Belgium Medical Inc.-U.S. Distributor on Board

2004-07-29 14:03 ET - News Release

VANCOUVER, Britsih Columbia -- (Business Wire) -- July 29, 2004

     Meridian Co. Ltd. ("Meridian" or the "Company")
(OTCBB:MRDAF), is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Meridian
Medical Inc. ("MMI") has signed a contract with CardioGrade, based in
Pleasanton, California to become its United States Distributor of the
Digital Pulse Analyzer ("DPA").

     Using information provided by a "pulse waveform", the DPA 
measures the elasticity of small and large arteries and provides 
information regarding arterial aging. The FDA approved device is 
inexpensive, non-invasive, and can provide results in one minute. The 
DPA can detect early signs of arterial wall dysfunction - a precursor 
of peripheral vascular disease, heart attacks and strokes. Such 
critical information can be used by the practitioner to determine if 
further investigation is required or to monitor effectiveness of 
treatment choices such as prescribed lifestyle changes (diet, 
exercise, smoking cessation etc.) and/or pharmaceuticals and 
nutraceuticals.

     Mark R. Rosales, President of CardioGrade, LLC has extensive 
sales and corporate experience predominately within the health care 
industry. While working as the Vice President of Sales and Business 
Development for United Therapeutics, (makers of HeartBar) he 
established a direct selling company with one product, taking the 
company from $40,000 in monthly sales to $400,000 per month in 9 
months. During this time he also recruited 16,000 new members in 24 
months in 3 countries and maintained 6,000 Active Distributors. Every 
prior sales and marketing venture Mr. Rosales has entered into has 
shown equally impressive results.

     Mr. Rosales also has relationships with several prominent 
physicians, endocrinologists and naturopaths throughout the United 
States who have expressed serious interest in the DPA. Mr. Rosales 
states, "The DPA is a quality product with an extremely competitive 
price, making it a highly marketable product in the United States." 
He further states, "I started CardioGrade to contribute to the 
wellness industry, particularly in regards to cardiovascular disease 
as it's the number one cause of death in the United States and 
contributes to a third of global deaths. I'm excited at the prospect 
of partnering with Meridian to see these statistics reduced. I can 
say without hesitation that this product will be remarkably 
successful, throughout the United States, but also in Mexico, South 
America and Europe." CardioGrade has projected a minimum sales goal 
of 50 DPA units per month through the next quarter. Based on these 
projections, Meridian will receive revenues of US$200,000 per month.

     Mr. Rosales has been collaborating with physicians conducting 
research on the effects of "L-Arginine", an amino acid that has been 
shown to reverse endothelial damage. The endothelium is the innermost 
thin tissue that lines blood vessels and the health of the 
endothelium directly affects overall cardiovascular health. "The DPA 
would compliment this type of research by providing a measuring 
device of efficacy," states Mr. Rosales.

     The DPA has a new software program that provides measurement of 
Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Low HRV has been shown in numerous 
longitudinal studies to be related to a higher mortality rate in both 
healthy and unhealthy subjects and thus can be shown to be a strong 
predicator of all-cause mortality. The heart is not just a simple 
pump but a complex sensory organ with its own functional "heart 
brain" that communicates with and influences the brain via the 
nervous system, hormonal system and other pathways. Research has 
shown that these influences profoundly affect brain function and most 
of the body's major organs. Science now confirms that stress 
significantly increases the risk of heart disease, including sudden 
cardiac death. Unmanaged emotional stress is equally if not more 
important than physical variables in determining health outcomes. A 
conservative estimate is that 75% of visits to primary care 
physicians are due to stress-related disorders.

     Cardiovascular related issues are not the only uses for the DPA. 
Psychologists are increasingly recognizing the importance of HRV. A 
number of studies have demonstrated that patients with anxiety, 
phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) consistently show 
lower HRV, even when not exposed to a trauma related prompt. 
Importantly, this relationship existed independent of age, gender, 
trait anxiety, cardio-respiratory fitness, heart rate, blood pressure 
and respiration rate.

     ABOUT MERIDIAN

     Meridian is an established leader in the research/development, 
manufacturing, and sales of integrative medical diagnostic equipment. 
The company sells its products and equipment to a wide array of 
customers in the global health care industry. The company presently 
holds a total of 18 worldwide patents on its technology, and has 
received FDA, as well as other international regulatory approvals for 
many of it's products.

     Meridian is committed to the ongoing global research and 
advancement of integrative medical products that contribute to the 
better health of humanity.

Contacts:

Meridian Co., Ltd.
Debbie Williams
President
(604) 926-3495
Website (Korean): www.meridian.co.kr
Website (North America): meridianmedical.ca