UNIVEC Heralds Work of Scientists Pointing to Unsterile Injections as Source of Worldwide AIDS and Hepatitis Cases

UNIVEC Heralds Work of Scientists Pointing to Unsterile Injections as Source of Worldwide AIDS and Hepatitis Cases

Business Wire - September 13, 2000

FARMINGDALE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 2000-- The Farmingdale-based UNIVEC Corporation (Nasdaq:UNVC), the internationally recognized maker of auto-disable syringes, is heralding Preston Marx, Ph.D. and Ernest Drucker, Ph.D. on the release of their paper, "The Injection Century: Consequences of Massive Unsterile Injecting for the Emergence of Human Pathogens" at the Royal Society in London at a meeting entitled "Origins of HIV and the AIDS Epidemic."

In the paper, these world-renowned scientists substantiate UNIVEC's long held claim that "continued massive unsterile injecting has the capacity to significantly alter the global ecology of infectious diseases, accelerating epidemic spread of human pathogens." According to Dr. Marx, Tulane University's Director of AIDS Research and Chief of Virology, and Dr. Drucker, Director of the Division of Community Health at New York City's Montefiore Medical Center, the introduction of antibiotics in the 1950's led to an abrupt and massive increase in unsterile injections and transmission of several newly emerged human pathogens, significantly HIV and Hepatitis B and C. The doctors warn that new strains of HIV or other pathogens could emerge as a result of current practices.

"In addition to facilitating the spread of existing diseases," say Drs. Marx and Drucker, "massive unsterile injecting may also have fostered the creation of new ones."

"We hypothesize that the massive increase in unsterile injecting in Africa associated with the introduction of antibiotics in the 1950's was the modern `event' that allowed several weakly pathogenic simian virus, long native to Sub Saharan Africa, to increase in pathogenicity and complete their genetic adaptation to human hosts, emerging as the first epidemic strain of HIV by 1959."

Joel Schoenfeld, Chairman of UNIVEC, said, "these respected experts confirm our call for the exclusive use of auto-disable syringes in mass immunization programs and for clinical use. As the World Health Organization estimates, unsafe injections cause approximately 30,000 new HIV infections, 8 million HBV infections and 1.2 million HCV infections world-wide every year."

"Why does the world's medical community continue to ignore these figures?," said Schoenfeld. "What it should do is stop the practice of allowing multi-use syringes in every immunization and clinical program the world over. Only when we adopt an auto-disable syringe policy, to be mandatory in all mass vaccination programs, will we contribute significantly to the scourge of disease around the world."

The UNIVEC technology is for auto-disable syringes that can effectively deliver vaccines in a safer manner than with traditional syringes. The UNIVEC syringe prevents re-use and the needless spread of disease. The devices can deliver predetermined doses from 0.05 to 1cc needed to deliver medication, including vaccines, which may prevent contagious diseases from spreading.

UNIVEC is a world leader in auto-disable syringes and is leading the global movement for a conversion to auto-disable syringes from traditional multi-use syringes. Traditional multi-use disposable syringes are acknowledged by the World Health Organization to be responsible for the spread of disease to millions of people each year.

Statements herein that are not descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking and subject to risk and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including those set forth in the company's Securities and Exchange filings under "Risk Factors," including risks relating to dependence on third parties; future capital needs; and risks relating to the commercialization, if any, of the company's proposed products (such as marketing, safety, regulatory, patent product liability, supply, competition and other risks.)

CONTACT: UNIVEC Corporation Joel Schoenfeld, 631/777-2000 UNIVEC@UNIVEC.com
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