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Speedel Holding AG Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin ASA. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
Basel/Switzerland and Bridgewater NJ/USA, 10 July 2008 Speedel Holding Ltd. (SWX: SPPN) today announced changes of significant shareholdings in accordance with article 20 of the Swiss Federal Act on Stock Exchanges and Securities Trading (SESTA). The following holders have fallen below the threshold of 3 percent of voting rights on Speedel: - Alice Huxley, previously 1,680,160 shares or 21.50% of voting rights; - Fritz Gerber, previously 879,000 shares or 11.25% of voting rights; - Rolf Hänggi, previously 666,000 shares or 8.52% of voting rights; - Branco Weiss, previously 490'010 shares or 6.27% of voting rights; - Henry C. Bodmer, previously 326,000 shares or 4.17% of voting rights.
Novartis, with a previously announced holding of 9.7%, has reported to now hold 4,801,200 shares or 61.44% of Speedel's voting rights.
Total shares of Speedel currently sum up to 7'813'992.
About Speedel
Speedel is a public biopharmaceutical company that seeks to create value for patients, partners and investors by developing innovative therapies for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Speedel is a world leader in renin inhibition, a promising new approach with significant potential for treating cardiovascular diseases. Our lead compound SPP100, Aliskiren Rasilez/ Tekturna[1]) the first-in-class direct renin inhibitor, was in-licensed from Novartis in 1999 and licensed-back to Novartis Pharma in 2002 for further development and commercialisation; SPP100 was approved by the FDA in the US in March 2007, and by the EMEA in the EU in August 2007. Our pipeline covers four different modes of action, and in addition to SPP100, includes SPP301 (an endothelin receptor A antagonist) in Phase II, SPP200 (a direct thrombin inhibitor) in Phase II, the next generation renin inhibitors SPP635 (in Phase Il), SPP1148 and SPP676 (both in Phase I) and several pre-clinical projects, including SPP2475 (aldosterone synthase inhibitor). Speedel develops novel product candidates through focused innovation and smart drug development from lead identification to the end of Phase II. We either partner with big pharma for Phase III and commercialisation in primary-care indications, or we may ourselves complete Phase III development in specialist indications. Candidate compounds for development and the company's intellectual property come from our late-stage research unit Speedel Experimenta and from in-licensing. Our team of approximately 80 employees, including over 30 experienced pharmaceutical scientists, is located at our headquarters and laboratories in Basel, Switzerland and at offices in New Jersey, USA and Tokyo, Japan. Speedel was founded in 1998 as a private company. In September 2005 the company's shares were listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange under the symbol SPPN. Further information is available at www.speedel.com.
Forward looking statements This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and projections about future events. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The word "may" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations described in these forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on them. There can be no assurance that actual results of our research and development activities and our results of operations will not differ materially from these expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include, among others: our or our partners' ability to develop safe and efficacious products; our or our partners' ability to achieve positive results in clinical trials; our or our partners' ability to obtain marketing approval and market acceptance for our product candidates; our ability to enter into future collaboration and licensing agreements; the impact of competition and technological change; existing and future regulations affecting our business; changes in governmental oversight of pharmaceutical product development; the future scope of our patent coverage or that of third parties; the effects of any future litigation; general economic and business conditions, both internationally and within our industry, including exchange rate variations; and our future financing plans.
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For further information please contact:
Martin Meier-Pfister Speedel Hirschgässlein 11 CH - 4051 Basel Switzerland
T +41 (0) 61 206 40 00 D +41 (0) 61 206 40 90 F +41 (0) 61 206 40 01 www.speedel.com
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Speedel Holding AG Hirschgässlein 11 Basel
ISIN: CH0021483885; Index: SPI, SPIEX, SBIOM, SLIFE, SSCI; Listed: Main Market in SWX Swiss Exchange;
