South Asia Pharmamedic Ltd., One of China's Foremost Pharmaceutical/ Medical Equipment Distributors, Selected as Key Distribution Partner for the Chinese Market

Sorenson Medical, a provider of pioneering portable ambulatory infusion pumps for pain management, today announced its expansion into the Chinese medical device market with the approval of the company's pioneering ambIT(R) PCA ambulatory infusion pump by the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company also announced that it has selected Hong Kong-based South Asia Pharmamedic Ltd. (Pharmamedic) as its distribution partner in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong.

Sorenson Medical's ambIT PCA pump is a lightweight, portable infusion device that enables patients to go about their normal lives as they receive pain treatment, while reducing the threat of side effects and addiction from narcotic drugs. Infusion pain pumps such as ambIT also allow patients to remain mobile after surgery and to recover comfortably at home, avoiding the risk of hospital-acquired infections and prolonged hospitalization. ambIT pumps are about the size of a TV remote, are housed in a belt pack and run on two AA batteries.

"We are extremely pleased with the cooperative effort among various Chinese State agencies, and especially the FDA, in granting approval of our infusion pump product line for the Chinese market," said LeVoy Haight, COO of Sorenson Medical. "We believe the performance and convenience of our products will make a positive contribution to the quality of health care throughout China."

Final approval of the ambIT PCA ambulatory infusion pump to the Chinese standard included several key components. The device was required to pass safety testing by an independent Chinese testing laboratory, including review of submitted safety data regarding the pump's history of performance. In addition, Sorenson Medical's design and manufacturing systems had to demonstrate compliance with the rigorous ISO 13485 International Quality System Requirements for Medical Devices and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Quality System Regulations. These reviews were completed by the Chinese government agencies with no reservations regarding either the device or the systems' capabilities.

Sorenson Medical chose Pharmamedic, a subsidiary of South Asia Group Holding Co., to act as the company's primary distributor of the ambIT PCA throughout China in order to rapidly and effectively penetrate the Chinese market. Pharmamedic has one of the most comprehensive distribution networks within Greater China for pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

"We are honored to have been selected by Sorenson Medical as its key distribution partner for this leading-edge medical device in the Chinese market," said Michael Wong, CEO of South Asia Pharmamedic Ltd. "We believe our depth and breadth of distribution coverage will help to quickly establish the ambIT PCA as a category-leading device in this market."

"We see a strong fit between Pharmamedic's depth of experience and understanding of the market and our desire to bring this proven, life-saving technology to the Chinese health care system, not only in the major cities, but throughout the PRC," added Haight.

Pharmamedic has achieved outstanding success in China through sales of renal disease, cardiology, ophthalmic and hospital disposable products -- in addition to pharmaceutical products -- for a variety of companies. The Pharmamedic distribution network currently covers more than 500 hospitals in 60-plus cities across 17 provinces and four municipalities in the PRC. Through close relationships with large wholesalers in second-level cities, Pharmamedic is also able to resell to other small municipalities and townships in the PRC which are otherwise less accessible.