Helicon Group Limited (ASX: HCG) Intensifies Efforts To Extend Product Portfolio With Swiss Based Executive Appointment

Perth, Jan 31, 2008 (ABN Newswire) - HELICON GROUP LIMITED (ASX: HCG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Anita Wehrli to the position of Business Development Manager based in Switzerland.

Ms Wehrli's role will focus on identifying and liaising with potential product partners during negotiations for the exclusive rights for the Chinese and other North Asian markets.

She has a wealth of relationship building and business development experience within the healthcare, mining and agricultural sectors.

Ms Wehrli's appointment is a key one for Helicon as it continues to build its product range within its portfolio areas.

The position is based in Europe because this is the locus of many of the small to medium sized research focused medical and pharma companies whose products are licensing targets for Helicon.

Commenting on her appointment Ms Wehrli said: "I am very keen to assist Helicon in identifying in-licensing and business alliance opportunities in Switzerland and the EU. The pharmaceutical sector in these areas has an impressive product innovation and development record. Given Helicon's growing network in North Asia, I am confident we can locate products that can be introduced successfully into the region's biomedical markets, especially China."

Ms Wehrli holds a Bachelor of International Business (Major in Marketing and Management) and a Master of Business Administration (Major in International Business- China), both from Murdoch University in Western Australia.

Helicon CEO Peter Abrahamson said: "A critically important part of our growth strategy is to add innovative products to our portfolio and Anita brings invaluable experience and drive to enable us to achieve this objective."

Ms Wehrli is a Swiss national who speaks four languages.

About Helicon Group Limited

Helicon is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. The Company's business is to identify and exploit niche market opportunities in the biomedical markets of North Asia, specifically China and to participate in the significant growth that has been projected for these markets over the next 25 years.

Helicon looks for "Special Situations" for advanced Western biopharmaceutical products that are not available in China or other North Asian Markets or where there are market needs that are not being adequately provided for.

Helicon's product partners are likely to be innovative small to medium sized pharmaceutical and healthcare enterprises focused largely on western markets.

Helicon seeks exclusive licenses for the designated markets and utilises a low cost operating overhead base in combination with established channel partners for product registration, distribution, marketing, and sales.