Heska Corporation Announces European Approval for PERIOceutic(TM) Gel

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (PROTEXT) - Heska Corporation (Nasdaq: HSKA), a leader in the companion animal health market, announced today that its PERIOceutic(TM) Gel has been approved by the European Commission for marketing and distribution in Europe. The product is the first veterinary product indicated for the treatment and control of periodontal disease in dogs. Robert Grieve, Chief Executive Officer of Heska, said, "We are very pleased with the European marketing approval. We can now move forward to develop a relationship with a European marketing partner for the PERIOceutic product. We are currently in discussions with potential partners that have sales and distribution networks throughout Europe." The PERIOceutic Gel product is similar to the ATRIDOX(R) subgingival antibiotic product developed for the human dental market by Atrix Laboratories, Inc., and was exclusively licensed to Heska for veterinary applications. Heska introduced the product into the United States veterinary market in November 1997. The product, manufactured for Heska by Atrix, is a gel-like substance containing the antibiotic doxycycline, that the veterinarian places beneath the gumline of the affected teeth. The product forms a slow release system delivering the antibiotic into the affected tissue, providing a local antimicrobial effect which lasts for several weeks. Periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed disease in dogs and is the primary cause of tooth loss. This new technology offers veterinarians a new tool to treat and control the disease, prevent tooth loss and guard against infection spreading to other parts of the body. Heska discovers, develops, manufactures and markets companion animal health products, primarily for dogs, cats and horses. Heska has a large and sophisticated scientific effort devoted to applying biotechnology to the large and growing companion animal health market. Heska also offers diagnostic and patient monitoring equipment and supplies, as well as laboratory diagnostic products in the United States and Europe to veterinarians, and operates USDA- and FDA-licensed facilities, which manufacture vaccine, pharmaceutical, and allergy immunotherapy products. For additional information on Heska and its products, visit the company's web site at www.heska.com. With the exception of historical matters, this press release contains express or implied forward-looking information about Heska's products and markets, including statements concerning the market acceptance of this product and potential European partners. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Heska to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Heska's achievement of these results may be affected by many factors, including among others, the following: delays in or failure to achieve market acceptance of this product; the inability to establish or maintain an effective distribution network in Europe, delays in or failure to achieve future product development; uncertainties regarding the outcome of research and development efforts or the ability to successfully develop or commercialize products in research and development, uncertainties regarding the ability to receive required regulatory approvals in a timely manner, if at all, uncertainties regarding the scope, enforceability and validity of patents and proprietary rights, which are subject to complex legal standards that vary from country to country and are subject to interpretation by administrative agencies and courts; quality of management; competition; changes in business strategy or development plans; inability to obtain renewal or continuation of contracts, or obtain exclusivity, to market, sell or distribute products described herein; inability to manufacture, market, sell or distribute products at currently projected costs and the risks set forth in Heska's filings and future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those set forth in Heska's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 under the caption "Business-Factors that May Affect Results," and in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999 under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Factors that May Affect Results." ots Original Text Service: Heska Corporation Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Ron Hendrick, Executive Vice President & CFO, or Robert Grieve, Chief Executive Officer, 970-493-7272, both of Heska Corporation; or Investor Relations: Judy Brenna, ext. 221, or Media Relations: Matthew Knight, ext. 271, both of Noonan/Russo Communications, Inc., 212-696-4455 Web site: http://www.heska.com Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug "PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK" slug. 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