AMPAC Fine Chemicals Completes Contract Manufacturing Agreement for Smallpox Countermeasure API

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --  AMPAC Fine Chemicals LLC (AFC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Pacific Corporation (Nasdaq®: APFC), announced it has concluded an agreement with Chimerix, Inc. to validate at commercial scale the manufacturing process for the API in Chimerix's broad spectrum antiviral drug candidate, CMX001, which is being developed for the prevention and treatment of smallpox.  Chimerix will provide the investigational drug product under a Prime Contract with the U.S. Government Agency BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority).  According to Kenneth I. Moch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chimerix, "We look forward to working with AFC and BARDA to harness the full potential of CMX001 to address the biodefense threat represented by smallpox."

The validation campaign will be conducted in AFC's recently completed second semi-works unit.  The unit is located within a secured perimeter (security-alarmed fencing, cameras, controlled personnel access) segment of AFC on the DoD-regulated campus of Aerojet/GenCorp in Rancho Cordova.  "This facility offers a state of the art, remotely operated process plant which can safely run hydrogenations and hazardous chemical processes, while containing reactants and products with Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) down to 0.5 µg/m3, combining two of the core strengths of AFC.  Equipment consists of 4 reactors (from 300-750 gal) and one 2.0 m2 Hastelloy filter-dryer.  The unit is ideally suited for the production of APIs required by companies like Chimerix," stated Larry Zeagler, Executive Director of Product Management for AFC.

"This agreement further solidifies our position as a supplier with world class cGMP manufacturing capabilities in the United States.  AFC is committed to maintaining the domestic assets and services needed by our customers to provide materials of critical importance to health and safety," stated Aslam Malik, President of AFC.

ABOUT AMPAC FINE CHEMICALS LLC

AFC is a U.S.-based company with demonstrated capabilities in process development, scale-up, and cGMP-compliant commercial production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and registered intermediates for pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers. Its specially engineered facilities and experienced staff allow AFC to safely produce highly energetic compounds at commercial scale. In addition, AFC's other technology platforms include production of highly potent compounds, continuous processes and industrial-scale chromatographic separation using simulated moving bed chromatography (SMB).  AFC's operations are located in Rancho Cordova, California and in La Porte, Texas.  Additional information about us can be obtained by visiting our web site at www.ampacfinechemicals.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION

American Pacific Corporation (AMPAC) is a leading custom manufacturer of fine chemicals, specialty chemicals and propulsion products within its focused markets. We supply active pharmaceutical ingredients and advanced intermediates to the pharmaceutical industry. For the aerospace and defense industry we provide specialty chemicals used in solid rocket motors for space launch and military missiles. AMPAC also designs and manufactures liquid propulsion systems, valves and structures for space and missile defense applications. We produce clean agent chemicals for the fire protection industry, as well as electro-chemical equipment for the water treatment industry. Our products are designed to meet customer specifications and often must meet certain governmental and regulatory approvals. Additional information about us can be obtained by visiting our web site at www.apfc.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including without limitation statements regarding our agreement with Chimerix and the related future impacts. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by American Pacific Corporation and its affiliates (collectively, "American Pacific") that any of American Pacific's expectations will be achieved.  Actual results may differ materially from future results or outcomes expressed or implied by forward-looking statements set forth in this press release due to risks, uncertainties and other important factors inherent in American Pacific's business.  Factors that might cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, those included in the "Risk Factors" section of the Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2010 and filed by American Pacific Corporation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  Readers of this press release are referred to the filings of American Pacific Corporation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Form 10-K for Fiscal 2010, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for further discussion of these and other factors that could affect future results. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and American Pacific assumes no obligation to update for actual results or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law.  

SOURCE American Pacific Corporation