Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE:ENZ) said today that it anticipates increased
revenues in fiscal 2009 which ends in July, stemming largely from the
Company’s expanded activities and interests in the life sciences field.
Speaking at Enzo’s annual meeting, President Barry Weiner called fiscal
2008 a year of "unprecedented transformation” as Enzo has moved
vigorously into life sciences through acquisitions, and become a "global
player” in the research products field. He also reported that Enzo
Clinical Labs, a reference laboratory serving physicians in the
metropolitan New York City area, which has completed an expansion of its
physical plant on Long Island, NY, is laying the groundwork for
increased esoteric testing components.
Enzo Therapeutics, the Company’s development arm, has shifted its focus
toward near-term-opportunities with products such as Optiquel™, an oral
therapy that has specific immunomodulatory effect on the eye by inducing
tolerance to intraocular antigens.
In an environment where even large pharmaceutical companies are
rethinking product development, Mr. Weiner said that "while Enzo has
traditionally been a highly effective user of capital for R&D, our focus
remains on opportunistic selection of therapeutic targets using
small-scale clinical trains to drive these compounds toward partnering.”
Mr. Weiner emphasized that Enzo Life Sciences, where sales in the past
three years have climbed from $7.9 million to $35.7 million in fiscal
2008, is providing the Company with important impetus. Life Sciences now
markets more than 33,000 products worldwide, and has manufacturing
facilities in the UK and Switzerland in addition to the U.S.
Additionally, the Company represents more than 40 other manufacturers
globally.
Mr. Weiner detailed marketing and organization plans built around a new
corporate identity and brands for Life Sciences, which also includes
four scientific centers of excellence, and integrated sales and
manufacturing operations.
"Recent economic stress has unfortunately dried up capital for many
companies, and Enzo, with over $77 million in cash and no debt, is in an
effective position to further extend our life sciences product base via
strategic acquisitions and/or partnering arrangements,” Mr. Weiner noted.
Shareholders at the annual meeting elected Elazar Rabbani, Ph.D.,
Chairman and CEO, a director for a three year term and also ratified
Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s registered public accounting firm for
fiscal 2009.
About Enzo
Enzo Biochem is engaged in the research, development, manufacture and
licensing of innovative health care products and technologies based on
molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques, and in providing
diagnostic services to the medical community. Enzo’s Life Sciences
division develops, produces and markets proprietary labeling and
detection products for gene sequencing, genetic analysis and
immunological research among others. Its catalog of over 33,000
products serves the molecular biology, drug discovery and pathology
research markets. The Company's therapeutic division is in various
stages of clinical evaluation of its proprietary immune regulation
medicines for uveitis and Crohn's Disease and conducts pre-clinical
research on several candidate compounds aimed at producing new mineral
and organic bone, including technology that could provide therapy for
osteoporosis and fractures, among other applications. Enzo’s Clinical
Labs division provides routine and esoteric reference laboratory
services for physicians in the New York Metropolitan and New Jersey
areas. Underpinning the Company’s technology and operations is an
extensive intellectual property estate in which Enzo owns or licenses
over 230 patents worldwide, and has pending applications for over 200
more. For more information visit our website www.enzo.com.
Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news
release may be considered "forward-looking" statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such
statements include declarations regarding the intent, belief or current
expectations of the Company and its management. Investors are cautioned
that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could
materially affect actual results. The Company disclaims any obligations
to update any forward-looking statement as a result of developments
occurring after the date of this press release.