Guest guest Posted January 17, 2006 Report Posted January 17, 2006 January 17, 2006 08:30 AM US Eastern Timezone http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp? ndmViewId=news_view & newsId=20060117005375 & newsLang=en Isonics Corporation Selected to Participate in Global Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention (GIPP) Program to Develop and Commercialize Biological Decontamination Technology; Environmentally- Safe Method Focused on Homeland Security and Hospitals GOLDEN, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2006--Isonics Corporation (NASDAQ: ISON), a developer of innovative solutions for the homeland security and semiconductor markets, announced today that it has been selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration's (NSSA) Global Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention (GIPP) program. As part of the program, the Company has entered into a two-year, $2 million ative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Battelle Memorial Institute as operator of DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Isonics, Battelle and the Russian State Scientific Center Research Institute of Highly Pure Biopreparations (IHPBP) will collaborate to complete the development of and then commercialize an environmentally safe system comprised of a chemical agent and an aerosol-based delivery method which can decontaminate microbial and fungal cells, spores, and viruses. In a prior phase of this program, IHPBP successfully demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed system and technology. " There is a growing level of concern that the healthcare industry and EPA do not have the ability to effectively respond to a biological catastrophe in this country, " explained E. , Isonics' Chairman and CEO. " Most of the effort appears to be directed to the needs of deterrence, detection and response to an event. There has been little reference to the planning and technologies needed for recovery - specifically advancements in remediation methodologies. " Isonics believes that this decontamination technology holds significant promise as a long-term solution to a national problem. Isonics' objective is to help create an effective technology that will allow for rapid, inexpensive and environmentally safe remediation of buildings that have been contaminated by a biological agent, thus allowing a speedy return to a state of normalcy. " The technology which we have undertaken to help develop and commercialize not only has the potential for post-terrorist clean-up application such as anthrax in the Hart Senate Office Building, " continued Mr. , 'but also can address the problem of hospital-acquired infections as a result of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. " Hospitals struggle with the control of infectious diseases and continue to look for efficacious, environmentally friendly and cost- effective means of dealing with this pervasive problem. Isonics intends to focus on this existing market need for decontamination of patient rooms, operating theaters, medical equipment and furniture which constitute the over 5,000 hospitals and nearly 1 million beds in the U.S. healthcare system. The Company envisions that the same technology will then be available and ready to serve in any less routine biological decontamination mission. According to the terms of the agreement, Isonics will provide in- kind contributions valued at $1 million over the two year period and will receive certain rights related to the intellectual property and patents resulting from the joint development efforts. Isonics is responsible for marketing and sales of the products and technologies developed under the program. NSSA will provide funding for the balance of the CRADA, including work at both IHBPB and PNNL. The GIPP program enhances U.S. national security by encouraging former Soviet weapons of mass destruction scientists, engineers and technicians to redirect their expertise to peaceful work through partnerships with U.S. commercial enterprises and DOE's national laboratories. These unique partnerships provide new resources and markets for U.S. companies, while establishing important private sector linkages for former Soviet weapons scientists. Since the program was established in 1994, it has evolved from primarily research and development to actively fostering development of commercially-viable technologies. Since 1999, 30 technologies have been commercialized or received venture capital. The agreement between Isonics and Battelle will allow for what Isonics believes is a crucial technology need in the U.S. Fortunately, programs such as IPP exist where U.S. industry can draw from the Russian scientists' expertise in developing such technologies and the scientists, in turn, are employed. For more information on the Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention program, visit http://www.nnsa.doe.gov/na-20/ipp.shtml. About Isonics Corporation Isonics Corporation has three business divisions: (1) Homeland Security and Defense (2) Semiconductor, and (3) Life Sciences. Isonics is a world leader in isotopically engineered materials and through its semiconductor division produces isotopically pure silicon-28 chemicals, silicon-on-insulator wafers, wafer reclaim services and test wafers, including 300mm, for the semiconductor industry. Isonics' Life Sciences division markets and sells isotopes to the health care industry for the imaging and treatment of cancer. Stable isotopes can be thought of as ultra pure materials. This high degree of purification provides enhanced properties as compared to natural materials. Our efforts in the Homeland Security segment are nascent (notwithstanding our operations at Protection Plus Security Corporation) at the present time as we proceed to develop further our IMS and neutron-based detection technologies. Additional information may be obtained at the Company's Web site at www.isonics.com. Cautionary Statement Except for historical information contained herein, this document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results or outcomes to be materially different from those anticipated and discussed herein. Further, the Company operates in industries where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by regulatory and other factors beyond the Company's control. Other important factors that the Company believes might cause such differences are discussed in the risk factors detailed in the Company's 10-KSB for the year ended April 30, 2005 and reports subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which include the Company's historical cash flow difficulties, dependence on significant customers, and rapid development of technology, among other risks. In assessing forward-looking statements contained herein, readers are urged to carefully read all cautionary statements contained in these filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Contacts Isonics Corporation E. , 303-279-7900 or CEOcast, Inc. for Isonics Theiss, 212-732-4300 Quote
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