Bioquell Share Discussion Threads

[wes1] 31/12/2009 08:56

UK groups look abroad to fight superbugs
By Richard Hemming

Published: December 29 2009 00:54 | Last updated: December 29 2009 00:54

UK companies developing products that fight hospital superbugs are complaining that there are few opportunities in their domestic markets, and focusing their sales efforts overseas.

In the UK, hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and clostridium difficile affect 300,000 patients each year and cause about 5,000 deaths.

The problem is worse in the US, where HAIs are estimated to be one of the top 10 causes of death, claiming close to 100,000 lives every year.

And the costs are mounting. In the US, government studies estimate that the extra cost of treating a patient with HAI averages almost $9,000 (£5,600).

UK companies are among the leaders in the fight against superbugs but they say that they are encountering problems in getting their products adopted by UK hospitals. They complain that hospital managers lack accountability for deaths relating to HAIs.

In November, a report by the Department of Health criticised the NHS for not achieving "measurable reductions" in HAIs outside of MRSA and C.difficile.

"The heart of the problem is that whatever DoH says or decrees, it doesn't necessarily impact hospitals," says Nick Adams, chief executive of Bioquell, the decontamination technology provider. "In the US, a hospital can be sued and that's a big deal because they're desperate to keep it out of the press, so they'll settle. In the UK, hospitals pass the issue very quickly on to the NHS litigation board, so it's not the hospital's problem."

Synergy Health is another company that produces decontamination technology. It has concentrated its sales efforts in Asia and Europe.

One of Synergy's decontamination products uses a disinfectant technology produced by another company, Byotrol, that has been tested by the NHS in an 11-month study. The Byotrol technology was deployed against a bleach-based product currently used by the NHS.

Despite positive results showing superior effectiveness and lower side effects, the product has not been taken up, even by the Manchester Royal Infirmary where it was tested.

Richard Steeves, Synergy's chief executive, says that his group is making more sales to countries where hospitals are encouraged to innovate, such as in the Netherlands, where "hospitals are competing for patients".

Although there is state-funded national insurance for health care in the Netherlands, hospitals compete with each other to provide services for a number of private insurers.

Most UK hospitals are run by the NHS, and Dr Steeves points out that many of the UK's private hospitals are owned by private equity, and that there is financial pressure to reduce costs.

However, there are those in the sector that say that innovation by UK companies is a direct result of the "laissez faire" environment.

Paul Swinney is chief executive of Tristel, which produces a chlorine dioxide-based disinfectant that treats everything from salads in supermarkets to surgical instruments and surfaces.

Its product is used throughout the UK, which Mr Swinney says is "de facto approval". Moreover, he says, companies here do not have to pass the expensive regulatory procedure of the US Food and Drugs Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency.

"In many respects, the UK is a free market that is determining the survival of the fittest products and technologies," says Mr Swinney. "If your product is just "me-too", you won't survive."

[level 2 ate my hamster] 29/12/2009 16:17

Some good buying today...news on the way?

[wes1] 15/12/2009 11:37

Investec downgrades from buy to hold.
This article is more interesting -

[wes1] 07/12/2009 09:06

Chronic wounds affect 4.5 million americans a year, at a cost of $9.5 Billion

The cost to NHS to treat venous leg ulcers is £300-600,million pa

These type of wounds can take months even years to heal - This time can be reduced to 4-6 weeks as soon as they have completed jumping over regulatory hurdles and decided the optimum route to market in various countries worldwide.

[wes1] 05/12/2009 13:36

Published Date: 05 December 2009

One to watch: Really cleaning up

By Bryan Johnston of Brewin Dolphin

BIOQUELL is involved in the design, manufacture and supply of decontamination and containment equipment, and related products and services, to the health care, life sciences and defence industries.

In a recent trading update, it confirmed revenue for the first part of the year, to the end of October, was ahead of the comparable period in 2008.

The firm stressed the strength of its balance sheet, with a significant net cash position and an unused overdraft.

The group is now treating some 1,000 hospital rooms per month via its room bio-decontamination services and it expects the sales of its new decontamination product, Q-10, will promote such services.

Bioquell is very lightly researched, and this may explain why the shares appear rather overlooked.

Certainly, the newsflow remains very positive.

The demand for its products is increasing, particularly to deal with the Clostridium difficile infection in North American and European hospitals.

There are encouraging signs, moreover, of increasing market penetration in key areas such as Asia, whilst it is also committing considerable resource to fulfil system development, engineering and designs for the US department of defence's joint materials decontamination system.

Pharmaceutical and healthcare securities have been rather out of favour of late and have not really shared in the market's rally this year.

True, Bioquell's share price has picked up from about 100p to current levels, but it was trading at over 240p at the beginning of 2007.

The recent criticisms of the hygiene standards within certain UK hospitals bring into stark relief the continued need for the highest standards of cleanliness, an emphasis from which Bioquell can only benefit.

[wes1] 03/12/2009 11:16

The Naked Trader

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Biggest vote of the day at the seminar went to Bioquell (BQE) which I bought live in the afternoon getting 3,000 shares at 146.1.

I bought because it has a super growth story.

It is a small but growing company that specialises in decontamination services to places like hospitals - profits are growing, and it has cash in the bank. Great prospects here for major growth in 2010.

It's launched the "Q-10" - a new biocontamination product specifically for hospitals and there seems confidence that sales here will grow - it provides products for other sectors too including defence. With dirty hospitals in the news, money is going to be spent in this area.

And if sales go well, the share price could go well and I am hoping for a 50% increase for next year and I have it down as medium to longer term winner. It even pays a dividend. Even better there looks hardly any downside at current prices and tons of possible upside. With a bit of patience on the many days it won't move, I think BQE will be a big 2010 winner for me. Target 220 stop 130.

[petersmith6] 30/11/2009 14:06

well i was in hospital last friday after a car crash,it was nace to see a maitron on the rounds.cleaning in hospitals is quite a hot topic now.plenty of room for BQE espcialy after a ward has been refurbished...they have to realy clean it then.

[brucie5] 30/11/2009 09:28

The Schwartz effect. Nothing else apparently, to report.

[bountyhunter] 28/11/2009 09:49

"Go to Discussion" and "Charts" quick links added to header to aid navigation

[bountyhunter] 28/11/2009 09:45

thanks Wes, and we even get a dividend yield of 1.5% (covered 4x)

[wes1] 28/11/2009 08:19

David Schwartz -
Turning to my own trading, I continue to seek companies hidden below City radar screens that offer good prospects. One company that ticks both boxes is Bioquell (BQE), a small, publicity-shy provider of decontamination products and services to hospitals, pharmaceutical production sites and the military. So it is potentially a way to profit from the growing hospital superbug problem.

In August, the company reported that first-half pre-tax profits were 18 per cent ahead of last year. It also expected growth to continue in the second half, helped by revenues from new contracts. But its shares failed to rise.

Bioquell has just released a new interim statement. It confirmed that revenues continue to run ahead of last year. Once again, the City gave the announcement scant attention. Its shares were unchanged. Institutions are focused on larger companies in the FTSE 350 and ignore tiddlers such as Bioquell.

The good news continues. Bioquell just announced it has signed an NHS agreement for decontamination equipment and services. According to house broker Investec, Bioquell offers one of just two NHS-approved technologies. The company is now in line to capture a big share of an estimated £10-£20m annual NHS budget. Given that current revenues are just £34m, this contract has great potential for the company

[wes1] 26/11/2009 14:55

every bit helps

[the_doctor] 23/11/2009 16:19

ASP Announces Acquisition of Gloster Europe to Help Reduce Infections in Healthcare Facilities



See text copy below:

ASP Announces Acquisition of Gloster Europe to Help Reduce Infections in Healthcare Facilities

New Area Decontamination Technology Broadens ASP's Portfolio of Infection Prevention Solutions by Providing Patients with Assurance that Their Hospital Environment is Disinfected

IRVINE, Calif. (Nov. 23, 2009) - Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), a leading global infection prevention solution provider, announced today the acquisition by its French affiliate, Apsis S.A.S., of Gloster Europe, a privately held developer of innovative disinfection processes and technologies to prevent healthcare-acquired infections. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Gloster Europe designs and markets an innovative area decontamination technology that provides disinfection of patient environments such as hospital and operating rooms. This technology generates a dry mist of hydrogen peroxide on all surfaces for broad and efficient disinfection. Gloster Europe's products have gained significant momentum in Europe and the Middle East and have achieved scientific recognition for their effectiveness against superbugs, such as MRSA and C.difficile, as well as many other viruses and fungi.

"Area decontamination technology is a perfect strategic complement to ASP's existing portfolio of surgical instrument sterilization, high-level disinfection and hand hygiene solutions," said Chuck Austin, Worldwide President of ASP. "Healthcare-acquired infections are a growing global concern. ASP is proud to offer patients who need hospital care greater peace of mind, knowing their room has the added infection protection benefit of this advanced and automated disinfection technology."

Never has the need been greater for novel area decontamination technologies with healthcare-acquired infection rates rising across the globe. Healthcare-acquired infections are at unacceptable rates with an incidence of 4.5 percent of hospital admissions in the U.S. and Western Europe and as high as 15 percent in emerging markets.

Gloster Europe's technologies, marketed under the STERINIS' brand name, are currently available in Europe, the Middle East and select countries in Africa and Asia with rapid expansion to other markets planned for 2010 and beyond, pending country-specific regulations.

About Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP)

Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP) division of Ethicon, Inc., a member of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, is a leading developer of innovative instrument sterilization, high level disinfection and cleaning technologies. The company is dedicated to protecting patients, healthcare workers, and the environment with products that focus as much on safety as they do on efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Utilizing advanced instrument processing technologies, these products help customers to promote positive patient outcomes while controlling costs, increasing productivity and enhancing safety. The company is based in Irvine, California, with offices around the world

[bountyhunter] 19/11/2009 15:27

good to see the price recovering since I posted, I thought the initial reaction was a bit unjustified, although the market rarely behaves sanely!

[wes1] 19/11/2009 15:21

1st stage of JMDS being extended beyond the initial two years and no mention of wound therapy (must be very close)

[bountyhunter] 19/11/2009 10:40

can't see anything wrong with today's interim statement, all seems on track, was the market expecting fireworks!?

[wes1] 19/11/2009 09:09

Meanwhile, business as usual -

[money multipier] 31/10/2009 10:20

Not too sure about that narfolk. Thomson Clive reduced their holding by more than Standard Life incresed theirs so we may have an overhang at the moment. Seems strange to be selling now when the future seems very bright. Might slip further a create a very tempting top up opportunity.

[narfolkboy] 30/10/2009 20:32

8.7% down today on hardly any trades?? major tree shake to acquire some shares?

[bountyhunter] 16/10/2009 19:54

I'll third it! The NHS contract is a significant milestone. :-)

[money multipier] 16/10/2009 18:54

I'll second that Pawdaw. This isn't a stock that's going to attract traders ready on the buy button at the first sight of an RNS. But a bit of consideration of where BQE are currently and where they seem to be heading will give thoughtful investors the opportunity to join the slow but steady ride.

[pawdaw] 16/10/2009 17:43

3.3% at the end of the day in no way reflects the impact of this NHS contract. I think this could take a week or more to sink in, but I hope that after a couple of weeks we are 10-20% higher than today and that would seem fully justified. Bit of weekend press coverage would be good to start with.

[bellars] 16/10/2009 15:05

>300K buys, no sells, WTF???

[jane seymour] 16/10/2009 09:17

im really surprised that this hasnt moved more on that announcement to be honest

[mutley28] 16/10/2009 08:05

Bioquell announce framework with NHS for supply of decontamination services - this should fly!