aap subsidiary Coripharm agrees on sales agreement with Essex Chemie AG

aap subsidiary and biomaterialist specialist Coripharm Medizinprodukte GmbH & Co KG has agreed to terms that provide Swiss-based Essex Chemie AG exclusive European sales rights for the EASYMIX® vacuum cementing system. Vacuum cementing systems help ensure optimal preparation of bone cements for clinical use.

Essex Chemie AG of Lucerne, Switzerland, is an indirectly-held subsidiary of Schering-Plough Corporation, an international health care group listed on the New York Stock Exchange. With annual sales (2000) of $9.8bn, Schering-Plough is one of the world's leading drug corporations.

The sales agreement will enable aap Group company Coripharm and Essex Chemie AG to supply the EASYMIX® vacuum cementing system throughout the European market for vacuum cementing techniques. With this new agreement, aap's Coripharm aims to underpin its position as one of the leading European suppliers of vacuum cementing systems. aap's long-term objective is to take on a leading role in the biomaterials for orthopedic applications segment.