LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. (March 20, 2007) -- E-Z-EM, Inc. (NASDAQ: EZEM) today announced that the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD) of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has determined that RSDLTM has satisfied all final configuration testing criteria, and is approved for initial procurements by the individual service branches. The decision, known as Milestone C, clears the way for deployment of RSDL to war-fighters as the DoD's next generation skin decontaminant for protection against chemical weapons (CW) agents.
RSDL is a patented, broad spectrum skin decontamination product intended to remove or neutralize chemical warfare (CW) agents or T2 toxins from the skin. Originally developed for the Canadian Ministry of Defense, RSDL has since been adopted by several military services around the world. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued 510(k) clearance for RSDL in March of 2003. The U.S. DoD began final configuration testing on the product in November of 2003 and authorized the sale of RSDL to first responder organizations in September of 2004. In September 2006, RSDL was awarded Safety Act certification by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which extends certain liability protections to the Company and its suppliers and customers (whether public or private) in the event RSDL is used in response to a terrorist incident.
Commenting on the announcement, Anthony A. Lombardo, President and CEO of E-Z-EM, said, "Of course, we are extremely pleased that this long-anticipated decision has been made. With receipt of Milestone C approval, RSDL has now been evaluated and approved by three U.S. Government entities, an intense level of scrutiny that we believe speaks to the importance of improving skin decontamination for war-fighters and first responders. RSDL has been shown to deliver this improved capability against CW agents, and we are pleased to now be able to offer the product to our armed service branches."
About E-Z-EM, Inc.
E-Z-EM is a publicly traded healthcare company founded in 1962, and has since established itself as one of the most recognized brands in diagnostic imaging of the GI tract. From the first barium contrast systems introduced over 40 years ago, to today's advanced products for CT imaging and virtual colonoscopy, E-Z-EM has continually developed innovative imaging and diagnostic solutions for physicians treating GI diseases. E-Z-EM is also a respected contract manufacturer of specialized liquid products, and has been the exclusive global manufacturer of RSDL??? since 1996. In April of 2005, E-Z-EM completed the acquisition of all assets associated with RSDL, and now is the product's exclusive worldwide marketer.
The statements made in this document contain certain forward looking statements. Words such as "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" or variations of such words and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release may involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include: the ability of the Company to develop its products, placement of a DoD order for RSDL, the size of a DoD order, the impact on future sales of SAFETY Act designation and certification for RSDL, future orders of RSDL by first responder organizations, general military and first-responder market acceptance and sales of RSDL, future actions by the FDA or other regulatory agencies, overall economic conditions, general market conditions, price increases of raw materials and components, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations as well as the risk factors listed from time to time in the SEC filings of E-Z-EM, Inc., including but not limited to its Annual Report on its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 3, 2006 and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 2, 2006. Consequently, actual future results may differ materially from the anticipated results expressed in the forward-looking statements, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included in this release.
