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Kuwait Ministry of Health Purchases Stockpile of ThyroShield® from Fleming Pharmaceuticals

Sale represents Fleming Pharmaceuticals’ first foreign government contract for ThyroShield ST. LOUIS, MO – January 13, 2009 – Fleming Pharmaceuticals today announced the sale of 180,000 units of ThyroShield® to the Kuwait Ministry of Health. ThyroShield Potassium Iodide Oral Solution is a ready-to-use, thyroid-blocking liquid medicine for radiation emergencies. It provides easy dosing to protect infants, children and adults who are at risk of exposure to radioactive iodine. Worth approximately $1 million, the sale to Kuwait’s Ministry of Health represents Fleming Pharmaceuticals’ first large-scale order of ThyroShield from a foreign government. The transaction was brokered on behalf of Fleming Pharmaceuticals by Troy Jones, President of Nukepills.com, an Internet supplier of potassium iodide to individuals, groups and government agencies. “This sale is a milestone for our company, and we look forward to more international orders as Fleming Pharmaceuticals begins a concerted overseas marketing effort,” said Phill Dritsas, President of Fleming Pharmaceuticals.   Over the past three years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has purchased 4.8 million units of ThyroShield for distribution to U.S. residents living within 10 miles of nuclear power plants. Stockpiling of potassium iodide is recommended by health officials worldwide to prevent thyroid cancer in those exposed to radioactive iodine in the event of a nuclear reactor accident. Potassium iodide protects against the harmful effects of radioactive iodine by preventing its absorption by the thyroid gland. Thyroid cells are the only cells in the human body that can absorb iodine. “ThyroShield was developed under the Orphan Drug Act – a federal law designed to encourage the development of drugs that have limited commercial potential,” explained Fleming Pharmaceuticals Co-Owner and Chief Administrative Officer Debby Fleming-Wurdack. “When taken within hours of exposure, ThyroShield’s 65 milligrams of potassium iodide per milliliter blocks the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine. If the thyroid is not protected, exposure may eventually cause thyroid cancer.” ThyroShield saturates the thyroid with stable iodine, blocking the thyroid’s absorption of radioactive iodine. Young children are particularly vulnerable to exposure to radioactive iodine, so it is important to have a product that can be easily administered to infants and young children in the event of a nuclear reactor emergency.  Available without a prescription at www.drugstore.com, ThyroShield is the only FDA-approved liquid potassium iodide product indicated for thyroid protection in a radiation emergency. About Fleming Pharmaceuticals  Fleming Pharmaceuticals, based in Saint Louis County, Missouri, is the manufacturer of the popular OCEAN® Premium Saline Nasal Spray, OCEAN Complete®, OCEAN Ultra®, OCEAN Gel®, OCEAN for Kids®, MAGONATE® Magnesium Supplement, NEPHROCAPS® Softgels, ThyroShield® Potassium Iodide Oral Solution and other specialty prescription and over-the-counter drugs for clinical indications in allergy, pediatrics, nephrology and general nutrition care. For more information, visit www.flemingpharma.com.