Posts Tagged ‘Healthcare’

  • ASX Company News: Medical Australia Secures $1.5 million In New Contracts

    Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

    Medical products and distribution company Medical Australia Limited (MLA) is pleased to announce that it has secured new product supply contracts that will add a further $1.5 million in annualised revenue in FY2012 and beyond. All contracts are new supply agreements and range from one to three years in length. They include a new product supply agreement with one of Australia’s largest private hospital operators, Healthscope, initially for period of one year (in addition to contract announced April 2011); a contract to supply IV consumables and surgical irrigation products to Epworth Private Hospital on a rolling basis; a supply agreement with Vic Ambulance to provide life saving IV consumables; a contract to supply new innovative burette technology to Concord Repatriation and General Hospital.

    Product supply arrangements with Melbourne Health (17 hospitals); Austin and Repatriation Hospitals (2 hospitals); Eastern Health (3 hospitals); Saint Vincent’s and Mercy Private Group (3 hospitals), and Cabrini Health Group Network (6 hospitals). MLA has also secured smaller supply agreements with Mater South Brisbane, Princess Margaret Hospital in Western Australia, Mater North Sydney, Macquarie University Teaching Hospital, North Middlesex NHS Trust in the UK, and NSW Ambulance.

    MLA’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Donnison commented: “Building our domestic supply contracts is an important growth driver for MLA and these new agreements reflect the strong organic revenue growth we are experiencing across the business. MLA’s reputation in the domestic healthcare market continues to strengthen and our reputation as a trusted product supply partner is growing. “Customers now have the confidence in MLA’s global supply chain and know that we can supply product in a timely and cost effective manner. All new contracts have been secured on terms that are acceptable to our customers and deliver sufficient margin to MLA.”

    Medical Australia Limited (MLA) is a medical company engaged in the manufacture, distribution and sale of a broad range of medical devices used by healthcare facilities and critical care services in global markets. The Company is a leader in Intravenous (IV) Medication Delivery Systems, Surgical Irrigation, Suction and Oxygen Therapy, Safety Sharps Collection and Reuse Prevention and specialised Diagnostic and Laboratory Equipment. Our products are used in three broad areas of healthcare, Human Health; Biological Collection, Processing and Laboratory; and Animal Health.

    www.medaust.com

    http://www.traderdealer.com.au/fundamentals/mla

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    ASX Company News: Cogstate Secures Another New Contract

    Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

    CogState Ltd (CGS) announced that it has signed a contract with an international pharmaceutical company to participate in another phase 2b clinical trial for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder. Under the contract, which will generate US$0.9 million of revenue for CogState over the study duration, CogState will provide its cognitive testing technology and associated services to 280 patients located in 55 sites around the world. The CogState computerized cognition testing software, and associated on-line site training materials, will be provided in 5 languages. In almost five months since 1 July 2011, CogState has signed sales contracts to the value of US$8.2 million, including the above mentioned contract. To give relevance for the large value of contracts signed since 1 July 2011, it is noted that CogState signed US$9.3 million of clinical trial contracts in the full year to 30 June 2011 – at the time, this result was CogState’s best ever result, in respect of the value of contracts signed.

    CogState currently has A$9.9 million of contracted revenue that will be recognised in future periods, of which A$5.5 million is expected to be recognised in the 2012 financial year – this is

    in addition to the A$3.2 million revenue recorded during the period 1 July – 31 October 2011. CogState Ltd (CGS) specialises in the development and commercialisation of rapid, computerised

    tests of cognition (brain function). To date, CogState has commercialised its technology in two markets – clinical drug trials and concussion management in sport. In the clinical drug trial market, CogState technology and associated services are used by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to quantify the effect of drugs or other interventions on human subjects participating in clinical trials.

    www.cogstate.com

    http://www.traderdealer.com.au/fundamentals/cgs

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    ASX Company News: Atcor Medical Secures Two New Contracts

    Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

    AtCor Medical (ACG), the developer and marketer of the SphygmoCor® system which measures central aortic blood pressures and arterial stiffness noninvasively, announced that it has signed two new contracts to supply SphygmoCor systems and clinical trial support services to major international pharmaceutical companies. The agreements represent a substantial contract with a new customer for AtCor and expansion of a contract with an existing customer. The total combined value of the contracts is US $1.86 million.

    Duncan Ross, CEO of AtCor Medical said, “We are very pleased to sign these contracts, which provides an opportunity to work with a new client and further expand our business with an existing client. This growth of our customer base is a strong endorsement for AtCor and demonstrates both increased penetration and market adoption for measuring central aortic pressures in the pharmaceutical trials sector. To fully understand drug effects in both a population and an individual, you must measure central aortic pressures.”

    AtCor Medical develops and markets products for the early detection of cardiovascular risk and management of cardiovascular disease. Its technology allows researchers and clinicians to measure central aortic blood pressure non-invasively. The company’s SphygmoCor® system visibly identifies the effects of reflected blood pressure in the central aortic pressure wave, effects which cannot be detected with standard blood pressure monitoring.

    www.atcormedical.com

    http://www.traderdealer.com.au/fundamentals/acg

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    ASX Company News: Lemarne Corporation To Sell Malaysian Lemtronics Business

    Monday, October 10th, 2011

    Lemarne Corporation Limited (LMC) is pleased to advise that it has entered into an agreement to sell its Malaysian based Lemtronics business to Paramit Corporation, a US based provider of medical devices and instrument manufacturing services. The purchase price is US$20 million on a “cash free and debt free” basis and based on a normal level of net assets. 80% of the purchase price, being US$16 million, is payable to Fine Pearl on completion of the sale, with the balance of US$4 million being placed in escrow for a period of 12 months after completion as security for any warranty claims from Paramit. If there are no warranty claims during the 6 month period after completion, 50% of the amount placed in escrow would be released to Fine Pearl.  Following completion of the sale, Lemarne will no longer have any operating subsidiaries. The current intention is that most of the net sale proceeds will be distributed to Lemarne shareholders. Lemarne will then be actively exploring several future opportunities for the company.

    Commenting on the proposed sale, Chairman of Lemarne Mr Brian Noxon said: “After exploring a wide range of alternatives, Lemarne’s directors are pleased to announce the agreement with Paramit Corporation. The proposed sale will enable shareholders to receive a substantial cash return when the transaction is completed.” The Share Sale Agreement (SSA) contains the terms and conditions upon which Lemarne has agreed to sell its Lemtronics business to Paramit. Set out below is a summary of the key terms of the SSA, apart from price, which is detailed in the cover announcement.  The SSA also contained representations and warranties by Lemtronics, Fine Pearl and Lemarne on the Lemtronics’ business as well as certain tax indemnities.

    www.lemarne.com.au

    http://www.traderdealer.com.au/fundamentals/lmc

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    ASX Company News: Unilife Secures Two Year US Contract

    Friday, October 7th, 2011

    Unilife Corporation (UNS)  announced it has been awarded a two-year contract by Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P., the group purchasing enterprise of the Premier healthcare alliance, for the supply of its Unitract® 1mL safety syringes. Premier, Inc. is the nation’s largest healthcare alliance, helping to improve performance and providing group contracting to more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals and over 76,000 healthcare sites nationwide.

    Mr. Alan Shortall, CEO of Unilife said: “Our Unitract 1mL safety syringes, which are designed for use when drawing medication from a vial or ampoule, can provide optimal protection to healthcare workers and others at risk of infection from needlestick injuries. Unitract represents the first and only known range of insulin and tuberculin syringes with automatic, operator-controlled needle retraction features that are fully integrated within the syringe. “We are delighted to have signed our first Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) contract with Premier for the sale of our Unitract 1mL syringes to U.S. healthcare facilities. In addition to being one of the largest GPOs in the U.S., Premier is also a leading national advocate for injection safety. Despite the widespread conversion of U.S. healthcare facilities to the mandatory use of needlestick prevention products, healthcare workers continue to remain at risk of harm from many types of conventional safety syringe technologies. We look forward to supporting Premier and its members to enhance the level of protection offered to U.S. healthcare workers.”

    Premier is a performance improvement alliance of more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals and 76,000-plus other healthcare sites using the power of collaboration to lead the transformation to high quality, cost-effective care. Owned by hospitals, health systems and other providers, Premier maintains the nation’s most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. Unilife Corporation (UNS) is a U.S.-based developer, manufacturer and supplier of advanced drug delivery systems with state-of-the-art facilities in Pennsylvania. Established in 2002, Unilife works with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking innovative devices for use with their parenteral drugs and vaccines. Unilife has developed a broad, differentiated proprietary portfolio of its own injectable drug delivery products, including the Unifill and Unitract product lines of safety syringes with automatic, operator controlled needle retraction. Unifill represents the world’s first prefilled syringe technology integrating safety within the primary drug container. The products are ideally positioned to help pharmaceutical companies maximize the lifecycle of their injectable drugs and enhance patient care.

    www.unilife.com

    http://www.traderdealer.com.au/fundamentals/uns

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    ASX Company News: Mesoblast Enters Stem Cell Manufacturing Agreement

    Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

    Global regenerative medicine company Mesoblast Limited (MSB) and Lonza Group, a world leader in biologic manufacturing, announced that they have entered into a strategic alliance for clinical and long-term commercial production of Mesoblast’s off-the- shelf (allogeneic) adult stem cell products. The alliance will provide Mesoblast with significant commercial advantages, including certainty of capacity to meet long-term global supply of its proprietary Mesenchymal Precursor Cell (MPC) products.

    Under the agreement Lonza will supply Mesoblast’s clinical and long-term commercial MPC product needs globally. Mesoblast can trigger a process requiring Lonza to construct a purpose-built manufacturing facility exclusively for Mesoblast’s marketed products. In return, Mesoblast will purchase agreed quantities of marketed products from the facility. Mesoblast can exercise its right to buy out this manufacturing facility at a pre- agreed purchase price two years after the facility receives regulatory approval. Mesoblast will have exclusive access to Lonza’s Cell Therapy facilities in Singapore for the manufacture of allogeneic cell therapy products, subject to certain exceptions. Lonza will utilize its proprietary intellectual property to facilitate reductions in Mesoblast’s manufacturing costs and help enable development of enhanced second generation products.

    Mesoblast Chief Executive, Professor Silviu Itescu, said that having access to Lonza’s best of breed manufacturing capabilities will give Mesoblast significant commercial advantages globally. “It is in line with our growth strategy to deliver the highest quality and most effective cell therapy products worldwide,” he added. “Lonza is very excited to work under this significant strategic relationship with leading cell therapy company Mesoblast,” said Stefan Borgas, CEO of Lonza. “The cell therapy market is anticipated to become a major growth industry with the potential to mirror the growth we have seen in monoclonal antibodies over the past 20 years.”

    Mesoblast Limited (MSB) is a world leader in commercializing biologic products for the broad field of regenerative medicine. Mesoblast has the worldwide exclusive rights for a series of patents and technologies developed over more than 10 years relating to the identification, extraction, culture and uses of adult Mesenchymal Precursor Cells (MPCs). Lonza is one of the world’s leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries. Products and services span its customers’ needs from research to final product manufacture. It is the global leader in the production and support of active pharmaceutical ingredients both chemically as well as biotechnologically. Biopharmaceuticals are one of the key growth drivers of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Lonza has strong capabilities in large and small molecules, peptides, amino acids and niche bioproducts which play an important role in the development of novel medicines and healthcare products. In addition, Lonza is a leader in cell-based research, endotoxin detection and cell therapy manufacturing. Furthermore, the company is a leading provider of value chemical and biotech ingredients to the nutrition, hygiene, preservation, agro and personal care markets. Lonza is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

    www.mesoblast.com

    http://www.traderdealer.com.au/fundamentals/msb

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    ASX Company News: AMT To Distribute Orthofix Spinal Implants

    Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

    Australian medical device company, Advanced Surgical Design and Manufacture Limited  (AMT), announced that it had entered into a new distribution agreement with Orthofix Spinal Implants, an indirect subsidiary of Orthofix International N.V. ASDM has been appointed exclusive Australian distributor for the full range of Orthofix’s spinal products. Orthofix Spine solutions are currently used by a number of surgeons in Australia providing a ready market to drive opportunities for growth.

    ASDM’s CEO and Managing Director Dr Greg Roger said, “We’re excited with this appointment. The Orthofix Spine range opens up additional sales opportunities. Importantly, Orthofix has a first class product and an established user base of Australian surgeons, and has invested significantly in the past two years to create the next generation of spinal products. These are ready to be released to the Australian market early in 2012. Our clear strategy is to rapidly and profitably grow our business by offering a comprehensive product range and outstanding service to a growing population of orthopaedic surgeons. This appointment is a further step towards implementing ASDM’s strategy of being a preferred distributor in Australia for world leading companies.” Ken Mack, Vice President of Global Development for Orthofix Spinal Implants stated, “We’re pleased to enter into this new partnership with ASDM and look forward to seeing our exposure to the Australian market grow rapidly. ASDM has a great reputation in the market and our decision and business agreement with ASDM is further evidence of our commitment to be customer focused, patient driven and always responsive.”

    www.asdm.com.au

    http://www.traderdealer.com.au/fundamentals/amt

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    ASX Company News: Phosphagenics Enters Joint Venture For New Cosmetic Product

    Thursday, September 15th, 2011

    Melbourne drug delivery technology company Phosphagenics Limited (POH) has entered into an agreement with a leading global cosmetic and dermatology company to conduct a human study on a new cosmetic product incorporating its TPM® platform delivery system.

    Phosphagenics’ CEO, Dr Esra Ogru, said the partnership with another leading cosmetic, high-caliber company is further endorsement of the efficacy of the company’s platform technology. “There is growing recognition from leading global cosmetics and dermatology companies that TPM® can be a major point of difference for them in the marketplace,” she said. “We have consistently demonstrated that TPM® enables superior delivery of active ingredients topically and transdermally and have proven the versatility of this technology by applying it both to cosmetic and pharmaceutical compounds.”

    Phosphagenics is commercialising drug delivery applications based on its novel transdermal (drugs administered via skin) TPM® – Targeted Penetration Matrix technology. TPM® is a patient friendly and cost effective system used to deliver proven pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. The lead product advancing through clinical trials is an oxycodone matrix system for the relief of chronic pain.

    www.phosphagenics.com

    www.elixia.com.au

    http://www.traderdealer.com.au/fundamentals/poh

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    ASX Company News: Universal Biosensors Enters Joint Venture With Siemens

    Sunday, September 11th, 2011

    Universal Biosensors, Inc. (UBI) announced that its wholly owned operating subsidiary Universal Biosensors Pty Ltd has entered into a collaboration agreement with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Inc., forming a strategic partnership for the development and commercialisation of products for the point-of-care coagulation testing market. Under the partnership, Universal Biosensors will develop a range of test strip and reader products. The first test to be developed will be a modified version of Universal Biosensors’ PT/INR test, followed by other tests in the coagulation market. Universal Biosensors will also leverage its manufacturing expertise and resources to manufacture and supply the developed test strips to Siemens.

    Siemens is one of the world’s largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a leader in the haemostasis market. Siemens will register, market and sell the developed products globally. The worldwide market for point-of-care testing products is estimated to be approximately $15 billion annually. Universal Biosensors will receive an initial technology access fee of US$3 million, payable shortly after the date of this announcement. As products are commercialised, Universal Biosensors will generate revenues from each strip manufactured, on pre-agreed terms. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, the payments and corresponding milestones are confidential to Siemens.

    UBI CEO Paul Wright said, “This deal represents an important and exciting step forward for UBI. It validates our technology and capabilities outside the field of diabetes care, establishes a further partnership with a global healthcare leader and creates an exciting framework for future earnings from our technology.” The partnership does not cover patient self testing in the coagulation market which represents a further opportunity for Universal Biosensors to exploit its PT/INR testing technology. The SEC Form 8-K which summarises the material terms of the collaboration agreement is also enclosed. A redacted form of the collaboration agreement will be filed with UBI’s next quarterly Form 10-Q SEC filing.

    Universal Biosensors is a specialist medical diagnostics company, founded in 2001, that is focused on the development, manufacture and commercialisation of a range of in vitro diagnostic tests for point-of-care use. These tests capitalise on a technology platform which uses a novel electrochemical cell that can be adapted for multiple analytes and provide for enhanced measurements in whole blood. Agreement will deliver novel handheld analyzers for the point-of-care hemostasis testing market Melbourne, Australia and Tarrytown, New York, September 9, 2011 – Universal Biosensors and Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics have signed a strategic partnership to launch a new point-of-care (POC) coagulation testing platform for the global hemostasis market. This agreement harnesses Universal Biosensors’ opposing electrode technology as well as Siemens’ strong market positions in both the central laboratory and POC settings, along with its innovative know-how in creating advanced hemostasis testing solutions. Together, the companies will develop, manufacture and distribute a series of novel handheld POC coagulation testing systems providing unique value and quality to healthcare professionals.

    www.universalbiosensors.com

    http://www.traderdealer.com.au/fundamentals/ubi

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    ASX Company News: iSonea Enters Asthma Monitoring Joint Venture

    Thursday, September 1st, 2011

    The Board of Directors of iSonea Limited (ISN) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a non binding Memorandum of Understanding with a global Fortune 500 healthcare company which wishes to pursue commercialisation of the Company’s technologies for the US asthma monitoring and management market. The arrangement indicates an endorsement of the company’s flagship WheezometerTM product for the management of asthma by one of the world’s leading healthcare companies. Initially the deal limits the partner’s market development and product distribution options to the US market only.

    However, the parties expect to expand partnerships beyond US markets. iSonea expects to continue to manufacture the product and support the needs of both its channel partners in Japan and now in the US. The MOU establishes a platform for the parties to pursue Formalisation of binding transactions in relation to the commercialisation of the Company products. The MOU details the responsibilities of each party and directly supports the Company’s stated mission of establishing the general claim that WheezeRateTM, as determined by Acoustic Respiratory Monitoring (ARM), correlates with “gold standard” measurements such as clinical assessment, symptom survey, FEV-1 and peak flow. The MOU further defines the anticipated steps of converting current reimbursement CPT class for the Company’s WheezometerTM from Category 3 to Category 1. A Category 1 is needed to enable a rapid ramp up of sales in the US and for establishment of a “standard of care” for asthmatic patients and medical professionals.

    “The relationship defined in this MOU is the culmination of nearly a year of careful negotiations with one of the leading global players in this disease management space worldwide and complements our strategy for creating a foothold in the US. Entering this relationship is an important endorsement of the innovative product solutions that iSonea brings to the monitoring and management of asthma and other related respiratory diseases,” commented Mike Thomas, the company’s newly appointed CEO. “This relationship allows iSonea to leverage our partner’s massive infrastructure and sales/marketing network. iSonea clearly benefits by effectively reducing the resources we would have to otherwise spend in meeting these milestones,” continued Thomas.

    iSonea Ltd. is an emerging medical technology company that focuses on supplying innovative, non-invasive  The company is now focusing efforts on early commercialization of its products in the North American, European, and Asian Pacific markets.

    www.isoneamed.com

    http://www.traderdealer.com.au/Fundamentals/isn

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