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Folltropin(R)-V – a Key Bioniche Animal Health Product – Receives Marketing Authorization in China

March 31, 2011
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-China represents a growing market for bovine genetic improvement-

BELLEVILLE, ON, March 31 /PRNewswire/ – Bioniche Animal Health, a Division of
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (TSX: BNC) (ASX: BNC) – a research-based,
technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company -  today announced
that authorization has been granted to market the Company’s
Folltropin®-V livestock embryo transfer technology in China.

Folltropin®-V is a follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) used to induce
superovulation in cattle to facilitate embryo transfer. “Folltropin®-V
already enjoys a significant presence in the world market for
superovulatory technology, with more than 70% market share,” said
Andrew Grant, President of Bioniche Animal Health. “China represents a
growing market with a population of 1.3 billion and an ever-increasing
demand for dairy and meat products, where bovine genetic improvement -
particularly involving dairy cattle – is a high priority. Currently,
the cattle population in China is estimated to be 187 million head and
Folltropin®-V will be our lead product for this vast market. The
Company is pursuing further Folltropin®-V registrations for the
developed markets of France and Germany, as well as the developing
market in India.”

The product has been available in North America, Latin America,
Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe for a number of years. It
was also previously available in China on a limited basis under import
permit, but could not be properly promoted until now.

Roughly 60% of Bioniche Animal Health revenues are generated from a
portfolio of reproduction products. The majority of the reproduction
product sales occur in North America, with the remainder split evenly
across the three major regions of Australasia, Europe/Mideast, and
South America. The market authorization in China is consistent with
Bioniche Animal Health’s aggressive growth plans for its livestock
reproduction business.

“The Company’s recent listing on the Australian Securities Exchange was
strategic in enabling better access to the large and growing Asian
market,” said Graeme McRae, Chairman, President & CEO of Bioniche Life
Sciences Inc. “With the ASX listing, we have the opportunity to better
access Asian customers and expand our networking for potential
technology partnerships there.”

In June of last year, the Company announced the signing of an exclusive
global veterinary license agreement with Trophogen Inc., a U.S.-based
biotechnology company. The agreement provides commercial access for
Bioniche to a patented, proprietary superagonist hormone technology
platform developed by Trophogen (originally licensed from the U.S.
National Institutes of Health) in the growing veterinary field. This
technology is currently being developed into a next generation FSH.

About Bioniche Animal Health

Bioniche Animal Health develops, manufactures and markets animal health
biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It has product development,
manufacturing and marketing facilities in Belleville, Ontario, Canada;
marketing and production facilities in Athens, Georgia, U.S.A.;
Pullman, Washington, U.S.A.; and Sydney and Armidale, New South Wales,
Australia. The Company has progressively grown by using biotechnology
to provide the animal health market with innovative solutions to meet
the changing needs of the animal health industry.

The Company has a product portfolio of more than sixty products, which
can be categorized primarily in the following groups: Reproduction and
embryo transfer products; products based on hyaluronans;
immunostimulant products; polyclonal antibodies; vaccine products; and
nutraceuticals. These products are marketed directly to veterinarians in Canada, the United States,
Australia and Europe, and through selected distributors in the rest of
the world.

About Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. is a research-based, technology-driven
Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery,
development, manufacturing, and marketing of proprietary products for
human and animal health markets worldwide. The fully-integrated company
employs 219 skilled personnel and has three operating divisions: Human
Health, Animal Health, and Food Safety. The Company’s primary goal is
to develop proprietary cancer therapies supported by revenues from
marketed products in human and animal health. The Company has a
portfolio of more than 60 products, marketed directly to veterinarians
in Canada, the U.S., Australia/New Zealand, and parts of Europe, and
through selected distributors in the rest of the world. For more
information, please visit www.Bioniche.com.

Except for historical information, this news release may contain
forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current
expectation regarding future events. These forward-looking statements
involve risk and uncertainties, which may cause, but are not limited
to, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of
clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact
of competitive products and pricing, new product development,
uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, and other
risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s ongoing quarterly and
annual reporting.

SOURCE Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.


Source: newswire