EMA Emera Incorporated

ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (TSX:PLI)



--  ProMetic grants global co-exclusive rights for a plasma-derived orphan
    drug 

--  Hematech to pay ProMetic $10M for the orphan drug development program
    with $1M upfront 

--  Orphan drug to be manufactured in ProMetic's Laval facility 

--  Hematech to build and operate a facility in Taiwan to manufacture
    plasma-derived biopharmaceuticals implementing ProMetic's Plasma Protein
    Purification System ("PPPS(TM)") 



ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (TSX:PLI) ("ProMetic" or the "Corporation") and
Hematech Biotherapeutics Inc. ("HBI") announced today the signature of
definitive agreements for the co-development and co-exclusive commercialization,
on a world-wide basis (excluding China), of a plasma-derived biopharmaceutical
product targeting a rare medical condition ("Orphan Drug"). The deal includes
the granting of manufacturing rights by ProMetic to HBI of plasma-derived
biopharmaceuticals using ProMetic's proprietary PPPS(TM). 


The $10 million from HBI will fund the Orphan Drug's development program up to
regulatory approval; a $1 million upfront payment followed by $9 million staged
payments to ProMetic related to defined development milestones. $5 million of
the development fees are expected over the course of the next 15 to 18 months
leading to the filing of an IND in the second half of 2013. Following the
completion of clinical trials and regulatory approval, the Orphan Drug will be
commercialized jointly by ProMetic and HBI on a global basis (excluding China),
with both parties sharing profits equally. The Orphan Drug will be manufactured
by ProMetic in its Laval facility and in HBI's planned facility in Taiwan. 


The deal includes a strategic alliance providing HBI rights to ProMetic's
proprietary PPPS(TM) as well as training and technical support to manufacture
plasma-derived biopharmaceuticals in a Taiwanese facility to be built and
operated by HBI. Under this strategic alliance, HBI will fully fund the
construction and operating costs of the new cGMP plant dedicated to manufacture
plasma-derived therapeutics for ProMetic and its licensees. The core cGMP
manufacturing area of the facility in Taiwan will be based on the same design as
ProMetic's own Laval facility. Pursuant to this alliance, the two companies will
synchronize the construction of this Taiwanese manufacturing facility along with
the advancement of other plasma-derived therapeutics currently under development
by ProMetic and its other licensees.


"This strategic relationship will provide Hematech and ProMetic with a valuable
biopharmaceutical product with excellent market potential as well as a world
class manufacturing facility implementing ProMetic's proven manufacturing
platform," stated Dr Chan, M.D., Chairman of HBI. "We are pleased to see our
financial resources and extensive experience in the manufacturing of
biopharmaceuticals contributing to leverage the strategic fit between our two
companies. The competitive advantage provided by ProMetic's manufacturing
platform will certainly create value for Hematech as it pursues its goal of
marketing high-value, niche products targeting unmet medical needs", added Dr.
Chan.


"We are privileged to have access to the wealth of experience brought on board
by Dr Chan and his colleagues at Hematech. Under Dr Chan's leadership as
Chairman, Adimmune Corporation in Taiwan successfully built the first commercial
vaccine facility in Asia meeting European Medecines Agency ("EMA") standards",
mentioned Dr Tom Chen, ProMetic's Senior Vice President Product and Asia/Pacific
Development. "Both parties will mutually benefit from their respective extensive
industry expertise", added Dr Chen. 



"The combination of our sizeable investments to develop our manufacturing
platform, our strategic decision to set up our own plasma manufacturing facility
as well as the recent successful scale up of our process in China were all
instrumental in securing this strategic partnership with HBI" mentioned Mr.
Pierre Laurin, ProMetic's President and Chief Executing Officer. "This
transaction capitalizes on our mutual synergies and common commercial visions",
added Mr. Laurin. 


About Orphan Drug

An orphan drug is a pharmaceutical agent that has been developed specifically to
treat a rare medical condition, the condition itself being referred to as an
orphan disease. The assignment of orphan status to a disease and to any drugs
developed to treat it is a matter of public policy in many countries, and has
resulted in medical breakthroughs that may not have otherwise been achieved due
to the economics of drug research and development. Orphan drugs generally follow
the same regulatory development path as any other pharmaceutical product, in
which testing focuses on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, dosing,
stability, safety and efficacy. However, some statistical burdens are lessened
in an effort to maintain development momentum. 


About the Plasma Protein Purification System

The Plasma Protein Purification System (PPPS(TM)) allows for the targeting and
removal of multiple high-value proteins from a single plasma sample at
unprecedented activity levels using ProMetic's Mimetic Ligand(TM) adsorbent
technology. This system also provides for the recovery of new biotherapeutics as
they are discovered and identified. The effect of this process is to reduce the
significant losses incurred when using the more conventional Cohn precipitation
process.


About Hematech Botherapeutics Inc. 

Hematech Biotherapeutics Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company with
headquarters located in Taipei, Taiwan. Hematech Biotherapeutics Inc. is
extensively involved in the sponsorship, development and production of
therapeutic drug particularly in the area of hematology. Hematech
Biotherapeutics Inc. maintains an extensive collaborative network with
industrial partners and is committed to the development of safe, high-quality,
and low cost therapeutics drug. Major shareholders of Hematech Biotherapeutics
Inc. include a key supplier of vaccines and a medical service and logistics
company in Taiwan. Both companies are publicly listed in Taiwan.


About ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. 

ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (www.prometic.com) is a biopharmaceutical company
specializing in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of a
variety of commercial applications derived from its proprietary Mimetic
Ligand(TM) technology. This technology is used in large-scale purification of
biologics and the elimination of pathogens. ProMetic is also active in
therapeutic drug development with the mission to bring to market effective,
innovative, lower cost, less toxic products for the treatment of hematology and
cancer. Its drug discovery platform is focused on replacing complex, expensive
proteins with synthetic "drug-like" protein mimetics. Headquartered in Laval
(Canada), ProMetic has R&D facilities in the UK, the U.S. and Canada,
manufacturing facilities in the UK and business development activities in the
U.S., Europe, Asia and in the Middle-East. 


Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about ProMetic's
objectives, strategies and businesses that involve risks and uncertainties.
These statements are "forward-looking" because they are based on our current
expectations about the markets we operate in and on various estimates and
assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks affect
our business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be inaccurate. Such
risks and assumptions include, but are not limited to, ProMetic's ability to
develop, manufacture, and successfully commercialize value-added pharmaceutical
products, the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the
successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of ProMetic to
take advantage of business opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry,
uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes in economic
conditions. You will find a more detailed assessment of the risks that could
cause actual events or results to materially differ from our current
expectations on page 24 of ProMetic's Annual Information Form for the year ended
December 31, 2011, under the heading "Risk and Uncertainties related to
ProMetic's business". As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking
statement will materialize. We assume no obligation to update any
forward-looking statement even if new information becomes available, as a result
of future events or for any other reason, unless required by applicable
securities laws and regulations. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless
indicated otherwise.

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