NEW YORK, June 26, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Crystal Research Associates, LLC announced today that it has issued an Executive Informational Overview(r) (EIO)(r) on Villa Guardia, Como (Italy)-based Gentium S.p.A. (Nasdaq:GENT). The full 60-page report can be found at (www.crystalra.com) and www.gentium.it.
Gentium S.p.A. ("Gentium" or "the Company") is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in researching, discovering, developing, and manufacturing drugs to treat and prevent a variety of vascular diseases and conditions related to cancer and cancer treatments. Gentium's most advanced candidate, Defibrotide, is in development to treat and prevent severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) with multiple organ failure (MOF) -- a condition in which some of the veins in the liver are blocked as a result of toxic cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy. Defibrotide may protect the vascular endothelial cells, particularly those of small vessels, from damage and activation. Gentium's R&D program includes several ongoing clinical studies. Gentium also has several product candidates in preclinical development for use subsequent to stem cell transplantation (SCT), to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and oral mucositis. Oral Defibrotide is in development to treat multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell. In 1986, one of Gentium's predecessor companies received approval to sell Defibrotide in Italy to treat DVT; later the indication was revised to treat and prevent all vascular disease with risk of thrombosis (also in Italy).
The Company currently derives revenues from the manufacture and sale of active pharmaceutical ingredients, reporting EUR 3.3 million (US$4 million) in total revenues for 2005. Gentium independently operates as a research facility as well as a production plant for these marketed substance pharmaceuticals in Villa Guardia, near Como, Italy.
Effective May 16, 2006, Gentium's American Depository Shares (ADSs) were listed for trading on the NASDAQ National Market System (NMS-NASDAQ) under the symbol GENT, from its prior AMEX listing under the symbol GNT.
About Crystal Research Associates, LLC
Crystal Research Associates, LLC is an independent research firm that provides institutional-quality fee-based research to small- and mid-cap companies. The Company's unique and novel product, the Executive Informational Overview(r) (EIO)(r), is free of investment ratings, target prices, and forward-looking financial models. The EIO(r) presents a crystal-clear, detailed report on a company (whether public or private) in a manner that is easily understood by the Wall Street financial community. The EIO(r) details a company's product/technology/service offerings, market size(s), key intellectual property (IP), leadership, growth strategy, competition, risks, audited financial statements, key events and other such fundamental information. Crystal Research Associates has offices in New York City, Delray Beach, Montreal, and Toronto. Crystal Research Associates has been compensated by Gentium S.p.A. in cash of US$35,000 and 15,000 warrants. Please see back of report for complete Company disclosures.
Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this news release regarding future financial and operating results, future growth in research and development programs, potential applications of the Company's technology, opportunities for the Company and any other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates," and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: limited operating history, need for future capital, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, protection of the Company's intellectual property, and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors that could affect results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports, including the report on Forms 20-F, 6-K, and other forms filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") from time to time.
These statements, and other forward-looking statements, are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Crystal Research Associates, LLC assumes no obligation to update any of the forward looking statements in this release.