Meridian's Nerve Agent Antidote Auto-injectors Added to the Federal Government's State Domestic Preparedness Program.Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K COLUMBIA, Md.--(BW HealthWire)--May 17, 2001 Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:MTEC) announced today that both its nerve agent Noun 1. nerve agent - a toxic gas that is inhaled or absorbed through the skin and has harmful effects on the nervous and respiratory system nerve gas agent - a substance that exerts some force or effect antidote auto-injector and its anticonvulsant anticonvulsant /an·ti·con·vul·sant/ (-kon-vul´sant) inhibiting convulsions, or an agent that does this. an·ti·con·vul·sant n. A drug that prevents or relieves convulsions. auto-injector have been added to the authorized equipment list for the U.S. Department of Justice's state domestic preparedness equipment program. The ongoing federal program provides states with financial assistance to purchase medical products that enhance emergency preparedness capabilities in the event of terrorist attacks or other emergency response requirements. Previously, pharmaceuticals were not included under this program. "The addition of nerve agent antidotes reflects the increasing need for effective medical response to the potential release of nerve agents, in light of today's worldwide threat of terrorism," said James H. Miller, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Meridian. "As state and local governments nationwide continue to expand their domestic preparedness programs, Meridian plans to play a growing role by supplying auto-injectors for use by emergency medical units, fire departments and other emergency response organizations." In addition to the state domestic preparedness program, Meridian has delivered nerve agent antidote auto-injectors as part of the U.S. federal government's Metropolitan Medical Response System, an emergency preparedness and anti-terrorism program for the 120 most populous metropolitan areas in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Miller also noted that Meridian's diazepam-containing auto-injectors were included on NASA's recent Space Shuttle space shuttle, reusable U.S. space vehicle. Developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), it consists of a winged orbiter, two solid-rocket boosters, and an external tank. flight. Meridian pioneered the development of auto-injectors for the immediate self-administration of nerve agent antidotes and other emergency medical products by military personnel, and is the leading supplier of auto-injectors for U.S. and allied armed forces worldwide. The company's Domestic Preparedness unit, within its Government Systems Group, markets and supplies military auto-injectors to emergency response and other civil defense agencies for use in anti-terrorist, natural disaster and industrial accident programs. An original development of Meridian research, auto-injectors are pre-filled, spring-loaded, pen-like devices that allow the user to self-administer precise doses of injectable in·ject·a·ble adj. Capable of being injected. Used of a drug. n. A drug or medicine that can be injected. medication quickly, safely and easily. In addition to protection against nerve agents and treatment of seizures, Meridian produces auto-injectors containing medications for the emergency treatment of pain, irregular heartbeats and allergic reactions allergic reaction n. A local or generalized reaction of an organism to internal or external contact with a specific allergen to which the organism has been previously sensitized. . Meridian Medical Technologies is a world leader in the development and marketing of auto-injector drug delivery systems and has strong core technologies in non-invasive cardiopulmonary cardiopulmonary /car·dio·pul·mo·nary/ (kahr?de-o-pool´mah-nar-e) pertaining to the heart and lungs. car·di·o·pul·mo·nar·y adj. Of, relating to, or involving both the heart and the lungs. diagnostics. The company provides advanced solutions for early intervention ear·ly intervention n. Abbr. EI A process of assessment and therapy provided to children, especially those younger than age 6, to facilitate normal cognitive and emotional development and to prevent developmental disability or delay. healthcare and emergency medical technologies. Additional company information is available on the World Wide Web at www.meridianmeds.com. Certain statements contained in this press release that are not historical fact are 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. and involve important risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties, which are detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and include changes in government procurement Government procurement, also called public tendering, is the procurement of goods and services on behalf of a public authority, such as a government agency. With 10 to 15% of GDP in developed countries, and up to 20% in developing countries, government procurement accounts policies, changes in demand for company products, reliance on third party vendors, the inability to predict the results of clinical trials, costs, delays and uncertainties associated with applications for regulatory approval to market medical devices and pharmaceutical products and the need to achieve market acceptance of new technologies, could cause the company's results to differ materially from the company's current expectations as expressed in this press release. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion