PharmAust Limited Overview PharmAust Limited (ASX: PAA) is a new player in Australia’s rapidly growing pharmaceutical industry. Following the launch of its prospectus in October 2004, PharmAust successfully raised $5.5 million, closing early oversubscribed. No adviser options have been issued. PharmAust is a unique vertically integrated pharmaceutical business that will take part in a range of activities, from contract drug discovery and development to product manufacturing, as well as sales and marketing of healthcare & pharmaceutical products. PharmAust has an exclusive marketing and distribution agreement with pharmaceuticals manufacturer, Xepa-Soul Pattinson (Xepa), a subsidiary of Malaysia’s largest healthcare company, Apex Healthcare. This agreement enables 100% owned subsidiary PharmAust Manufacturing to take advantage of patent arbitrage opportunities between Malaysia and Australia for the import and sale of patent expired medicines otherwise known as generics into Australia. PharmAust Manufacturing has now also successfully acquired and renamed Ramprie Laboratories, a WA-based pharmaceutical manufacturer. This purchase allows PharmAust Manufacturing Pty Ltd (PAM), to also manufacture products from an existing base of 95 Australian registered and branded products along with the development, manufacture and marketing of other existing Pharmaust Manufacturing brands along with the continuation of contract manufacturing services for others. PharmAust’s other key subsidiary, Epichem Pty Ltd currently provides contract chemistry services alongside its own intellectual property-generating research activities. Epichem continues to rapidly expand to keep pace with the influx of contracts, with five additional chemists having joined the company since it opened in February 2004. I n partnership with Xepa and through its 100%-owned subsidiaries, Epichem Pty Ltd and PharmAust Manufacturing Pty Ltd, PharmAust will take part in a range of activities, from drug discovery and contract synthesis, to the manufacture, marketing and distribution of healthcare and over the counter products, as well as low cost generic drugs available on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS). PharmAust’s focus is on the manufacture of pharmaceuticals for the Australian and international market including: • Generic prescription medication • Over the counter medication • Healthcare products • Specialised hospital products PharmAust will pursue a rapid growth strategy that will seek to diversify and expand its base of supply contracts, customers and markets so that it is not reliant on any one product, customer or market.
