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New Test Identifies HIV/HCV Co-Infection

The Editors at Hepatitis Central
August 18, 2006

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One-third of all HIV positive patients are also infected with the hepatitis C virus. A new diagnostic test allows physicians to quickly identify both viruses with a single blood sample. With this diagnostic tool, doctors can immediately begin tailoring a comprehensive treatment plan.

MedMira Offers New Rapid Diagnostic to Combat “the hidden epidemic” – Co-infection with HIV/Hepatitis C

Multiplo Delivers Simultaneous Rapid Diagnosis of HIV and Hepatitis C – XVI International AIDS Conference

Toronto, ON, August 14, 2006 – An estimated 56,000 Canadians are living with HIV infection (The Public Health Agency of Canada) – and 30% of them don’t know it. Another estimated 251,000 Canadians are infected with hepatitis C and, because of the lack of symptoms, 95,000 of them don’t know it. (Public Health Agency of Canada),

Up to 33% of those infected with HIV/AIDS are also infected with Hepatitis C (www.hivandhepatitis.com) – prompting some researchers to describe HIV/Hepatitis C co-infection as “the hidden epidemic.”

The issue of co-infection is one of growing concern for delegates at Toronto’s XVI International AIDS Conference this week. MedMira, a leading Canadian manufacturer of reliable, fast, and easy-to-use diagnostics, is launching a tool to make the important diagnosis of HIV/Hepatitis C co-infection much simpler.

Multiplo™ Rapid HIV/HCV Antibody Test (Multiplo HIV/HCV) is the first rapid test to simultaneously identify both HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) infections.

Co-infected individuals have a more rapid progression of HCV liver disease. In addition, some studies suggest that infection with certain HCV genotypes may accelerate the progression of HIV. HCV may also result in patients discontinuing HIV antiretroviral treatment due to liver toxicity.

“More health agencies and researchers are recognizing the benefits of testing for both HIV and Hepatitis C in the same three-minute procedure. Multiplo HIV/HCV lets you know more and know quickly, so that you can make the right treatment decisions, right away,” says Hermes Chan, President & CEO, MedMira.

Multiplo HIV/HCV is a product that enables healthcare providers and other users to obtain two test results in three minutes or less in comparison to other tests that may take 10 to 40 minutes to obtain just a single result.

Chan continued, “Multiplo HIV/HCV is the first of a series of combination tests that MedMira will launch under the Multiplo line. Multiplo means that with a single specimen, patients and healthcare providers can receive multiple, instant results, without timers, or specialized equipment. One test, more answers.”

MedMira will be showcasing the Multiplo HIV/HCV at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, from August 13-18th.

About MedMira

MedMira is the leading global manufacturer and marketer of in vitro flow-through rapid diagnostic tests. MedMira’s tests provide reliable, rapid diagnosis in just 3 minutes for the detection of human antibodies in human serum, plasma or whole blood for diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C. The United States FDA, the SFDA in the People’s Republic of China and European Union have approved MedMira’s Reveal® G2, MiraWell® and MiraCare™ rapid HIV tests, respectively. The MedMira Rapid HIV Test has been approved by Health Canada.

MedMira’s Reveal® G2 and MiraWell® rapid HIV tests are currently used in clinical laboratories, hospitals, and clinics where professional counselling and patient treatment are immediately available.

MiraCare™ is sold through MedMira’s distributor network to pharmacies, hospitals and laboratories in the European Union. It is also available over-the-counter (OTC) in pharmacies throughout Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, in the People’s Republic of China.

Multiplo HIV/HCV is the first in MedMira’s line of rapid tests for multiple diagnoses of infectious diseases. Multiplo HIV/HCV simultaneously detects HIV and HCV antibodies in a single specimen in less than 3 minutes.

MedMira delivers rapid diagnostic solutions to healthcare communities around the globe. Its corporate offices and manufacturing facilities are located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with a representative office and joint venture manufacturing facility in Guilin, China.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risk and uncertainties and reflect the company’s current expectation regarding future events. Actual events could materially differ from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to, changing market conditions, successful and timely completion of clinical studies, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, establishment of corporate alliances and other risks detailed from time to time in the company quarterly filings.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this statement.

For more information visit MedMira’s website at www.medmira.com.
For further information
Dr. James Smith, Investor Relations
Tel: 902-450-1588
E-mail: ir@medmira.com
Andrea Young, Corporate Communications
Tel. 902-450-1588
Email: ayoung@medmira.com

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