Keep an eye on this tech stock - after years of loses, rights issues, etc things look to be moving in the right direction. Tipped by Redmayne last year it could be a winner.

Keep the faith!
After so many false dawns I think its protherics time.
No chance of a rights issue IMHO.

Generating Pharmaceutical Sales Before Marketing Authorization
When a patient has a serious illness and there is no approved drug available, the physician may want to try one which has not been authorized for marketing by national health authorities but has shown promise in clinical trials.This presents drug-makers with an opportunity to generate revenues while development is still in-progress.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands (PRWEB) October 26, 2004 -- When a patient has a serious illness and there is no approved drug available, the physician may want to try one which has not been authorized for marketing by national health authorities but has shown promise in clinical trials. European Named Patient Programs, like US compassionate use programs, offer physicians access to pharmaceuticals which have not yet been licensed. However, there is one important difference: in Europe an unlicensed drug can be reimbursed. This presents drug-makers with an opportunity to generate revenues while development is still in-progress.

Significant Revenues Are Possible
The additional revenues can be considerable. For example, Pharmion, a US based company focusing on Oncology and Hematology reported dramatic increases in its Thalidomide sales from $1.9 million in 2Q 03 to $15.3 million in 2Q 04, primarily due to named patient sales in Europe for Multiple Myeloma. Thalidomide sales accounted for approximately 75% of Pharmions total revenues for the first half of 2004, according to company sources, and were generated while the product awaits marketing approval for this indication. Before receiving European Marketing Approval, Shires Argylin for essential thrombocythaemia generated about 5% of its total sales from its European named patient program.

Though thalidomide and Agrylin were licensed in the USA for some indications, pharmaceutical companies do set-up named patient programs and receive full reimbursement for drugs that are not licensed for any indication in any market. Examples include: Insmeds SomatoKine authorized for named patient use for Primary Lateral Sclerosis, Growth Hormone Insensitivity Syndrome (GHIS) and Severe Insulin Resistance and Protherics ViperaTAb authorized for named patient use for adder snake bites.

Other Benefits of Named Patient Programs
A named patient program can speed uptake after official launch. Physicians, who have had experience before launch, via clinical trials or named patient programs, often become early adopters and references for other physicians once the drug is freely circulating.

Named patient programs, like US compassionate use programs, can increase good-will toward the company because they simplify the process of gaining access for patients in critical need. Smaller companies often can not afford the administrative time and costs of shipping drugs around the world before launch. This can lead to frustration and resentment towards a company that many physicians will remember long after a drug is officially on the market. Creating a formal channel eliminates the unfortunate need of denying requests and risking ill-will later.

A named patient program should be considered an important part of a pre-launch program. It increases awareness to a pharmaceuticals existence, creates excitement, generates good-will and speeds penetration of the product after launch.

Frequent Communication is Necessary
If one of the objectives is to generate revenues, setting up a named patient program is just the beginning. In order to achieve success, physicians need to be aware of the product and what they need to do to get it. Typical methods of informing physicians, such as sales rep visits and ads, may not be appropriate because a license is necessary to market a drug. While physicians are used to simply writing a prescription and being done with it, named patient programs require paper-work that some find tedious. Therefore the company needs to create an appropriate communication plan and work closely with the targeted medical community to keep them informed and simplify the process.

Issues to Consider
You have decided to make a named patient program part of your pre-marketing plan, what now?

Administration: Do you go it alone or work with a company that is experienced at administering named patient programs?

There are several experienced organizations that can assist your company by gaining approval, setting-up the program, doing administration and taking care of physical distribution. If your organization is well resourced and has a pipe-line of products that will require named patient programs, it might be worthwhile acquiring the expertise internally. However, if you have few appropriate products or a stream-lined organization, it is probably best to consider outsourcing.

Communication: Youve set up the program, how do you optimize it?

If you do not have an experienced European marketing group, an organization that is familiar in sales and marketing of pharmaceuticals in Europe can help you to maximize participation in the named patient program. A communication plan, if properly developed and implemented can increase product awareness, but communication concerning an unlicensed product must be done appropriately. This plan should ensure that your entire target group:

Is fully aware of the product AND the program
Knows what needs to be done to take advantage of the program
Has an advocate available to guide them through the process

The Author, Dr. Gene Emmer, is President of Med Services Europe B.V., a European-based consultancy focused on Sales, Marketing and Business Development of Pharmaceutical and Medical Products. www.MedServicesEurope.com +31648566707

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Still moving in the right direction!!

Yes, we were right, the price is up a couple of pence this week, in spite of it being a SELL recommendation by Investors Chronicle last friday. Trades this week show small ivestors getting out on that rec but some nice chunky buy orders from people who obviously have faith.

Realistic, I have a feeling things are looking up.
The presentations to the city will wake them up.
Another thing to look at is previous historic run ups to end of year.
I think we could double our money from here - imho.
I would trust IC scribblers as far as I could throw them if they say sell buy.

transco.
Quite a few big sells showing today but the price has only eased down a fraction. perhaps these guys are selling short and the mms know it.They could be squeezed in a week.It's time for more posters on this site.

I am small fry, but I doubled my holding yesterday after thinking about it for a good few weeks - tempted in by all those large buys. Hope it comes good quickly because I now need to sell something else to pay for them.

Dont worry eckoh this baby will fly as we approach new year and the city presentations start. This is one of the few bio's with a product to sell with the added bonus of products a plenty in the pipeline.
Realistic - small sellers glad to get rid of em if they read the ic.

Just a couple of buys today with loads of sellers but the price hasn't moved downwards.The mms must be filling their boots. They must know more than I do in order to take on stock and not move the price down a bit.Could it be that they know that big buy orders will be coming soon?

I gave up a long time ago trying to work out the logic of the stock market re price rises and falls - I'm not complaining but how has the price held up today in the face of such large sells?

Transco - Where did you get your info from - spot on anyway.
The appointment on Friday was as expected but the real fireworks will start when the bid stories come through.
those mm are not daft!!

Bad news today,all sellers today,there must be a sell tip out there somewhere.The hiden good news is that the price is only slightly down so the mms must believe that the price will be over 60p soon.

No worries, all small sellers sitting on a profit and nervous about the reaction to the us election - nothing goes up without a few sells on the way - its positive IMHO

Just a thought, the govt have today announced that all cattle over 30months will now enter the food chain and not be incinerated as before.The proviso is that they must all be tested for BSE. Who will get the contract for the test--Protherics or Proteome or somebody else? Any news please?

According to Riley Ace of Spies on the iii Board.

"Bio-Rad achieved 100% market ownership of the UKs BSE test market."

http://www.icas.co.uk/case%20histories/biorad-businesst.html

Thanks for the info CCC. I've been reading Bio-Rads website and you are right. They are convinced that they have got the best.However have they got the capacity for all these tests in this country? Next week Protherics have got a presentation to the institutions and if the BSE test is not mentioned then presumably Bio-Rads have got it signed up. Meanwhile PTI sp does'nt move,so on balance it looks as if there are no big deals.

anybody any ideas on the volume today

vol is up 1)RNS re fidelity just increased its stake,2)new manufacturing plant in U.S. Lots of buyers coming on board, maybe there is a tip out there somewhere.

realistic , thanks for that , saw all the volume but could not make out what the h*ll was going on. still unsure cos funds can move a large amount of shares around without it meaning much

Something is going on.PTI should reach 200 this year.It consolidated a stable trading range of 10p last year.Turnover up 21% 2004.Specialising in toxicity treatments,it is a niche player.VORAXAZE is very interesting because of its use in counteracting the negative effects of chemotherapy...launch in 2006,maybe sooner
14 Jan..DIRECTOR BUYS.Dr.Tony Atkinson buys 300000 shares....does'nt seem a lot
BUT...
20 Jan.Fidelity buys 3,196,327.
Charts look good,so BUY boys BUY.....
I will...always nice to know that there's some anti snakebite treatment out there!