IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - Mar 6, 2012) - Biomerica, Inc. (
E. coli is an important cause of diarrheal disease outbreaks and is associated with serious medical complications in many patients. The severe complications are caused by bacterial production of cytotoxins. Certain strains of E. coli produce a family of closely related cytotoxins known as verotoxins or Shiga toxins. The two primary verotoxins are verotoxin 1 and 2 (VT1 and VT2). Biomerica has developed two new tests, E. coli O157 which allows for the rapid determination of E. coli 0157 and Verotoxin which detects both verotoxin 1 and verotoxin 2.
The clinical importance of these assays in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with diarrheal disease, and in detecting and managing disease outbreaks, is evidenced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations that all cases of acute community-acquired diarrhea be simultaneously cultured for E. coli O157:H7 and tested with an assay that detects verotoxins (Shiga toxins) to diagnose non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).
Clinical symptoms associated with verotoxins can range from mild diarrhea and severe gastroenteritis to human hemorrhagic colitis (HC), which occurs in approximately 10-20% of infections. In infants and small children, the elderly, and in patients with weakened immune systems, 5-10% of infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), both of which are potentially life-threatening conditions. With HUS and TTP, mortality is particularly high (5-10%) among infants.
"Disease caused by E. coli can be devastating, particularly with children," said Zackary Irani, CEO of Biomerica. "With the introduction of these two E. coli tests, we have achieved the first step towards entering the foodborn and infectious disease markets, and we will be expanding the test menu for these markets."
Biomerica's E. coli Verotoxin and 0157 products are FDA exempt in the US and will also be sold internationally.
About Biomerica (
Biomerica, Inc. (www.biomerica.com) is a global biomedical company that develops, manufactures and markets advanced diagnostic products used at the point-of-care (in home and in physicians' offices ) and in hospital/clinical laboratories for the early detection of medical conditions and diseases. The Company's products are designed to enhance the health and well being of people, while reducing total healthcare costs. Biomerica primarily focuses on products for Diabetes, Gastrointestinal Disease and esoteric testing.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by Biomerica) contains statements that are forward-looking; such as statements relating to intended launch dates, sales potential, significant benefits, market size, growth of business, favorable positions, expansion, expected orders, leading market positions, anticipated future revenues or production volume of the Company, success of product and new product offerings. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future, and accordingly, such results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Biomerica. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, fluctuations in the Company's operating results due to its business model and expansion plans, downturns in international and or national economies, the Company's ability to raise additional capital, the competitive environment in which the Company will be competing, and the Company's dependence on strategic relationships. The Company is under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this release.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Zackary Irani
Tel: 949-645-2111