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Grins

Für alle die den Link noch nicht kennen, wird übrigens täglich nach US Börsenschluss  aktualisiert.

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July 6th, 2006Obasanjo to commission sickle cell drug factory today  A local factory that would immediately commence the production of NICOSAN- an anti-sickling drug, will be commissioned today by President Olusegun Obsanjo.

Ayodele Coker, Director General of SHESTCO who disclosed this in Abuja yesterday explained that NICONSAN is a drug first developed by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) for the management of sickle cell disease.

He said that NICOSAN consists of a mixture of extracts from four tropical plants, some of which are cultivated and found in the wild both within and outside Nigeria Coker stressed that all necessary precautions had been taken to ensure safety of the products as well as continuity in the production.

According to him, the Gamma irradiation facility is to be used for food preservation, sterilisation of pharmaceutical and medical devices, as well as polymerisation and other industrial applications.

Cker said that "the drug, to be used in the treatment of sickle cell diseases, is being produced by a pharmaceutical company-Xechem-Nigeria and has been tested locally and international at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital in the United States."

The drug which Coker said has been approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is also been recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the treatment of sickle cell diseases .

Coker explained that the Gamma Irradation facility is for food security and preservation of agricultural products which will cut down the loss from waste of harvested crops experienced annually stressing "more than 55% of our harvested crops are wasted thus the need for the facility and we want to cut down on this loss".

"WE are confident this will help in the reduction of prices of foodstuffs all year round. With the Gamma Irradiation Facility, you can delay the ripening period period, retain freshness and admittance of exported agriculture products in the markets. Products that go through the facility will be 100% safe for human consumption as there is no room for error.

 

http://www.businessdayonline.com/?c=44&a=7409

 

 

Wednesday, July 5, 2006 / Jimada Thani 09, 1427 A.H  

 

               

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Since the beginning of life on earth, diseases have existed. They emerge and multiply according to environmental changes and complications over time, especially bordering on social or group conducts, physiological behaviours and sanitary conditions, in the case of humans and animals, environmental conditions, soil contents and agricultural practices, in the case of plants. There are more numerous causes of diseases than have so far been discovered. Diseases are not known until they emerge, and as they do so, scientists research into them to determine their causes and manufacture their cure. Many, perhaps most, diseases ravage life for a very long time and on a frightening scale before their cures are found. Some of such diseases have existed for ages, yet their specific cures have either not yet been found or they have just been found, but they have not been sufficiently tested and applied to determine their efficacy and safety according to the rules of medication. Such diseases prominently include Sickle Cell Anaemia or Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), which has claimed umpteen lives without any specific cure until very recently. “I also lost a very close friend and classmate to the disease when we were in the secondary school five years ago. He was the son of Justice Abdul Aboki, a judge of the Kano State High Court,” Jamilu Mohammed, a resident of Garki, Abuja recalled, saying, “We used to address him simply as Daddy and I can still recall that whenever it struck him, the colour of his eyes would change to blue, he would be weak and portions of his body would develop some rashes. Some sicklers have swollen body. Daddy died at the age of 20.” In the United States, it is called the African-Americans disease or poor men’s disease. Every other place in the world, it is called Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) or Sickle Cell Anaemia. Sickle Cell Disease is found to be on the scale of front row serious killer ailments such as cancer and HIV/AIDS. Most sicklers, especially in most African communities, shy away from public exposure. Currently, between 14 million and 16 million people are said to be suffering from the disease worldwide. Out of this number, 10 million are in Africa, which includes the four million in Nigeria. Sickle Cell Disease, according to scientific research, is a genetic blood disorder caused by a point mutation on the globin chain of the haemoglobin molecule.
The disease causes the production of abnormal haemoglobin which contains portions that stick together after the release of oxygen. These result in the production of stiff, abnormally shaped red blood cells, which do not flow freely through the blood vessels. The sickle shaped cells create clogs in the blood vessels, which prevent the flow of normal hemoglobin and oxygen around the body. The situation results in severe pain or “crisis,” ulcers, blindness, organ and tissue damage and breakdown, which eventually leads to stroke, especially in young infants, and acute chest pain. Research in the field warns that repeated crisis can also result in damage to the kidneys, lungs, bones, eyes and central nervous system. The most feared complication for children with the disease is stroke, which is said to affect infants as young as 18 months. Many children with the disease do not survive infancy or early childhood. Some scientists say patients below the age of 20 are at higher risk of death than those above that age. Adults with SCD, the research reveals, often experience a reduction in quality of life due to severe physical problems such as pain, hard-foot syndrome, acute lung complications that can result in death. Further, frequent episode of severe pain, crisis and hospital admissions, significantly affect the lives of the patients of the disease by limiting their ability to participate in normal activities. The socio-economic and psychological implications are that it consequently retards their economic and social advancement, deprives them of joy of living life to the fullest and instilling the fear of early death in them. Researches into blood groups have shown that persons in the SS blood group are both patients and carriers of the disease, those in the AS blood group are only carriers, while those in the AA blood group do not have it at all. So, in a married couple, if both the husband and wife belong to the SS group, the children they would bear would also be in the SS group, completely patients of the disease. If a member of the couple belongs to the SS group, while the other belongs to the AS group, there are higher chances that more of their children would belong to the SS. If both members of the couple belong to just AS, most of the children could be in the AS, while some could be SS members. A wholly AA group couple’s children would be safe from the disease.
This situation tends to encourage blood test before marriage is contracted by a couple. Until very recently, there was no known specific drug for its cure. Every where in the world it is treated with either traditional medicines or, in the orthodox medical practice, with drugs meant for other ailments, which have some symptomatic similarities and effects with it. In the United States, for instance, a drug called Hydroxyurea (HU), used for the treatment of cancer, was also used for sickle cell disease. This drug, which is the only one approved for the treatment of the disease, is however, very expensive and found to be toxic, and patients treated with it exhibit severe side effects. So, it is said that there has not been any specific drug for the cure of sickle cell in the market, the world over. In July, 2002, Xechem International Inc., a US-based pharmaceutical company, signed an agreement with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical and Research Development (NIPRD) for the research, development, production and worldwide sales and marketing of NICOSAN, said to be the only known cure for the disease now discovered. Before then also, another known cure is said to be a bone marrow transplant to replace defective red blood cells with donor healthy cells. Under this process, treatment has generally consisted of supporting therapies, which includes folic acid, anaemia, penicillin to prevent infections pleumococcal and influenza vaccination, pain killing drugs and intravenous injection fluid. NICOSAN, according to the researchers at NIPRD, is a non-toxic herbal product composed of extracts from tropical plants, each of which is said to be indispensable in the manufacturing of the drug. It is said to have undergone clinical trials conducted in Nigeria by NIPRD and laboratory testing among others by the National Heart, Lung Blood Institute and the Sickle Cell Disease Reference Laboratory at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, U.S.A. Results of these trials are said to have shown that the drug drastically reduced the degree of sickle cell formation, and the frequency and severity of SCD crisis, liver and kidney functions remained normal and patients gained appreciative weight. The clinical studies showed that the drug is an efficacious phytomedicine for the management of SCD. How was the journey to the advent of NICOSAN? In August 2001, the Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Turner Isoun, had led a high profile Nigerian government delegation, comprising, among others, top government officials and scientists, to the United States to sign an agreement between Rutgers University and the Government of Nigeria in the area of Biotechnology. The delegation visited Xechem International Inc. and, consequently, invited its founding chairman and chief executive officer, Dr. Ramesh C. Pandey, for further development and the production of the drug developed by the NIPRD scientists. The drug, as developed by the NIPRD, is a natural herbal preparation coming from Nigerian folklore. Late Reverend Paul Ogunlaye, who was a pastor of the First Baptist Church in Oyo State in 1992, was said to have brought the drug in the form of a herbal recipe to the attention of the former Director General of NIPRD, Professor Charles Wambebe, and his team of researchers at the institute. The institute further researched into it with the financial backing of the Nigerian government and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The research included looking into how the folklore was doing it – mixing and grinding this and that herb, and then producing a decoction that can be given to the sicklers. In the western world, medicinal herbal preparations are called food supplements or, very recently, alternate medicine, not drugs. In China, they are called Chinese traditional medicine. “When I returned to the US and found that there is no drug for it in the market, I got more interested. Then I looked into the present population of those suffering from it in the US, and I found out that it was just between 80,000 and 90,000, who, probably, may have migrated from African countries. There population was concentrated in the US in the areas where there is malaria,” Dr. Pandey revealed. In the United States, genetic and pre-birth screening is said to have drastically reduced the incidence of the disease in recent years. Apart from the over 80,000, an additional two million Americans carry the sickle cell trait. Although NIPRD had done some clinical trials – phase 1, 2A, 2B and placebo-control trials were done by Nigerian doctors and scientists, those data were not accepted overseas. To make the data and, subsequently, the drug, acceptable internationally, it is said that Xechem obtained the required Orphan Drug Designation from the US Food and Drug Authority. A similar designation was granted the company in Europe to cover all 25 countries of the European Union. Now there are five hospitals in the United States, including Children Hospital and Thomas Jefferson Hospital, both in Philadelphia, Sunny-Brooklyn Hospital in New York and Howard University Hospital in Washington DC for the application of the drug towards acceptability. NICOSAN was licensed with the government of Nigeria on 18th July, 2002. The raw materials and its sources are all said to be within the country, although future international market demand could require growing and obtaining more material from overseas. The drug may be launched as soon as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) approves it. “We are looking into the issue of counterfeiting, but I can’t tell you anything specific on that now, admitted Dr. Pandey, explaining, “First, we will make it a prescription drug. So we will know what is going on and how much of it is going out of the company. We may have some pharmaceutical stores to suggest the bulk purchasers. Counterfeiting has been brought to our attention by many people, but we are looking into how to stop it from happening to us.” The researchers believe that with the advent of NICOSAN, Sickle Cell Disease may soon be removed from the class of ailments having no specific drugs to cure them anywhere. As Sickle Cell Anaemia takes its toll on the human race, the global public awaits the efficacy of this drug, its standard maintenance, the height of its safety profile, its broad spectrum capacity and its affordability to patients of the disease who, perhaps, may never have hoped for any specific cure in the near future. That is if it proves itself to be the cherished specific cure for the disease.

 

 

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Chief Ufot Ekaette, President Obasanjo assured the managers of NEXIM that “government will continue to support the bank in its effort to recapitalise to N100 billion to enable it effectively drive our national objective of an export-led growth”.

Earlier, the supervising minister of NEXIM and minister of state for finance Mrs. Nenadi Usman revealed that the Bank is “one of the few government parastatals that have paid dividend to her shareholders”. She noted that the bank has also complied with the requirements of the SERVICOM Programme, in line with the Federal Government’s resolve to provide Nigerians with transparent, timely and effective services delivery platform.One of the challenges confronting NEXIM Bank she pointed out is the realization of its mandate as an Apex Export Finance institution stressing that “NEXIM has a major responsibility of driving the non-oil export development programme of government and in the process internalise international best practices of Export Credit Agencies”.

Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) around the world she argued mature through three generic life cycles, namely; Infancy, Growth and Maturity.
However in the case of NEXIM, Nenadi Usman was of the view that the bank “has over the years remained essentially at the infancy stage involved only in the provision of traditional export finance, insurance and guarantees” but advised that the need to move to the growth stage after 15 years of existence was not only desirable but necessary.
The minister lamented NEXIM’s double digit interest rate arguing that “the Nigerian Export - Import Bank, as a development finance institution has a responsibility of supporting the export sector by way of providing long term, cost effective financing. The current scenario where the Bank still intervenes with double digit interest rate does not provide enough respite. Although the Bank has responded positively to the call by exporters to review downward interest rate, it is our hope that in no distant time, a single digit interest regime would be fully achieved”.

The minister noted that “with Nigeria’s membership of multi-lateral institutions such as African Development Bank (ADB), African Export - Import Bank (AFREXIM), Islamic Development Bank (IDB) etc, it is hoped that NEXIM will access long term, low cost funds which will ultimately provide the platform for low interest rate administration”.
To this end, the ministry of finance as the supervising ministry, she said will support the effort, to recapitalise the Bank to a minimum of N50 billion and the Ministry would very soon pay up its share of the balance of the called-up capital after the bank has concluded its restructuring exercise.

On his part Mr. Tunde Lemo Deputy Governor Financial Sector Surveillance of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Chairman of NEXIM who called for increased funding from the shareholders of the bank CBN and the federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) noted that the Bank had since its inception funded its operations through equity, retained earnings and a perpetual debenture, secured from the CBN. Additional Lines he said have been secured from the African Export - Import Bank, Egypt ($10 million) and FBN (UK) Limited (US$5 million).

In spite of these limited sources of funding, he said the bank has taken giant strides in assisting in the growth of non-oil exports as well as import substitution industries emphasising that to date, over 500 exporters have benefited from NEXIM’s export facilities, while the bank’s loan portfolio is currently N6 billion.
The bank he said is currently in discussions with the Islamic Development Bank to access international capital to further enhance intervention in the development of export potentials in agriculture processing, oil and gas, solid minerals, manufacturing and services sub-sectors.

 

Quelle: www.cometnewsonline.com/capital.html

Pictures: Activities of President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday 6th July, 2006. Jul 10, 2006, 08:28

President Olusegun Obasanjo receiving a Bouque of Flowers from a little Girl as he arrived Aminu Kano Int. Airport for an Official visit to Kano State. looking on is Gov. Ibrahim Shekarau.

President Obasanjo flanked from the left by Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Muktar Shagari, Gov. Shekarau and Amb. Hassan Adamu at the commissioning of Kano River Irrigation Project in Yakasai, Kano State.

President Obasanjo commissioning the Gamma irradiation facility in Abuja. with him right is Minister of Science and Technology, Turner Isoun while left is Mr. Manfred Nowak, Vice President, Areva, Germany.

President Obasanjo presenting drug Nicosan to some Sickel Cell kids after the launching of the drug in Abuja.

Mrs. Florence Seriki, Managing Director, Omatek Computers putting President Obasanjo through during the launching of Computer for all project in Abuja.

© Copyright 2006 nigeriafirst.org

und meinten mit XKEM sei kein Geld zu verdienen!

was haben die wohl für Absichten,
wenn sie schon einen auf Samaritter bringen?

ich sag dazu nur einmalige Chance,was XKEM betrifft!!!!!!!!!
aber
Warnung!
ich bin kein BÖRSENEXPERTE!

Grins

Hast du die selbst geschossen?

Ich wusste, dass du für deine Aktien alles tust, sogar bei solchen wichtigen Ereignissen in eine ferne Welt reist...     ;-)

lg
o

http://cobrand.knobias.com/templates/aware/...988223bcd84dcefe0b1c7e4

make Nigeria a key participant and stakeholder in the application of
new and emerging technologies and evolve an economy that is technology
driven, private sector led and knowledge based. Today's occasion of
launching of NICOSAN(TM) is an attestation that our policy is on the
right course." Following the launching ceremony, President Obasanjo
unveiled and toured Xechem's facilities and planted a tree on Xechem
Nigeria's grounds to commemorate the occasion.


Dr. Pandey added: "We are extremely grateful to His Excellency,
President Obasanjo, for making it a priority to personally launch
NICOSAN(TM) and visiting Xechem's premises to mark this historic
occasion. The President's participation in the ceremony reflects just
how important this break-through sickle cell drug is, not only in
Nigeria, but for those suffering with this debilitating disease all
over the world." A gala affair attended by various ministers,
high-level government officials, diplomats, and other business
leaders, was held later that evening at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel in
downtown Abuja.


About NICOSAN(TM)


NICOSAN(TM) is an anti-sickling "Natural Herbal Drug" developed by
Nigerian Scientists at NIPRD and licensed by Xechem. In clinical
studies conducted under NIPRD's auspices, the drug has shown to
substantially reduce the degree of sickling of the affected red blood
cells of those afflicted with the disease. While not a cure for SCD,
the clinical trials have confirmed that the large majority of patients
taking NICOSAN(TM) no longer experience sickle cell "crises" while on
the medication, and even among those whose crises are not eliminated,
the number and severity of the crises are substantially reduced.


About Sickle Cell Disease


Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder caused by
an abnormality in the hemoglobin molecule. Patients with the disease
often produce stiff, abnormally shaped red blood cells that often do
not flow freely through the blood vessels. This can create clogs in
the vessels, which in turn cut off the flow of normal hemoglobin and
oxygen to parts of the body, and can cause severe painful attacks or
"crises," damage to various organs and shortened life spans. People
with SCD often suffer unpredictable painful crises several times a
year lasting from a few hours to a week or more. In the US, there are
approximately 80,000 patients with SCD. In Nigeria, that number is
believed to be approximately 4 million, and worldwide at least 12
million individuals are afflicted with SCD.


About Xechem


Xechem International is a development stage biopharmaceutical
company working on anticancer, antiviral (including AIDS), antifungal,
antimalarial and antibacterial products from natural sources,
including microbial and marine organisms. Its focus is on the
development of phyto-pharmaceuticals (natural herbal drugs) and other
proprietary technologies, including those used in the treatment of
orphan diseases. Xechem's mission is to bring relief to the millions
of people who suffer from these diseases. Its recent focus and
resources have been directed primarily toward the development and
launch of NICOSAN(TM) (to be marketed as HEMOXIN(TM) in the US and
Europe). With the Nigerian regulatory approval now in hand, Xechem
will now turn to the commercialization of the drug in Nigeria and the
pursuit of US FDA and European regulatory approval. In addition to
NICOSAN(TM), Xechem is also working on another sickle cell compound,
5-HMF, which it has licensed from Virginia Commonwealth University.


Forward Looking Statements


This press release contains certain forward looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, and section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, which are intended to be covered by safe harbors created
hereby. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties.


SOURCE: Xechem International, Inc.

geht den der Dreck noch runter?  

Xechem International Inc   ( OTCBB :  XKEM )	cobrand.knobias.com/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >
	cobrand.knobias.com/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >	Stock Symbol:  " name=Submit>

cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >  Last Trade: 0.037 Change: cobrand.knobias.com/images/uptick_grn.gif" style="max-width:560px" > 0.004 ( +11.818 %) cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >  Previous Close: 0.033 Today's Open: 0.031 cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >  # of Trades: 834 Volume: 178,816,700 cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >  Avg. # of Trades: 1,522 Avg. Daily Volume: 125,022,501   cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >   cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >  Bid: 0.037 Bid Size: 50 cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >  Ask: 0.037 Ask Size: 50 cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >  Day High: 0.039 Day Low: 0.014 cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >  52 Week High: 0.239 52 Week Low: N/A cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >  Market Cap: 40.35M Dividend: N/A cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >  EPS: -0.03 P/E Ratio: N/A cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" > cobrand.knobias.com/individual/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >

cobrand.knobias.com/images/1x1_space.gif" style="max-width:560px" >

charts.rushtrade.com/...g=ffffff&width=225&height=186" style="max-width:560px" border=0>

unten alles zu

eines bei 0,046 (Montag schon bei Eröffnung)
und das andere liegt bei 0,065
vielleicht auch schon Montag

Grins

...und ein Grins zurück

;-)

17.07.06 16:39
Berlin (aktiencheck.de AG) - Der Start in die neue Börsenwoche stand unter keinen guten Vorzeichen, so die Börse Berlin-Bremen durch den "ots-Originaltextservice".

Kein Unbekannter an der Berliner Börse seien Xechem International-Aktien, die in letzter Zeit immer mal wieder im Blickpunkt gestanden hätten. Heute seien rege Handelaktivitäten zu verzeichnen gewesen. Der Kurs habe sich von 0,034 Euro auf 0,037 Euro verbessert. Xechem habe veröffentlicht - so sei es in Anlegerboards zu lesen gewesen -, dass Xechem Pharmaceuticals Nigeria die Genehmigung, für Marketing und Verkauf des Präparates Nicosan in Nigeria, erhalten habe.

sollen wieder hoch auf 0,12
oder mehr

jep

According to Xechem\'s Chairman and CEO, Dr. Ramesh Pandey, "We are very pleased to have received this significant grant to fund the toxicity studies of 5-HMF, which has shown great promise as a new type of anti-sickling agent that interacts specifically with intracellular hemoglobin without interacting with other proteins in the body. The grant award will allow us to immediately move forward on the 5-HMF front as we continue with our ongoing efforts to expand our production capability for our first sickle cell drug (NICOSAN(TM)), which was launched in Nigeria on July 6th, 2006."

5-HMF is a single compound which, subject to further testing and trials, could be effective for intravenous and/or oral use in the fight against Sickle Cell Disease. Previously, the Company acquired the exclusive worldwide license from the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Ministry of Health, Federal Government of Nigeria, for the research, development, manufacture, marketing and distribution of NICOSAN(TM)/HEMOXIN(TM), an all Natural Herbal Drug (phyto-pharmaceutical) that was launched in Nigeria on July 6th, 2006.

About Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder caused by an abnormality in the hemoglobin molecule. Patients with the disease often produce stiff, abnormally shaped red blood cells that often do not flow freely through the blood vessels. This can create clogs in the vessels, which in turn can cut off the flow of normal hemoglobin and oxygen to parts of the body, and can cause severe painful attacks or "crises", damage to various organs and shortened life spans. People with SCD often suffer unpredictable painful crises several times a year lasting from a few hours to a week or more. In the US, there are approximately 80,000 patients with SCD. In Nigeria, that number is believed to be approximately 4 million, with an estimated 10 - 12 million sufferers throughout the African continent. Worldwide, at least 16 million individuals are believed to be afflicted with SCD.

About Xechem

Xechem International is a development stage biopharmaceutical company working on Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), antimalarials, and antiviral (including AIDS), anticancer, antifungal and antibacterial products from natural sources, including microbial and marine organisms. Its focus is on the development of phyto-pharmaceuticals (Natural Herbal Drugs) and other proprietary technologies, including those used in the treatment of orphan diseases. Xechem\'s mission is to bring relief to the millions of people who suffer from these diseases. Its recent focus and resources have been directed primarily toward the development and launch of NICOSAN(TM) (named HEMOXIN(TM) in the US and Europe) for the prophylactic management of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). With the recent Nigerian regulatory approval of NICOSAN(TM), Xechem is now scaling-up the commercialization of the drug in Nigeria and making preparations for the pursuit of US FDA and European regulatory approval.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, and section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by safe harbors created hereby. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties.



Contact:
Xechem International, Inc.
Stephen Burg, 707-425-8855