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The Female Health Company to Expand Manufacturing Capacity for FC2 Female Condom By 150%

Posted on: Thursday, 12 March 2009, 07:30 CDT

CHICAGO, March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Female Health Company (NYSE Alternext: FHC) - today announced plans to install six more production lines for its FC2 Female Condom(TM), increasing its annualized FC2 production capacity in Malaysia from 30 million units to approximately 75-80 million units.

Currently, The Female Health Company is manufacturing its second-generation product, FC2, on four production lines in Malaysia. The Company, in conjunction with its Indian partner, HLL Lifecare Limited, currently produces FC2 on a fifth production line located in Kochi, India.

Mike Pope, V.P., U.K. and Malaysian operations indicated: "The Malaysian production expansion will bring the total FC2 female condom manufacturing capacity to an annualized rate of approximately 85 million units by early in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2009."

"Based on growing demand for the female condom reported by our major public sector customers that are involved in the global battle against the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the recent approval of FC2 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, we have elected to increase FC2 production capacity as noted," stated O.B. Parrish, Chief Executive Officer of The Female Health Company. "The demand for the female condom has been increasing rapidly with unit growth of 34% for FY 2008."

The approval by FDA permits sale of FC2 in the United States and purchases by the United States Agency for International Development for distribution in HIV/AIDS prevention programs throughout the world.

The Company is very pleased that the lower cost FC2 will now increase access by women to the Female Condom on a global basis

About The Female Health Company

The Female Health Company, based in Chicago, Illinois, manufactures and markets the FC Female Condom(R) (FC1) and the FC2 Female Condom(TM) (FC2), which are primarily distributed by public health organizations and donor groups in over 90 developing countries around the world. Globally, the Female Condoms are available in various programs in 116 countries. The Company owns certain worldwide rights to the FC1, including patents that have been issued in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the European Patent Convention, the People's Republic of China, Canada, South Korea and Australia. FC1 and FC2 are the only available FDA-approved products controlled by a woman that offer dual protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and unintended pregnancy.

"Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. -

The statements in this release which are not historical fact are "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this release include expectations regarding the cost of and demand for FC2. These statements are based upon the Company's current plan and strategies, and reflect the Company's current assessment of the risks and uncertainties related to its business, and are made as of the date of this release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information or future events, developments or circumstances. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results and future developments could differ materially from the results or developments expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: product demand and market acceptance; competition in the Company's markets and the risk of new competitors and new competitive product introductions; the Company's reliance on its international partners in the consumer sector and on the level of spending on the female condom by country governments, global donors and other public health organizations in the global public sector; the economic and business environment and the impact of government pressures; risks involved in doing business on an international level, including currency risks, regulatory requirements, political risks, export restrictions and other trade barriers; the Company's production capacity; efficiency and supply constraints; and other risks detailed in the Company's press releases, shareholder communication and Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. Actual events affecting the Company and the impact of such events on the Company's operations may vary from those currently anticipated.

For more information about the Female Health Company visit the Company's website at http://www.femalehealth.com and http://www.femalecondom.org . If you would like to be added to the Company's e-mail alert list, please send an e-mail to FHCInvestor@femalehealthcompany.com .

SOURCE The Female Health Company

Source: PR Newswire

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