Category — Healthcare Marketing

Scott Slocum Drucker Labs (contact details below)

Drucker Labs is looking for International distributors of the most complete and comprehensive all in one multivitamin line:

Below is an article written on the most recent clinical study performed on intraMAX from Drucker Labs.

By Lisa Tully, PhD

(May 12, 2008) Drucker Labs intraMAXÔ significantly improves cellular functions in several body systems according to peer-reviewed clinical trial findings released this spring by the independent research firm, Fenestra Research Labs.

125 subjects were randomly divided into two groups: those who received Drucker Labs intraMAXÔ (75 subjects) and those who received placebo (50 subjects). Participants in the study ranged in age from 18 to 60, were found to be in general good health and were drawn from a large and diverse population including Caucasians, African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics.

The final results of Fenestra’s research indicated statistically significant changes in several Optimal Wellness Test markers in the group taking intraMAX™, while no significant changes were found in the placebo group. Results were race, sex and age independent.

The Clinical Trial Results

Balanced pH is vital to proper biochemical functioning and energy production. The cells in the body require a slightly alkaline state in order to communicate effectively through chemical, electrical and hormonal processes. intraMAX™ improved cellular pH on an average overall of 1.8. In the narrow range of the pH scale, this improvement demonstrates intraMAX™’s ability to create a substantial change in pH levels.

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This acquisition comes as no surprise and fits not only with the Permobil value added product line but establishes a larger footprint in the French market - a market so far largely shunned by other large Nordic players like Etac and Handicare. This represents another investment for Nordic Capital, relatively new owner of Permobil.

It also continues the buying spree of the “Homecare Vikings” which we wrote about two years ago and at the beginning of this year when Handicare had just completed two acquisitions within months of each other.

There is no question that “stand up” chairs, both manual and powered, offer higher margins to manufacturers. It is also true that this market segment is maturing with the mainstream large manufacturers having entered the market in the past year or two - better late than never.

Could we be heading back to those heady days in the mid 90’s when now market leaders Invacare and Sunrise went on big buying acquisition drives, or are the Scandinavian homecare vikings being more selective?

Here is what Hans Bergh, CEO at Permobil says:

As part of its international development strategy in the field of specialist medical equipment for the handicapped community, PERMOBIL has just carried out the acquisition of the French company LIFESTAND, situated in Lyon.
LIFESTAND, which was founded in 1978, specialises in the design and manufacture of « stand-up » wheelchairs. These wheelchairs, which can be operated manually, semi-electrically or fully electrically, enable a disable person to stand upright.
The company, which has a staff of 30 people, markets its products worldwide, with 80 % of sales into export markets. It has a subsidiary in both Germany and Belgium.

Annual sales exceeds 8M Euros, with good profitability.
This transaction strengthens PERMOBIL’s position in a key, potentially high growth, market in which it is already present with its powered wheelchairs !

“This acquisition gives a great opportunity to develop even further our position in this field thanks to LIFESTAND’s full gamut of top of the range « stand-up » wheelchairs, which cover all pathologies”, says PERMOBILS CEO Hans Bergh

For LIFESTAND, this merger with such a well-established group will enable it to widen its distribution network, particularly in the United States.

For more information :
www.permobil.com
www.lifestand.eu

It will be interesting to see the integration strategy of this Swedish and French company.

Many people in the healthcare industry do not know the company DCC. What they should know however is that it is a very successful €5 billion business services and distribution company based in Ireland. While a small part of overall revenues, their healthcare business has revenues approaching €300 million making it very significant in the space in which it operates.

The healthcare business boasts year on year revenue growth in excess of 20% and an impressive average annual operating profit of 17% over the last 5 years. Their three business groupings within heathcare are Mobility and Rehab (which operates primarily in Europe and Australia with the Days Healthcare, Physio-Med and Metron brands), Fannin (Ireland’s leading distributor as well as a UK operation) and the Health and Beauty sector(outsourced solutions - largely nutraceuticals).
Jim Flavin CEO - founder and primary driver behind the company, has just announced his resignation over a long ongoing and hotly contested dispute concerning the sale of shares in Fyffes, a company that Jim Flavin was a board member of way back in 2000.

DCC has appointed Tommy Breen Chief executive and Michael Buckley, non-executive Chairman with immediate effect.

There is considerable speculation as to what their future strategy will be. As recent as May 19, Flavin had announced in the preliminary year end results that

As previously announced, an important part of my responsibilities as Executive Chairman is to lead a reappraisal of our overall strategic direction so that DCC is best positioned for sustainable long-term growth. This process is ongoing and I plan to put recommendations before the Board by the end of the current financial year.

There is much speculation in the investment community about what this means including an estimate that breaking up the businesses could yield in excess of a billion euros for shareholders.

Both events are conveniently located in Paris this year.

May 27 - 30, 2008

Hopitalexpo-Intermedica is a combined meeting of the FFH (French Hospital Federation) which represents 2000 major hospitals in France and Intermedica which is composed of the major national trade organizations.

June 11 - 13, 2008

Autonomic is a trade and consumer meeting which focuses more on the growing homecare sector.

Contact Frank Barlin at Sibaya Healthcare.

Guest blogger Arnon Krongrad, MD

What do these people have in common: 1) a 39-y old stay-at-home mom in Florida, 2) a web master in Melbourne Australia, 3) a gay Broadway producer, 4) the Clinical Director of Psycho-Oncology at the Winship Cancer Center at Emory University, and 5) a dentist in Ottawa? They are all new members of the New Prostate Cancer InfoLink social network.

Prostate cancer is a global problem with no apparent global solution. It is also a chronic and multi-faceted clinical challenge. Be it matters of early detection or treatment selection or management of clinical complications and loss of partner intimacy, there is more to consider than any one doctor or specialist can. Moreover, with the numbing quantity of online information, there is more than any single site can efficiently deliver. Patients drown in useless information while seeking the bit that relates to them.

To address what we perceived a poorly constructed online delivery, we recently resurrected what in 1995 was launched as the world’s first prostate cancer web site, the Prostate Cancer InfoLink. We kept its best parts, including the simple articles and interactive “Ask Arthur,” and launched the new version with modern tools: blog, syndication, and social network.

The New Prostate Cancer InfoLink sites bring friendly interactive mechanisms for helping the individual man and his partners and friends. For example, the “Ask Arthur” has been expanded to be Ask Arthur, Ask Amy, and Ask Arnon, which represents 50 man-years of prostate cancer experience. The social network has uniquely brought together urologists, radiation oncologists, psychiatrists, writers and more. Discussion has been thoughtful and in many cases supremely well informed.

We’re new in existence and new in concept. Please have a look. And if you run a web site or blog, please post links to:

http://prostatecancerinfolink.net articles, blog, and online support

http://prostatecancerinfolink.ning.com social network

# # #

Guest blogger Arnon Krongrad, MD, is Founder and Medical Director of the Krongrad Institute for Minimally Invasive Prostate Cancer Surgery and co-Founder of the New Prostate Cancer InfoLink.

PRESS RELEASE

Healthy Living Expo 2008

A chance for companies to showcase their newest supplements, products and equipment for a healthy living.

This year’s expo will again be held in the Fountain Court at Sandton City, on 5th – 7th September 2008.

2007’s event was a great success, with almost all the stall holders agreeing that their sales and exposure had certainly been boosted by the enormous volume of traffic through the vibrant centre.

This is a great opportunity for consumers to see what new products have been developed in the last year, as well as displaying new health equipment and a variety of supplements for a healthy lifestyle.

The Healthy Living Expo is supported by the HPASA (Health Products Association South Africa), with the aim of updating the industry and consumers on the latest scientific information regarding health, and related topics.
The HPASA is a respected and professional body, promoting ethical behaviour and ensuring that manufacturing and advertising of health products follow regulation.

The health product market is currently generating approx R 2,5 billion per annum, and steadily growing, encompassing as well Complimentary and Alternative medicines, some of which will be on show at the expo.

S.A. Natural Products will be displaying at this years expo, releasing a new product called A. Vogel Multiforce Alkaline Powder.
“This combination of calcium, magnesium and potassium has a beneficial effect on acid levels in the body and is vital for good health. Multiforce fills the gap in the market for the demand of Alkaline powder.” says Irma Schutte of S.A.Natural Products.

Dr. C Chuma from Lighthouse Pharma states that they are the Vitabiotics representatives for South Africa.
They provide a range of products from Feroglobin, an iron supplement used to maintain energy and helping with blood oxygenation, as well as a variety of products to aid in pregnancy, osteoporosis, menopause, and also including Wellman and Wellwoman tablets, a range of multivitamins.

Exhibiting again this year is the top-class Mangwanani Spa, offering amazing pamper packages at a choice of 7 spas around the country, this ultimate spa experience is something not to be missed out on.

The HEALTHY LIVING EXPO 2008 is definitely worth a visit by anyone interested in health and a healthy lifestyle.

Heather van Heerden
McNaughton and Associates
+27(0)21713 3360

Just a few days ago we referenced and commented on the changing face of the distribution channel in the homecare industry in the US and Europe.

In that article we highlighted by way of example Merits (a general homecare manufacturer) and Shoprider (predominantly a scooter manufacturer).

Kymco, a motor cycle manufacturer based out of Taiwan has now established Kymco Healthcare in the UK where they will now have a direct local presence - in fact they are busy recruiting a sales organization.

From OEM product introduction to direct in about 3 years or so. Not bad.

So what? Well it is just another example of where an OEM relationship established by healthcare companies that have shared their product and market expertize has led to a direct market entrance by the Asian manufacturer.

Innovate in the distribution channel or else.