more us orders to be announced, page-9

re: french confirm huge order !text! This ONE order is 3x the global sales to date

French Government Confirms Relenza Stockpile of 9 million units
Melbourne Australia—Friday 11 November.
Biota reported today that the French government has announced that it intends to increase its pandemic stockpile
of Relenza from 200,000 units to 9 million units over the next two years1.
Relenza normally sells for between $25 and $30 per unit in France, but no details are available of the pricing or
supply terms for the new orders. Biota is seeking to confirm the order terms with GSK. The 9 million units ordered
by France represent three times the cumulative global sales of Relenza since the product’s first launch in 1999
through to 30 June 2005. The French order is also significantly larger than the recent German Government order
for 1.7 million units announced in August this year. Biota receives a 7% royalty on Relenza sales.
GSK has announced that it is now rapidly ramping up Relenza production to keep up with what have been recently
described by GSK CEO, Dr JP Garnier, as ‘overwhelming’ orders for Relenza. According to statements made by Dr
Garnier in a recent earnings review interview2, the company is dramatically expanding its production of Relenza to
keep up with demand. He said:
“…we just can't produce enough units [of Relenza] no matter what we do. But we are greatly expanding
our internal capacity and we have opened new plants for Relenza in the last six months in different
continents.” In addition he stated: “…the ramp up of our [Relenza] production is going to really have a
major effect next year and even more the year after, but we start from a very low base in 2005.”
Recently, there have been several media reports of other Relenza stockpiling orders by various countries, including
the US, Canada, and certain European countries, but these orders remain unconfirmed or unquantified. Biota is
seeking details of all Relenza orders and production plans from GSK.
Litigation update
Biota’s litigation against GSK for failing to properly support Relenza continues, and on 9/10 November, a scheduled
mediation between the parties concluded without a settlement being reached. A further court hearing is scheduled
for 18 November. According to Biota, its case against GSK has been bolstered by current events.
Company: Media Enquiries:
Damian Lismore Tim Duncan
Biota Holdings Limited Hinton & Associates
T: (03) 9915 3721 T: (03) 9600 1979 M: 0408 441 122
1 www.premier-ministre.gouv.fr/en/information/special_reports_98/avian_influenza_prevention_protection_537/
the_government_prevention_plan_54307.html
2 Thompson Street Events; GSK - Q3 2005. GlaxoSmithKline Earnings Conference Call, Oct. 27. 2005 / 9:45AM
ET. Final transcript
For Immediate release