gateway to the West,' particularly with the extensive infrastructure and transportation works currently underway in the city and the completion of the Three Gorges Dam project in 2009. We have chosen to be physically located in Chongqing as it is strategically important to many of our clients. Initially, this office will focus on industrial, consumer and technology clients who are investing in Chongqing and nearby Chengdu. A central theme of our China strategy is to be where our clients need us most." About Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. is the world's premier provider of senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services, including talent management, board building, executive on-boarding and M&A effectiveness. For more than 50 years, we have focused on quality service and built strong leadership teams through our relationships with clients and individuals worldwide. Today, Heidrick & Struggles leadership experts operate from principal business centers in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information about Heidrick & Struggles, please visit http://www.heidrick.com . For more information, please contact: Jennifer Tow Manifesto Ltd Tel: +852-2526-1972 Email: jennifer@manifesto.com.hk Eric Sodorff Heidrick & Struggles Tel: +1-312-496-1613 Email: esodorff@heidrick.com SOURCE Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. law. For more information, please contact:
2007'02.11.Sun
Sinovac Issues Corporate Update

December 19, 2006

BEIJING, Nov. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (Amex: SVA), a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, issues a corporate update today. Sales and Marketing The unaudited sales of third quarter 2006, second quarter 2006, and third quarter 2005 were RMB 35,975,000 or USD$4,510,000, RMB 23,908,000 or USD$2,980,000, and RMB 16,198,000 or USD$1,987,000, respectively. Third quarter 2006 sales increased 50% over second quarter 2006 and 122% over third quarter 2005. The third quarter 2006 sales results are based on preliminary unaudited financials and the Company has filed its financial results in the semi-annual report of 2006 on Form 6K with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The sales of Anflu started in September 2006. An after-sales clinical trial of Anflu was recently conducted in the City of Tianjin. A total 225 healthy adults and elders were vaccinated with Anflu. The result shows the vaccine is well tolerated. Update on Panflu Clinical Trial Sinovac was approved by China State Food And Drug Administration (SFDA) to give the third shot to those who were vaccinated with Panflu in Phase I clinical trial. The trial will further demonstrate the tolerance of the vaccine and immune response after a booster. It will also help on the determination on the relevant dosage with different vaccination schedule. The trial will be initiated shortly. Sinovac has filed the application with China State Food And Drug Administration for the application to conduct a Phase II human clinical trial on its Pandemic Influenza (H5N1) vaccine. Sinovac has been granted fast track status for the application of pandemic flu vaccine. About Sinovac Sinovac Biotech Ltd. is a China-based biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the research, development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases. Sinovac's vaccines include Healive(TM) (hepatitis A), Bilive(TM) (combined hepatitis A and B) and Anflu(TM) (influenza). Sinovac is currently developing human vaccines against the H5N1 strain of pandemic influenza, Japanese encephalitis and SARS. Additional information about Sinovac is available on its website, http://www.sinovac.com . To be added to our distribution list, please email: info@sinovac.com. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this press release contain forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Sinovac's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Sinovac does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. For more information, please contact: Helen G. Yang Sinovac Biotech Ltd. Tel: +86-10-8289-0088 x871 Fax: +86-10-6296-6910 Email: info@sinovac.com Investors/Media: Stephanie Carrington / Janine McCargo The Ruth Group Tel: +1-646-536-7017/7033 Email: scarrington@theruthgroup.com / jmccargo@theruthgroup.com SOURCE Sinovac Biotech Ltd. in experienced significant improvements in
2007'02.11.Sun
Study Shows Pregabalin Effective in Difficult-to-Treat Nerve Pain

December 19, 2006

Results Offer Hope to Patients with Excruciating Chronic Pain SYDNEY, Australia, Nov. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Findings from a new study published today in the journal Neurology demonstrate that the oral medication pregabalin is significantly effective in relieving central neuropathic (nerve) pain and improves pain-related sleep disturbance and anxiety in patients with spinal cord injury. Conducted by researchers at the Pain Management Research Institute in Sydney, the study is the largest controlled clinical trial ever of patients with spinal cord injury who suffer from central neuropathic pain, a particularly persistent and severe pain condition. Results from the study showed that patients using pregabalin (150-600 mg/day) experienced significant improvements in symptoms as early as the first week of treatment and those improvements were sustained throughout the study. Patients taking pregabalin experienced a significant reduction in the average intensity of their pain and significant improvements in pain-related sleep interference as well as a reduction in anxiety compared to those taking placebo. "Historically it has been extremely difficult to manage patients with central neuropathic pain due to a lack of effective treatments and many people with spinal cord injury have excruciating pain," said Prof. Philip Siddall, lead investigator of the study and Clinical Associate Professor at the Pain Management Research Institute in Sydney. "The study demonstrates that pregabalin is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for treating a range of symptoms that can negatively impact overall quality of life. This study is an important step forward for clinicians trying to improve the lives of patients suffering from difficult-to-treat nerve pains." Approximately two-thirds of patients with spinal cord injury often suffer from severe central neuropathic pain(1,2), which is caused by a lesion or dysfunction in the central nervous system(3). Patients often describe the symptoms of their pain as burning, tingling, stabbing, shooting, pricking, scalding and freezing(4,5,6). Chronic pain following spinal cord injury may limit a patient's ability to perform daily activities(7). Consequently, quality of life may be impaired(8). Central neuropathic pain can occur in patients with spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis and neoplasia. Pregabalin is believed to work by calming hyper-excited neurons or nerve cells which may be an underlying cause for various types of nerve pain. Based on the results of this study, pregabalin recently became the only therapy to receive European regulatory approval in central neuropathic pain. About the Study The study, sponsored by pregabalin (Lyrica(R)) developer Pfizer Inc, was a multicentre, parallel-group, double-blind, randomised clinical trial comparing pregabalin with placebo over a 12-week treatment period in patients with spinal cord injury who had central neuropathic pain as defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain classification. The 12-week treatment period was preceded by a 1-week baseline period during which baseline data were collected. Patients were randomised to receive either flexible dose pregabalin (150-600 mg/day) (n=70) or placebo (n=67) taken twice daily. The primary endpoint of the study was mean pain score as measured by patient pain diary assessments which were completed daily. Patients also rated the extent to which pain interfered with sleep in a daily diary. Changes in anxiety were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results from the study showed that: * Patients receiving pregabalin experienced significant improvements in symptoms as early as the first week of treatment and those improvements were sustained throughout the study * Patients receiving pregabalin experienced a significant reduction in the average intensity of their pain and significant improvements in pain-related sleep interference (p<0.001) as well as a reduction in anxiety (p<0.05) compared to those taking placebo (p<0.001) * More than 40 percent of patients had greater than a 30 percent reduction in pain as compared to 16 percent of patients on placebo (p=0.001) * At the end of the study, three times less patients had severe pain in the pregabalin group compared with the placebo group * Pregabalin was associated with a rapid and significant reduction in pain-related sleep interference (p<0.001) as well as a reduction in anxiety (p<0.05) compared to those patients taking placebo * The most common adverse events were somnolence and dizziness, which were typically mild to moderate and transient. About the Pain Management Research Institute The Pain Management Research Institute (PMRI) is headed by Professor Michael Cousins and brings together around 40 researchers and 40 clinical staff who are involved in pain research and management ( http://www.pmri.med.usyd.edu.au ). The Institute also has a strong focus on education and has a number of staff involved in the delivery of a postgraduate degree program in Pain Management through the University of Sydney. This course is delivered on-line and accessible to students internationally. In 2004 the PMRI Educational Program received an international award as an "Exemplary Educational Program". Since 2005, the education program has been available to European and North American students through collaborations with the University of Edinburgh and the University of California, San Francisco. The pain research program of the PMRI has a broad scope and has a number of teams investigating various aspects of pain epidemiology, neurobiology, psychology and treatment and has gained international recognition for its work in several areas including pain following spinal cord injury. In 1998, the Centre gained one of only eight National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia awards as a "Centre of Clinical Excellence in Hospital Based Research". In 2005, the PMRI, in collaboration with the University of Queensland (Australia), University College London (UK) and Nagasaki University (Japan) was a recipient of an NHMRC Program Grant (2005- 2009). Also in 2005 PMRI was the top level funded institution for a Program Grant from the NSW Health to investigate "Mechanisms and Treatment of Pain Associated with Spinal Cord Injury" (2005-2008). The Pain Management & Research Centre (PMRC) is the clinical arm of the PMRI and conducts clinical treatment programs in acute pain, cancer pain and chronic non cancer pain. PMRC comprises a group of approx 40 multidisciplinary health care practitioners who evaluate all aspects of each patient's pain and recommend treatment options based upon a multidisciplinary approach. PMRC currently provides approx 40,000 episodes of patient care per annum. Each year at least four internationally funded Fellows spend a year of training with PMRC. To date Fellows have been drawn from more than 20 countries. 1 Bonica JJ. Introduction: Semantic, epidemiologic and educational issues. In: Casey KL, ed. Pain and Central Nervous System Disease. New York: Raven Press, 1991:13-30. 2 Siddall PJ, Taylor DA, McClelland JM, Rutkowski SB, Cousins MJ. Pain report and the relationship of pain to physician factors in the first 6 months following spinal cord injury. Pain 1999;81(1-2):187-197. 3 Merskey H, Bogduk N, eds. Classification of chronic pain. Descriptions of chronic pain syndromes and definitions of pain terms. Seattle: IASP Press, 1994:209-212. 4 Cruz-Almeida Y, Martinez-Arizala A, Widerstrom-Noga EG. Chronicity of pain associated with spinal cord injury: a longitudinal analysis. J Rehabil Res Develop. 2005; 42(5):585-594. 5 Finnerup N, Johannesen I, Fuglsang-Frederiksen A, Bach FW, Jensen T. Sensory function in spinal cord injury patients with and without pain. Brain. 2003; 126:57-70. 6 Siddall P, McClelland JM, Rutkowski S, Cousins M. A longitudinal study of the prevalence and characteristics of pain in the first 5 years following spinal cord injury. Pain. 2003; 103:249-257. 7 Ravensscroft A, Ahmed YS, Burnside IG. Chronic pain after SCI: a patient survey. Spinal Cord. 2000; 38:611-614. 8 Stensman R. Adjustment to traumatic spinal cord injury: a longitudinal study of self-reported quality of life. Paraplegia. 1994; 32:416-422. For more information, please contact: Sejal Sedani Resolute Communications Tel: +44-20-7357-8187 x125 Email: Sejal.sedani@resolutecommunications.com Lisa O'Sullivan Resolute Communications Tel: +44-20-7357-8187 x134 Email: Lisa.osullivan@resolutecommunications.com SOURCE Pain Management Research Institute
2007'02.11.Sun
Eurail Adds New Countries to Its Rail Pass Range: More Options for Customers to Explore Europe in Depth

December 19, 2006

UTRECHT, Netherlands, Nov. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The EURAIL GROUP G.I.E. is offering its customers even more choice in European rail travel by increasing its product range to include new passes and country combinations from 2007. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061127/235893 ) Eurail's popular National Pass range, offering travellers the possibility to discover a single country in depth, will have more countries in its portfolio with Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg), Croatia, Ireland, Italy and Portugal available from January 1, thereby increasing the total number of passes to 15. In addition, the Eurail Regional Pass, created three years ago to allow unlimited travel in two bordering countries, will also have new countries combinations on offer. In 2007, customers will be able to choose Austria and Hungary or Italy and Spain in addition to the 16 other passes already available. "Eurail is adapting its pass range to match the way many overseas visitors travel today," says Rene de Groot, Eurail's Managing Director. "With holidays abroad getting shorter and more frequent, many travellers have less time for extended journeys throughout Europe, and our National and Regional passes will allow them to comfortably explore one or two countries in depth in one trip. By adding these pass options, we are offering our customers increasingly more choice and value for money." In addition to the Eurail National and Regional Passes, Eurail continues to offer the Eurail Select Pass, valid for 3, 4 or 5 bordering countries chosen by the traveller, as well as the original Eurailpass (renamed to Eurail Global Pass), covering a total of 18 countries, for people wishing to discover as much of Europe as possible. The EURAIL Group comprises 27 railways and shipping lines, as well as several bonus partners. For more information about Eurail and rail travel in Europe, go to http://www.Eurail.com . All Eurail products are available direct from Eurail.com, from travel agents and from our authorized sales agents worldwide: * ACP Rail International, http://www.eurail-acprail.com ; * Flight Centre, flightcentre.com, http://www.flightcentre.com ; * Gullivers Travel Associates, http://www.gta-travel.com ; * Rail Europe, http://www.raileurope.com (North America); * Rail Europe 4A, http://www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy (rest of the world) For more information, please contact: Mrs Ana Dias e Seixas Eurail Group G.I.E. Marketing Manager Tel: +31-30-850-0125 Fax: +31-30-750-8390 Email: a.diaseseixas@eurail.nl SOURCE Eurail Group G.I.E. apability in the
2007'02.11.Sun
Find and Be Found -- Worldwide: eTrade Center Opens International Cooperation Platform

December 19, 2006

HEIDELBERG and BERLIN, Germany, Nov. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Germany based Empanada Group has launched an international and multilingual cooperation platform at http://www.etradecenter.com . Sellers and buyers, manufacturers and dealers, service providers and freelancers from all over the world can find national and international business partners, offer their products and services, and check up on those of others quickly and precisely. "Covering 380 trade sectors in 250 cities and 60 countries, eTrade Center is a central information platform for global development, and therefore one of the biggest directories for international business," explained eTrade Center's CEO, Cyriacus Schultze, at the opening. "Our motto is >>trade smartly<<: keep searches to a minimum and find things quickly." The search for potential business partners can be done in German, English or Spanish. Other language versions, e.g. Russian, Arabic and Mandarin are already in the pipeline. Contrary to traditional contact platforms, eTrade Center is free of charge and absolutely commercial-free. An Internet B2B platform can, of course, never replace the personal contact between business partners. But the eTrade Center enables selective filtering of interesting business opportunities and provides unbureaucratic contact possibilities within minutes. The savings in both time and money are substantial and obvious. The eTrade Center is an enterprise of the Empanada Group, with its headquarters based in Heidelberg (Germany), and offices in Berlin and Zurich. The company has been successfully developing international eCommerce projects for over 10 years. During the next few months, while the database is being stocked with content and offers, use of the eTrade Center is free of charge. From mid-2007, members will be charged a monthly membership fee, but the first thousand registered companies can continue to enjoy free use of the eTrade Center until end 2008. For more information, please contact: Cyriacus Schultze, Empanada Group Hoehenweg 33, D-69250 Schoenau, Germany Tel: +49-6228-912600 Fax: +49-6228-911598 Email: press@etradecenter.com Web: http://www.etradecenter.com SOURCE Empanada Group apital to fund the enlarged
2007'02.11.Sun
Atex Agrees to Buy Unisys Media

December 19, 2006

Creating The Largest Digital Content Management and Multi-media Software Delivery Capability in the World READING, England, Nov. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Atex Group Limited (Atex), backed by the Norwegian investment company Kistefos AS, a leading provider of software solutions and services to the global media industry, has today agreed to acquire the business assets of Unisys Media, a part of Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS). Unisys Media provides large-scale news production, wire service management and digital asset management solutions to leading publishing organizations around the world. Its installed base includes more than 225 newspapers in 15 countries. John Hawkins, Atex Group CEO, said, "Atex is delighted to have reached agreement with Unisys on this strategic acquisition. It will strengthen our market penetration, especially in those parts of the world where, to date, we have not been as strong as we would have wished. Both companies share almost identical product road maps and this deal will enable us to accelerate development of solutions for the benefit of all our publisher partners. "We will confidently offer ten-year support contracts, including upgrades for current products, guaranteeing long-term value of all clients' software investments. "We did not take this decision lightly," stated Glenn James, president, Unisys Global Communications & Media. "We wanted to make sure that Unisys Media will be going to a safe pair of hands, and it is. Atex has a more than thirty-year history in providing publishers with robust, mission-critical content management, advertising, circulation and business systems. The synergy between the organizations, SOA technologies, skills, and shared vision of the people, will make this agreement beneficial for all concerned. It also provides our clients with the security of knowing that they will be in partnership with the world's largest publishing software solutions provider. "Under John Hawkins' leadership, the enlarged Atex will be able to bring to market even more quickly the technologies and services the industry needs in order to meet its many challenges," added Mr. James. Atex has raised in excess of $50 million US dollars to fund the Unisys Media acquisition, providing adequate working capital to fund the enlarged group and ensuring the effective integration of the two businesses. Going forward, Atex will be looking at further acquisitions that fit its strategy, namely, to be the No. 1 global vendor to the Media Industry. Together with all of the Unisys Media employees set to transfer to Atex, the company will employ nearly 500 people, creating the largest digital content management and multi-media software delivery capability in the world, generating global revenues in excess of $90 million US dollars. Unisys had previously announced plans to divest businesses not central to its core strategy. "As publishing organizations continue to consolidate, Atex has the strength and desire to continue to consolidate the vendor community," John Hawkins concluded. "Publishing groups worldwide need, more than ever, the benefit of an innovative, truly global and strong cross-media technology partner. Atex is that partner." About Atex Group Limited: Atex, backed by Kistefos AS for the last 10 years, has been a leading provider of software solutions and services to the global media industry for more than 30 years. The company has over $300 million USD of software installed worldwide, and supports in excess of 500 publishers, and thousands of titles, in more than 30 countries. As well as significant investment in R&D, the company partners with world-leading complementary solutions providers, including Mediaspectrum, Inc. and IBM Business Consulting Services, adding tight integration, Web services, and long-term support from a global network of strategically located local offices. Atex is headquartered in Reading, UK, and may be found on the Web at: http://www.atex.com . About Unisys: Unisys is a worldwide technology services and solutions company. Its consultants apply Unisys expertise in consulting, systems integration, outsourcing, infrastructure, and server technology to help its clients achieve secure business operations. Unisys builds more secure organizations by creating visibility into clients' business operations. Leveraging the Unisys 3D Visible Enterprise approach, the company makes visible the impact of their decisions - ahead of investments, opportunities, and risks. For more information, visit http://www.unisys.com . For more information, please contact: John Hawkins, CEO, Atex Group Limited Tel: +44-118-945-0128 Email: jhawkins@atex.com SOURCE Atex Group Limited
2007'02.11.Sun
Atex Agrees to Buy Unisys Media

December 19, 2006

Creating The Largest Digital Content Management and Multi-media Software Delivery Capability in the World READING, England, Nov. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Atex Group Limited (Atex), backed by the Norwegian investment company Kistefos AS, a leading provider of software solutions and services to the global media industry, has today agreed to acquire the business assets of Unisys Media, a part of Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS). Unisys Media provides large-scale news production, wire service management and digital asset management solutions to leading publishing organizations around the world. Its installed base includes more than 225 newspapers in 15 countries. John Hawkins, Atex Group CEO, said, "Atex is delighted to have reached agreement with Unisys on this strategic acquisition. It will strengthen our market penetration, especially in those parts of the world where, to date, we have not been as strong as we would have wished. Both companies share almost identical product road maps and this deal will enable us to accelerate development of solutions for the benefit of all our publisher partners. "We will confidently offer ten-year support contracts, including upgrades for current products, guaranteeing long-term value of all clients' software investments. "We did not take this decision lightly," stated Glenn James, president, Unisys Global Communications & Media. "We wanted to make sure that Unisys Media will be going to a safe pair of hands, and it is. Atex has a more than thirty-year history in providing publishers with robust, mission-critical content management, advertising, circulation and business systems. The synergy between the organizations, SOA technologies, skills, and shared vision of the people, will make this agreement beneficial for all concerned. It also provides our clients with the security of knowing that they will be in partnership with the world's largest publishing software solutions provider. "Under John Hawkins' leadership, the enlarged Atex will be able to bring to market even more quickly the technologies and services the industry needs in order to meet its many challenges," added Mr. James. Atex has raised in excess of $50 million US dollars to fund the Unisys Media acquisition, providing adequate working capital to fund the enlarged group and ensuring the effective integration of the two businesses. Going forward, Atex will be looking at further acquisitions that fit its strategy, namely, to be the No. 1 global vendor to the Media Industry. Together with all of the Unisys Media employees set to transfer to Atex, the company will employ nearly 500 people, creating the largest digital content management and multi-media software delivery capability in the world, generating global revenues in excess of $90 million US dollars. Unisys had previously announced plans to divest businesses not central to its core strategy. "As publishing organizations continue to consolidate, Atex has the strength and desire to continue to consolidate the vendor community," John Hawkins concluded. "Publishing groups worldwide need, more than ever, the benefit of an innovative, truly global and strong cross-media technology partner. Atex is that partner." About Atex Group Limited: Atex, backed by Kistefos AS for the last 10 years, has been a leading provider of software solutions and services to the global media industry for more than 30 years. The company has over $300 million USD of software installed worldwide, and supports in excess of 500 publishers, and thousands of titles, in more than 30 countries. As well as significant investment in R&D, the company partners with world- leading complementary solutions providers, including Mediaspectrum, Inc. and IBM Business Consulting Services, adding tight integration, Web services, and long-term support from a global network of strategically located local offices. Atex is headquartered in Reading, UK, and may be found on the Web at: http://www.atex.com . About Unisys: Unisys is a worldwide technology services and solutions company. Its consultants apply Unisys expertise in consulting, systems integration, outsourcing, infrastructure, and server technology to help its clients achieve secure business operations. Unisys builds more secure organizations by creating visibility into clients' business operations. Leveraging the Unisys 3D Visible Enterprise approach, the company makes visible the impact of their decisions - ahead of investments, opportunities, and risks. For more information, visit http://www.unisys.com . For more information, please contact: John Hawkins, CEO, Atex Group Limited Tel: +44-118-945-0128 Email: jhawkins@atex.com SOURCE Atex Group Limited
2007'02.11.Sun
SORL Auto Parts Completes $31 Million Follow-On Offering at $7.25 Per Share

December 19, 2006

ZHEJIANG, China, Nov. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- SORL Auto Parts, Inc. (Nasdaq: SORL), a leading manufacturer and distributor of commercial vehicle air brake valves as well as other auto parts in China, today priced its follow-on offering of 4,285,714 shares at $7.25 per share. Net proceeds after underwriters' commissions and non-accountable will be approximately $28.352 million. The net proceeds will be used to fund capital expenditures including construction of a new plant and equipment purchases, to expand research and development efforts, to build out the international sales network and for working capital and other general corporate purposes including for possible strategic alliances. Maxim Group LLC acted as the sole book runner and Chardan Capital Markets, LLC acted as a co-manager of the offering. About SORL Auto Parts, Inc. As China's leading manufacturer and distributor of automotive air brake valves, SORL Auto Parts, Inc. ranks first in market share in the segment for commercial vehicles weighing more than three tons, such as trucks and buses. The Company distributes products both within China and internationally under the SORL trademark. SORL ranks among the top 100 auto component suppliers in China, with a product range that includes 40 types of air brake valves and over 800 different specifications. The Company has three authorized international sales centers in Australia, United Arab Emirates, and the United States, with additional offices slated to open in other locations in the near future. For more information, please visit http://www.sorl.cn . Safe Harbor Statement Statements made in this press release that are not historical fact are "forward-looking statements," which are based on current expectations that include a number of risks and uncertainties. Additional factors that could potentially affect the Company's financial results may be found on the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ( http://www.sec.gov ). For more information, please contact: David Ming He SORL Auto Parts, Inc. Tel: +86-577-6581-7720 Email: davidhe@sorl.com.cn Christopher Chu The Global Consulting Group Tel: +1-646-284-9426 Email: cchu@hfgcg.com SOURCE SORL Auto Parts, Inc. and believe that this will drive the Company to
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