Ekf Diagnostics Share Discussion Threads

[shanklin] 09/4/2021 08:17

Bizarre response from Grant Shapps on BBC Breakfast today where he was trying to magic down the current apparent £150 cost of PCR tests down to a lower level so that more people could go on holiday. He semed to have no clue beyond "competition" for why this would happen. Presumably EKF's ability to not require the tests to be processed in higher level labs would help with this? But WDIK?

[wan] 08/4/2021 07:53

Most readers will already appreciate that EKF has a significant distribution agreement with Mckesson in the US. So, I found the following comments insightful and supports my previous comments on why 'partnering' and indeed deep and equitable relationships can be the preferred option - 6th April 2021 Look at the pandemic's effect on supply chain, with McKesson's Craig Dolan McKesson was selected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be the centralized distributor for vaccines and ancillary supply kits. Most hospitals planned to have months of supply of critical drugs in the early days of the pandemic. "While we saw pandemic-induced buying in 2020, hospitals have learned lessons in how they treat COVID-19 and how they manage supplies moving forward," Dolan said. "Hospitals will apply new ways of forecasting in 2021 and beyond to ultimately strengthen the U.S. supply chain." Over the last year, Dolan said he has spoken to customers to build stronger relationships. He and McKesson field accounts teams are now working with health systems to look at their medical spend, identify revenue recovery opportunities and advise hospitals on how to navigate. Dolan anticipates hospitals will leverage scale with suppliers and apply new ways of forecasting supply in 2021 – all in the pursuit of a more transparent and equitable supply chain. "We're advising customers to continue to work closely with suppliers for each issue they may be facing," he said. "Each group in the supply chain should be working together to solve problems. And while we are all eager to return to normal and less volatility, the eagerness to partner and deepen relationships will only benefit the supply chain moving forward." Full story - hTTps://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/look-pandemics-effect-supply-chain-mckessons-craig-dolan

[wan] 08/4/2021 07:41

The following is 'confirmation' that my thoughts that the MyHealthChecked deal with Boots utilises EKF products, and possibly we have first sight of an EKF assembled 'test-kit' - 8. Hold the ShuttlePouchTM so that you have a clear view of the PrimeStore® MTM tube inside, visually check the white pad behind the tube for any signs of leakage such as discoloration or crystallisation. If there are signs of leakage do not remove the tube from the ShuttlePouch, seal the ShuttlePouch and do not proceed with the sample collection. Place the Shuttlepouch back inside the box, and dispose in your household waste. Please contact [e-mail] immediately and advise them of the barcode number on the damaged tube. If there are no signs of leakage, remove the tube of PrimeStore® MTM, place on a clean surface and proceed to section 9. hTTps://www.boots.com/myhealthchecked-at-home-covid-19-pcr-swab-test-kit-(for-general-use-and-fit-to-fly)-10295700 I note that I put the wrong link in yesterdays post (1710) re PrimeStore MTM use in the MHC PCR test kit - hTTps://myhealthchecked.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/MyHealthChecked_IFU.pdf

[wan] 07/4/2021 13:30

I for one, shall certainly not be following the link provided in the above post!

[thetwentiestrader] 07/4/2021 13:16

Hi all, I have written an article on EKF for my website, looking at the recent results and opportunities for growth EKF has in the medium term. Available here: hxxps://www.thetwentiestrader.com/post/ekf-diagnostics-investment-case

[faz] 07/4/2021 08:08

Bit of activity on the Open Orphan thread. Last night in a presentation regarding potential spin offs from the main company, CEO Cathal Friel referred to EKF and RENX in regard to the benefits of in specie dividends. Cited RENX Nasdaq listing and share price. Good to see the company being quoted as a model for how best to look after your shareholders

[rivaldo] 06/4/2021 08:51

Good start to the week - more new highs now.

[wan] 02/4/2021 11:19

Re: friend or foe comments. Apart from what I have already said about the need, or indeed preferred option to partner (cue Amazon past experiences!). Becoming a foe doesn't mean that everything is replicable e.g. specialist know-how/trade secrets, expertise and IP etc. In my view, I truly believe EKF is an excellent reliable, equitable partner and cultivator. Hence the deal already looks like a win win for both parties. Thus, it's not difficult to imagine this deal is the thin end of what could be a very large wedge, in terms of breadth and scale. Time will of course tell, but suffice to say that my shares are not for sale!

[wan] 02/4/2021 10:25

Given that we all probably recognise what logistical scale and expertise can bring to the equation, especially with regard to healthcare, the pandemic has had the effect of focusing minds even more in this regard with more industries coming together in a more integrated way (partnering) in order to deliver (no pun intended). So, it was interesting to also note that DHL recently launched a new life sciences and healthcare page to their website that will act as a hub for all their existing and upcoming solutions and services, industry news and events - We Care about Connecting, Caring, Complying, and Innovating The life sciences and healthcare industry is experiencing an accelerated supply chain transformation; an increased need for efficiency, differentiated routes to market and access to new geographies; and is being challenged to enable digital supply chain solutions. DHL understands the undertake and is ready to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of the healthcare landscape through a holistic range of patient-centric, forward-thinking, intelligent healthcare logistics solutions – we call it our DHL Healthcare System. Through it, we enable you to leverage our ability to connect, care, comply and innovate, accessing our unparalleled expertise within a compliant global network. We bring you a more connected experience along the entire patient journey - from clinical trials to point of care, and everything in between. hTTps://www.dhl.com/global-en/home/industry-sectors/life-sciences-and-healthcare.html

[james188] 01/4/2021 21:29

The responses from mginvestor and cisk demonstrate pretty conclusively why the private sector partner has to be Amazon. In addition, the FDA EUA issued to Amazon a few days ago (as posted by wan)- and the proximity of that authorisation to the global deal signed with EKF - give further credibility to the link between the parties. On top of that, Longhorn is specifically referred to in the EUA as an involved entity. The relationship is still at a relatively early stage, so it will be interesting to see how it develops. I can see why a partnering agreement best suits both parties at this point.

[melody9999] 01/4/2021 21:22

Hmmm - if its that obvious that it is Amazon lets hope that Julian does not get his fingers rapped.

[saucepan] 01/4/2021 19:37

Thanks, both; much appreciated.

[cisk] 01/4/2021 19:27

Julian Baines described the customer as a logistics company with over 1m employees. I believe the only private companies with over 1m employees are Amazon and Walmart. Walmart isn't a logistics company, whereas Amazon is. And it's public knowledge Amazon has made inroads into healthcare and has established Amazon Care. Other logistics companies less employees i.e. Fedex has around 600,000.

[mginvestor] 01/4/2021 19:25

Hi saucepan, On the call with Julian he couldn't tell us by name but gave enough clues to make it near certain that it's amazon Large logistics company with more than 1m employees. Easy enough to pin down. And then he also said those on the call will know by now who I'm talking about. 99.9% sure it's amazon @mginvestor

[saucepan] 01/4/2021 19:08

What is the evidence, please, for assuming/knowing the "partner from the private sector" is in fact Amazon? Is this just an educated guess or is it more than that?

[cisk] 01/4/2021 18:56

jacks13, it's a question I asked myself whether Amazon is a long term friend or foe... and only time will tell us. With time and money most things are replicable. However I do believe that Amazon have large ambitions in healthcare and it's true it's an industry (at least in the US) that is ripe for consolidation and efficiency. Unless you've experienced it, it really is something else - the amount of paperwork and companies involved is mind boggling. So I definitely see more announcements in the coming months. I did ask Julian Baines if they had received informal approaches - obviously I know he couldn't disclose anything market sensitive, what I was really asking is do they regularly receive informal expressions of interest. I suspect they do... And it really depends on what Chris Mills will accept as a buy-out price, owning 29.9% of the company. I seem to remember he bought in around 10-15p (could be wrong) and I suspect that he would be looking for a multiple of 10-15 times, so maybe an offer price of at least 100p, probably closer to 150-200p. I did think someone like Charles River Labs would be an excellent fit for EKF, size wise EKF would be easily digestible. But this is all speculation, here and now I feel that the if anything this announcement has been downplayed and it really is transformational. I expect the other areas of the business to recover rapidly and look forward to further market updates as and when.

[wan] 01/4/2021 18:49

Staying with a digital health theme - An interesting new hire over at Trellus Health - Sherese Fralin, MSN, FNP-C Vice President, Clinical Operations Building and managing regional clinical teams in order to provide precision based and resilience driven care for patients with chronic diseases - hTTps://www.linkedin.com/in/sherese-fralin-52599a45/ And as highlighted recently, Dan Mahony Co-Head Healthcare, Polar Capital Partners and Chris Mills founder of Harwood Capital Management are now listed as directors - hTTps://trellushealth.com/about-us/

[wan] 01/4/2021 18:40

Jack13...Obviously, my reply is just food for thought atm, as neither of us ultimately know how it will pan out, but clearly EKF are sure it will generate significant revenues this year and beyond.

[wan] 01/4/2021 15:55

Jacks13...The following possibly provides some useful insight - 12 Jan, 2021 Amazon is likely to boost its own healthcare ambitions after exiting Haven JV Amazon.com Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. are calling it quits on their healthcare joint venture, but the e-commerce company is forging ahead with solo ambitions in the healthcare space and will likely apply the knowledge it obtained from working with its soon-to-be former partners, according to health industry experts and analysts. Experts say the e-commerce company can use what it has learned from the Haven experience and apply insights to healthcare programs in areas like telehealth and negotiations with healthcare providers. Over the past three years, Amazon has introduced new ways to deliver care, including the Amazon Care virtual and in-person health clinic that debuted in 2019 for employees in the Seattle area and Amazon Pharmacy, an online pharmacy platform the company launched in November 2020 that offers prescription delivery and drug price transparency. Amazon could also pilot new programs that incentivize employees to lower their own healthcare spend, experts say. "Amazon absolutely has a great opportunity to make a success of their healthcare ambitions on their own than through Haven," said Paddy Padmanabhan, founder and CEO of Damo Consulting, a growth strategy and digital transformation advisory firm that works with healthcare enterprises and global technology companies, in an interview. "I never saw Amazon sort of hitching their healthcare wagon to Haven at any point." But the disbandment of Haven highlights the difficulties of disrupting a fragmented and highly regulated industry dominated by large incumbent players such as CVS Health Corp. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and rife with complexities, including a vast web of middlemen and insurance companies, experts say. "It's a very complex and unique business model that these three groups had never necessarily been in the weeds on," said Paul Ceverha, managing director in the healthcare practice at AArete, in an interview. Lessons learned With insights gained through Haven, Amazon can leverage its workforce of more than 1 million employees and ability to reach millions of paid Prime subscribers to test new programs in areas ranging from insurance plans to telehealth services, a growing arena of opportunity as the pandemic has led consumers to avoid receiving in-person healthcare services. "They are well-equipped and have tons of experience and exceptional execution on supply chain issues," said Ceverha. U.S. telehealth services industry revenue has grown significantly over the past five years to $3.22 billion as of 2020, according to IBIS World. Full story - hTTps://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/amazon-is-likely-to-boost-its-own-healthcare-ambitions-after-exiting-haven-jv-62000298 Yep, Amazon could easily buy EKF (they have already acquired some health related businesses), but given the deal thus far, partnering is obviously the preferred choice with EKF (and Longhorn). EKF's Life Science business could offer and indeed provide a 'lot' more than just the current deal for PBS. Also, there is a lot more under EKF's bonnet than first glance reveals, such as specialist knowledge and relationships, which could be very useful in realizing some of Amazons ambitions, such as EKF's Preferred partnership agreement with Mount Sinai Innovation Partners that provides EKF with advanced access to innovative commercial opportunities arising from Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) owned technologies managed by MSIP in the field of digital healthcare. Not everything can or should be bought outright, sometimes partnering can offer a better platform to realizing ambitions and growth! And as outlined in the above article, given some of the complexities that Amazon has experienced, may be they are content with a strong EKF partnership for the foreseeable, and not to mention what benefits Amazons exceptional supply chain and logistics will bring into the equation!

[jacks13] 01/4/2021 14:58

Wan, as a shareholder and having no knowledge of the health care sector I am curious as to what Amazon's longer term intentions might be. I know they are establishing their own laboratories and are intent on creating a business of their own. Will they, in your assessment, have a longer term need of EKF's support or are they likely to emerge in due course as a well resourced competitor? Potentially supplanting them. What barriers might exist in the nature of the industry that would inhibit Amazon from cannibalising EKF's market?

[wan] 01/4/2021 14:15

Shanklin...The deal with Amazon will both endure and evolve in my view, and subsequently is likely to have a transformative effect upon those parties actively involved. But just as one quick example of there being more to EKF than that deal alone, certain sales into India (which hasn't featured in the past) was described as "taking-off for EKF".

[melody9999] 01/4/2021 14:02

Thanks Wan 1691