Credit Go Green for this news.
Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers
FARMINGDALE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2001
Two global companies have teamed up with officials in Honduras to mount a push to eradicate measles from the Central American Country. Drug maker Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) and UNIVEC, Inc. (OTCBB: UNVC), today delivered the MMR II Vaccine and the Auto-Disable Syringes for the delivery of the vaccine to the Government of Honduras. It is the first of multiple deliveries to be made by the two companies under a pledge made at the Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute last year.
Measles has been effectively eradicated from the United States and a majority of the other countries in the Americas. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has set a goal to eradicate measles completely for North, Central, and South America. The donation of vaccines and syringes should help Honduras join the list of countries that have ended transmission of the deadly disease. Although Measles has been eradicated in much of the Americas, it is lethal in the countries where it still is prevalent, killing over 900,000 children a year worldwide.
Honduran First Lady Mary Flake de Flores accepted the vaccines and syringes on behalf of the people of her country and Plutarco Castellanos, Minister of Health. "This gift helps our country to take a major step toward achieving our goal of eradicating measles from Honduras and the entire Americas", said Mrs. Flores. Officials of Merck and Univec made the donation at a ceremony today in Tegucigalpa, the capitol of Honduras.
H.R. Shepherd, chairman of the Albert B. Sabin Institute, stated, "This donation by two companies in the vaccine industry is exemplary because it combines a lifesaving vaccine with a lifesaving delivery system. It is estimated that in some countries as many as 10 percent of new cases of hepatitis and AIDS are spread by improper re-use of syringes from national and international immunization programs. Using auto-disable syringes in conjunction with the vaccine is an example for future immunization efforts."
"We are happy to partner with Merck, government officials, Interchurch Medical Assistance, Inc. and the private sector in Honduras, said Univec chairman Joel Schoenfeld. "Solving global public health issues is paramount to Univec. Merck's vaccine and Univec's auto-disable syringe will protect the population against measles and ensure that needless deaths will not occur; due to the re-use of syringes."
Univec is a world leader in auto-disable syringes and is leading the global movement for a conversion to auto-disable syringes from traditional multi-use syringes. Traditional multi-use disposable syringes are acknowledged by the World Health Organization to be responsible for the spread of disease to millions of people each year.
Statements herein that are not descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking and subject to risk and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including those set forth in the company's Securities and Exchange filings under "Risk Factors," including risks relating to dependence on third parties; future capital needs; and risks relating to the commercialization, if any, of the company's proposed products (such as marketing, safety, regulatory, patent product liability, supply, competition and other risks.)
This news release indicates a solid link between Merck and Univec. This is fantastic confirmation. IMO
Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers
FARMINGDALE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2001
Two global companies have teamed up with officials in Honduras to mount a push to eradicate measles from the Central American Country. Drug maker Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) and UNIVEC, Inc. (OTCBB: UNVC), today delivered the MMR II Vaccine and the Auto-Disable Syringes for the delivery of the vaccine to the Government of Honduras. It is the first of multiple deliveries to be made by the two companies under a pledge made at the Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute last year.
Measles has been effectively eradicated from the United States and a majority of the other countries in the Americas. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has set a goal to eradicate measles completely for North, Central, and South America. The donation of vaccines and syringes should help Honduras join the list of countries that have ended transmission of the deadly disease. Although Measles has been eradicated in much of the Americas, it is lethal in the countries where it still is prevalent, killing over 900,000 children a year worldwide.
Honduran First Lady Mary Flake de Flores accepted the vaccines and syringes on behalf of the people of her country and Plutarco Castellanos, Minister of Health. "This gift helps our country to take a major step toward achieving our goal of eradicating measles from Honduras and the entire Americas", said Mrs. Flores. Officials of Merck and Univec made the donation at a ceremony today in Tegucigalpa, the capitol of Honduras.
H.R. Shepherd, chairman of the Albert B. Sabin Institute, stated, "This donation by two companies in the vaccine industry is exemplary because it combines a lifesaving vaccine with a lifesaving delivery system. It is estimated that in some countries as many as 10 percent of new cases of hepatitis and AIDS are spread by improper re-use of syringes from national and international immunization programs. Using auto-disable syringes in conjunction with the vaccine is an example for future immunization efforts."
"We are happy to partner with Merck, government officials, Interchurch Medical Assistance, Inc. and the private sector in Honduras, said Univec chairman Joel Schoenfeld. "Solving global public health issues is paramount to Univec. Merck's vaccine and Univec's auto-disable syringe will protect the population against measles and ensure that needless deaths will not occur; due to the re-use of syringes."
Univec is a world leader in auto-disable syringes and is leading the global movement for a conversion to auto-disable syringes from traditional multi-use syringes. Traditional multi-use disposable syringes are acknowledged by the World Health Organization to be responsible for the spread of disease to millions of people each year.
Statements herein that are not descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking and subject to risk and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including those set forth in the company's Securities and Exchange filings under "Risk Factors," including risks relating to dependence on third parties; future capital needs; and risks relating to the commercialization, if any, of the company's proposed products (such as marketing, safety, regulatory, patent product liability, supply, competition and other risks.)
This news release indicates a solid link between Merck and Univec. This is fantastic confirmation. IMO
