FDA's Recently Announced Plan to Curb Antibiotic Use in Animals is Merely Voluntary and Should go Further
NovaBay Calls for Labeling of Antibiotic-fed Meats
EMERYVILLE, Calif., Dec. 12, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Ron Najafi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NovaBay ® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE MKT:NBY) acknowledged as a first step the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for asking pharmaceutical companies to voluntarily reduce the use of antibiotics in animal feed and drinking water .
Since 1977, the FDA has favored a policy of politely asking the industry to voluntarily curb the use of human-class antibiotics. A range of professional and public organizations, such as the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, among others, have called for an end to the unnecessary use of antibiotics in food production. Farmers have been feeding their animals - cows, chickens, pigs, even fish - tons of antibiotics to artificially stimulate more rapid growth. Exposing animals to low doses of antibiotics to promote animal growth or prevent disease breeds antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
"We are already seeing the deadly consequences in the rapid rise of serious illnesses caused by bacteria that can thwart every drug in our arsenal," said Dr. Najafi. "That is why it is so important that the FDA acknowledges the issue of antibiotics in agriculture. But the FDA could go much further, such as entirely banning antibiotic use in animal feed or labeling antibiotic-fed meats so that consumers can make more informed decisions."
About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Going Beyond Antibiotics ®
NovaBay Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on addressing the unmet therapeutic needs of the global, topical anti-infective market with its Aganocide compounds, led by auriclosene. Auriclosene is a new chemical entity invented by NovaBay and has a broad spectrum of activity against bacteria, viruses and fungi. Aganocide compounds are based on the human body's natural immune system and the molecules involved in combating infections. Bacterial resistance to Aganocides is highly unlikely, as demonstrated in in vitro studies. Once pathogens penetrate the body's primary defense, the next line of defense is provided by the white blood cells. NovaBay has focused on understanding these molecules generated by the white blood cells and finding ways, by chemical modification, to allow them to be developed as therapeutic products with the potential to treat a wide range of local, non-systemic infections. NovaBay believes that if Aganocides® begin to supplement and thereby reduce the usage of classic topical antibiotics, they will help slow the rise of antibiotic resistance.
Forward-looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements and opinions, which are based upon management's current expectations, assumptions, estimates, projections and beliefs. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the general use of antibiotics in the United States and NovaBay's possible effect on that use. The words "potentially," "think" and "believe" are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or achievements to be materially different and adverse from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to difficulties or delays in development, clinical trial, regulatory approval, production and marketing of the company's product candidates, unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of the product candidates, the uncertainty of patent protection for the company's intellectual property or trade secrets, the company's ability to obtain additional financing as necessary and unanticipated research and development and other costs. Other risks relating to NovaBay, including risks that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements in this press release, are detailed in NovaBay's latest Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially under the heading "Risk Factors." The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of this date, and NovaBay disclaims any intent or obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement except as required by law.
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NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Contacts Thomas J. Paulson Chief Financial Officer 510-899-8809 Contact T. Paulson Ana Kapor Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 510-899-8889 Contact A. Kapor
