Healthcare Enterprise Group market a product called "Ebiox" which is one of a very few that can kill most bacteria including the MRSA superbug. HCEG has contracts with some NHS hospitals at present, but given the recent and current news and public attention, HCEG should be a good bet for a steady rise as more places seek to cut the number of casualties from this infection. HCEG also market abroad in USA, so the potential market for this unique product is massive indeed.

Well worth a punt IMHO

Check it out for yourself

It will be interesting to see how this stock behaves tomorrow. It closed at 2.39p on March 1st and with the latest NHS scandal going on, I've every reason to believe we should see that price again.

For those who missed it, it's worth repeating the Independent's article:

Independent
By Stephen Foley
19 July 2004
Poised to clean up

The government last week put a crackdown on hospital cleanliness at the centre of its fight against the superbug MRSA, which kills an estimated 5,000 in-patients every year in the UK. With hygiene inspections being stepped up and patients urged to shop dirty doctors and nurses, it seems the ideal time for Healthcare Enterprises to begin marketing its range of heavy-duty handwashes and lotions, which kill MRSA. The product, called Ebiox, was developed at Porton Down as an offshoot of the biological warfare programme. Next week, Healthcare is expected to announce that the complete hand cleansing range has passed NHS laboratory tests, proving that Ebiox will completely eradicate bacteria on the hands and the hand lotion will keep hands bacteria free for much longer than existing alcohol-based products. In addition, keep an ear out for results from US hospitals too, which are due in the next few weeks and could help open up that much bigger market for the product.

http://news.independent.co.uk/business/analysis_and_features/story.jsp?story=542424

Seems Ebiox is not the only product capable of killing this superbug.http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5028698.html

It's about time this management started selling the stuff. If they can't shift it when there is a demand (news every day!)-what hope have they when there are competitors snapping at their heels? - I wonder if they have a belief that this is the only product on the planet, that will do the job - so they are taking a softly, softly course. That is not the case! Very good hygiene will do the job as well - only staff will have sore hands and the time taken (between patients) will further slow down hospitals.
I hold HCEG because of the Product - that gets 8/10 but the management looks poor on the evidence so far, so maybe 2/10 - giving a measly 5/10 AND could do better score........all IMHO but that is what counts in my home.
Recent large trading volume (Monday) is not much compared with the huge number of shares out there and I suspect the Management has covered themselves in Options. The facts will be known in time, but it's not looking like a 10-bagger anymore.
On another note; the MRSA bug is gaining, which is a pity.

Maybe the management are waiting for Ebiox to pass the NHS tests, mentioned in the Independent article, before they start promoting it. Hopefully the results from US hospitals will be positive as well and the management will start breaking into the American market.

Just to keep you all on the straight and narrow,

Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC
26 February 2004

Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC

Ebiox test results


Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC (HCEG), the healthcare products and services
company, announces the conclusion of controlled tests carried out by the NHS
Hospital Infection Research Laboratory City Hospital, Birmingham on its Ebiox
decontamination products.


The results show Ebiox to be an effective solution for eradicating bacteria,
including the MRSA 'Superbug' in two key areas: hand contact (washing) and cross
contamination from bacteria-laden work surfaces and floors.


The Department of Health has recognised hand decontamination, before and after
patient contact, as 'vital' to the control of hospital acquired infections*. It
has also identified that cleaning and disinfecting protocols are a key to
'reducing reservoirs of infection in hospitals'*.


The Laboratory tests report that the Ebiox handrub and handwash products were
'significantly more effective' than the standard reference product for the test
in eradicating bacteria, including MRSA from the hands.


As a general cleaning detergent for hard surfaces and flooring, Ebiox Trionic
Plus was proven to reduce the presence of bacterial organisms by 99.999%,
killing MRSA organisms within 30 seconds. The normal standards require a killing
effect within five minutes.

http://Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC

and some more,

Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC
01 March 2004


Healthcare Enterprise Group Plc

Environment Protection Agency approval of Ebiox products

Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC (HCEG), the healthcare products and services
company, announces US Environment Protection Agency approval for a range of five
Ebiox decontamination products.

The products, Neozyme, Ultra P, Ultra L, RDA and SSC, are directed at the
surgical instrument cleaning market.

Stuart Bruck, Chairman, Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC, commented:

'This represents another achievement in opening up our marketplace for Ebiox.

' Yesterday we announced Laboratory results which confirm that Ebiox is highly
effective against bacterial contamination in hospitals. The laboratory results
together with this EPA approval will enable us to accelerate our marketing plan
for the products in the USA, the world's largest healthcare market.'

1st March 2004

http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200403010700139453V.html

keep an eye here http://www.uk-wire.com/

Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC
21 July 2004



Ebiox Handrub Successfully Completes EU Tests


Unique, EU compliant, Non-Alcohol Based Solution for Combating Hospital Acquired
Infections/MRSA

Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC ('HCEG') announces the conclusion of further
controlled tests carried out by the NHS Hospital Infection Research Laboratory
City Hospital, Birmingham on its Ebiox Handrub product. These results show that
the Ebiox Handrub is compliant with EN1500, the EU standard for continental
Europe and the UK.

EN1500 is the standard by which the efficacy of non-water based products is
tested under practical conditions. Ebiox Handrub exceeded the standards set by
EN1500 when tested against e-coli bacteria. The Handrub has previously passed
prEN12054 including efficacy against other bacteria including MRSA. These
earlier tests demonstrated a 99.999% reduction in all test organisms within 30
seconds, significantly exceeding the one-minute test target.

HCEG believes that the Ebiox Handrub is the first non-alcohol based product that
is compliant with EU standards and has been developed to be better than alcohol
as a hand hygiene solution. The Ebiox non-alcohol Handrub decontaminates hands
without drying or irritating the skin, and has been specifically designed to be
user-friendly to encourage more hand cleaning than the existing washing protocol
achieves.

The Department of Health has recognised that hand decontamination, before and
after patient contact, is 'vital' to the control of hospital-acquired
infections*. It has also identified that cleaning and disinfecting protocols are
key to 'reducing reservoirs of infection in hospitals'*. Current hand hygiene
protocols specify the use of alcohol-based products, but these can cause sore,
dry hands. As a result, hospital staff tend to be discouraged from adhering to
hand hygiene protocols. Statistics from the National Patient Safety Association
show only a 40% compliance with hand hygiene protocols, with the dislike of
using alcohol-based products being cited as one of the main reasons for this.
Furthermore some alcohol gels, which are formulated to reduce the drying effects
of alcohol, have been criticised for failing the EN1500 standard (Lancet, Volume
359).

The hand hygiene range at Ebiox will be marketed under the Esense brand by
leading distributor to the NHS, Vernon Carus.

Stuart Bruck, Chairman, Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC, commented:

'The EN 1500 test is significant because it proves that our Handrub is as
effective as alcohol, without the shortcomings of skin irritation associated
with alcohol based products.

'The Ebiox family of products are designed to improve hospital hygiene by
addressing the root of the hygiene problem, which is closely allied to working
practice. By developing a Handrub that hospital staff are more likely to use
frequently, we have taken a step closer to tackling the problem of hospital
acquired infections and the MRSA epidemic.

'It is clear that current products have not succeeded in this respect and so we
are calling on the NHS to fast-track the adoption of this next generation
product.'


21 July 2004


* See the Department of Health document - Winning Ways: Working together to
reduce Healthcare Associated Infection in England (
www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/hai/


should do the price a world of good

How about calling the TV news channels !

10 Million buy has just gone through!

Bid/offer now 1.80p v 1.82p

Up she goes again. Offer now 1.85p

Spread now 1.82p v 1.85p. Nice!

mrsa still on the news - NHS where are you?

At last some movement on some big trades

Duty Rumour from elsewhere.(A.D.F.V.N.)

has stated that the NHS procurement area have indicated that ebiox and its range of products was being purchased in ever increasing quantities by hospitals throughout the country.

STRESS ONLY A RUMOUR

how true no idea,but nothing wrong with adding a fuel to the fire.

Today the government annouces new standards in cleaniness for the NHS one of the reasons MRSA is spread is lack of handwashing by doctors when going from patient to patient. Good timing for this product.



http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/PR%2DBMA+welcomes+key+target+on+MRSA+%2D+21+Jul+2004

I also think that these disposable endoscopes they have produced is going to be a big winner.
http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?pt=n&id=47111

Morning all. Nice to see we are blue again.

I love blue

Nice 2.5 million delayed trade has just shown up.

There seems to be no shortage of buyers this morning. Would expect to see another tick up soon.