Response from Jennifer as promised.Hello all,
Here is the response I received from Jennifer today. Fyi.
Hello Jennifer,
As a Bioniche share holder I have appreciated your responses to my email in the past. I was hoping that you could provide an update to a few questions I have.
1. Quarterly update - I understand that the animal health division has experienced a slow down over recent quarters; with the economy starting to turn around does you see Bioniche's revenue increasing for this division.
The recession continues to have an impact on our Animal Health product sales. It appears to have particularly affected equine product sales in the U.S. (fewer people investing in horses and horse racing) and reproductive product sales for livestock (fewer people investing in embryo transfer). We believe this trend will turn around.
2. Plant update - what is the expected completion date for the plant expansion in Bellville? When will Econiche be produced in this new plant.
The expected date of completion of the plant is March 31, 2011. It will be ready for production of Econiche and other animal health and food safety vaccines at that time.
3. Econiche - any updates on this front, I understand that the USDA Conditional approval is pending. Has there been any greater acceptance in Canada? What about other countries? Is there any interest in countries like Australia or Brazil or England?What about the recent announcement of Pfizer to acquire the global rights to the Epotix vaccines? Is this a concern for Bioniche? Is Bioniche working on any partnerships in other countries? Namely the states, maybe if Bioniche had a partner in the States it might have an easier time of getting the conditional license in the States. Do you believe it is even possible to get the conditional license anymore. It seems as though this is a serious case of USA protectionism.
The U.S. conditional license remains pending, but there is ongoing dialogue with the regulator and we expect the license to come through in coming months. Pfizer’s acquisition of rights to the Epitopix vaccine is a strong signal that E. coli cattle vaccines are viable technologies. As for partnerships, the Company has had discussions with potential partners relating to the vaccine. The U.S. is a very large market, so the Company has focused on obtaining a registration there prior to pursuing other global registrations.
4. Stock price - with the stock price so low is there any concern that Bioniche could be bought up by a much larger US company? ie. Endo? Are there any safe guards to stop this from happening?
The intent of securities law doesn’t permit us to discourage such overtures. We have a shareholder rights plan established that provides a formal process through which the Board, management shareholders may respond to any such overture.
-------------------------------------
I think Jennifer makes a good point about the Pfizer acquisition and that it is a strong signal that these vaccines will eventually be used. I am a little disappointed that they are not pursuing other registration in countries like Brazil and Australia.
Just a few more miles/kms Lorne
GLTA Longs,
Tson99