Enzo Biochem Unit to Acquire Axxora Life Sciences, Inc. Global Reagent Manufacturer and Marketing Company.Acquisition Will Broaden Enzo's Life Science Activities and Expand Product Development, Production and Distribution Capabilities NEW YORK New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of -- Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :ENZ) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. , Enzo Life Sciences, Inc., has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Axxora Life Sciences, Inc., a privately owned global manufacturer and marketer of life sciences research products, for approximately $16.3 million in cash. Upon completion of the acquisition, Axxora will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Enzo Life Sciences and will greatly expand Enzo's life sciences product development, production and marketing capabilities. Axxora had revenues of approximately $16 million and 60 employees worldwide in 2006. Axxora has wholly-owned subsidiaries in the U.S., Switzerland, Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as branch offices and distributors located in other major markets, and benefits from a history of profitability. Axxora's ALEXIS([R]) Biochemicals division, based in Lausen, Switzerland, is an internationally recognized brand and an acknowledged leader in manufacturing, in-licensing and commercializing high-quality reagents in key research areas. Axxora's Apotech([R]) division, also based in Switzerland, is engaged in the discovery, development and production of new products in the field of immunology immunology, branch of medicine that studies the response of organisms to foreign substances, e.g., viruses, bacteria, and bacterial toxins (see immunity). Immunologists study the tissues and organs of the immune system (bone marrow, spleen, tonsils, thymus, lymphatic , apoptosis apoptosis or programmed cell death Mechanism that allows cells to self-destruct when stimulated by the appropriate trigger. It may be initiated when a cell is no longer needed, when a cell becomes a threat to the organism's health, or for other reasons. and inflammation. Axxora's electronic marketplace enables customers to purchase research reagents from internationally recognized manufacturers covering all areas of the life sciences research reagents field. "Axxora enjoys a strong international position as a developer, manufacturer and distributor of reagents addressing immunological and cellular research and the biochemical industries. We expect it to prove highly synergistic with regard to the activities of Enzo Life Sciences," said Barry Weiner, President of Enzo. "In addition to broadening our revenue base, the acquisition will significantly expand our distribution capabilities internationally providing Enzo with a base to market its products throughout Europe and the rest of the world. It complements our Life Sciences business in many ways. Axxora will have access to Enzo Life Sciences' technological capabilities, and unique platforms particularly in the growing areas of nucleic acid nucleic acid, any of a group of organic substances found in the chromosomes of living cells and viruses that play a central role in the storage and replication of hereditary information and in the expression of this information through protein synthesis. technology labeling and detection, where Enzo holds a solid proprietary position. Furthermore, Axxora's strong European presence and operational capabilities, along with its state-of-the-art electronic information and ordering marketplace, which encompasses a wide range of diverse products, makes this transaction especially attractive. Finally, we view this strategic transaction as the beginning of a program to build critical mass in our Life Sciences division via acquisition as well by organic growth." Carl W. Balezentis Ph.D., President of Enzo Life Sciences, commented that "Axxora has a proven leadership team and a strong international brand. We see significant growth opportunities through Axxora's broad international presence, the expansion of its reagent reagent /re·a·gent/ (re-a´jent) a substance used to produce a chemical reaction so as to detect, measure, produce, etc., other substances. re·a·gent n. production, marketing capabilities, and its integration with Enzo Life Sciences' proprietary position in this dynamic field." "We are excited that our well established life sciences business is joining an organization that shares our focus on providing innovative, high-quality research reagents," said Georges Chappuis, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Axxora. "With our senior management team, including the heads of all our units, remaining in place following the acquisition, we believe that the combined organization will be strongly positioned to maximize new growth opportunities integrating Enzo's strong innovative research programs with Axxora's international marketing capabilities" The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in early June 2007. About Enzo Enzo Biochem is engaged in the research, development and manufacture of innovative health care products based on molecular biology molecular biology, scientific study of the molecular basis of life processes, including cellular respiration, excretion, and reproduction. The term molecular biology was coined in 1938 by Warren Weaver, then director of the natural sciences program at the Rockefeller and genetic engineering techniques, and in providing diagnostic services diagnostic services, n.pl the imaging and laboratory capabilities available for determining the cause of an illness. to the medical community. Enzo's Life Sciences division develops, produces and markets proprietary labeling and detection products for gene sequencing and genetic analysis. Its catalog of over 300 products serves the molecular biology, drug discovery and pathology research markets. The Company's therapeutic division is in various stages of clinical evaluation clinical evaluation Medtalk An evaluation of whether a Pt has symptoms of a disease, is responding to treatment, or is having adverse reactions to therapy of its proprietary gene medicine for HIV-1 infection and its proprietary immune regulation medicines for uveitis uveitis Inflammation of the uvea, the middle coat of the eyeball. Anterior uveitis, involving the iris or ciliary body (containing the muscle that adjusts the lens) or both, can lead to glaucoma and blindness. , Crohn's Disease Crohn's disease: see colitis. , and NASH Nash , Ogden 1902-1971. American writer known for his droll epigrammatic verse, much of which appeared in the New Yorker. Noun 1. Nash - United States writer noted for his droll epigrams (1902-1971) Ogden Nash (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), and conducts pre-clinical research on several candidate compounds aimed at producing new mineral and organic bone, including technology that could provide therapy for osteoporosis and fractures, among other applications. Enzo's Clinical Labs division provides routine and esoteric reference laboratory services for physicians in the New York Metropolitan area New York–Northern New Jersey–Long Island is the most populous metropolitan area in the United States and the third most populous in the world, after Tokyo and Mexico City. . Underpinning the Company's technology and operations is an extensive intellectual property estate in which Enzo owns or licenses over 200 patents worldwide, and has pending applications for over 180 more. For more information visit our website www.enzo.com. Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release may be considered "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. Such statements include declarations regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. The Company disclaims any obligations to update any forward-looking statement as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release. |
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