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Healthcare Enterpise Group & MRSA Superbug (HCEG)     

gary k - 16 Jul 2004 08:11

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

optomistic - 16 Jul 2004 21:13 - 7 of 202

itsmeagain, I would like to see the article but do not use the ADVFN site, would you like to post the article/Anyl. here please?

brockman - 16 Jul 2004 21:26 - 8 of 202

Is this the one on the news the other night, you have to squib it up your nose and activate with light?
It did look interesting but as we know these are called superbugs because they evolve, mutate and become resistant. They have always been around in hospitals and they do make me think twice about a hospital job.
I would like to see the link too please.

maddoctor - 16 Jul 2004 23:03 - 9 of 202

I've been in this share and out again , not because I did not thin k it has a future but because there are several BILLION shares in issue - to make this move you need a 50 to 100 million share trade day

itsmeagain - 19 Jul 2004 07:26 - 10 of 202

Gary K,here is a some info but the articles & analysis is fukk of info,hope below isn't too much and informs you of score. (Courtesy of Murraymint)

Fighting MRSA by Mike Walters

What follows is not an investment comment. It is a background document on MRSA and how it might be tackled, with reference to Ebiox. It comes from Gordon Wood, a director of Healthcare Enterprise Group. He is happy to see it reproduced here, and to be used as you wish. I am reproducing it in view of the interest aroused by my comments earlier this week, and to help support those who are pressing their MPs and others to get the authorities to act, and act quickly, in bringing Ebiox into the fight to make our hospitals safer.

Hospital acquired infections (HAI) are those that are neither present or incubating when a patient enters hospital. Their effects vary from discomfort for the patient, to prolonged or permanent disability, and even death.

Infections such as caused by Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, MRSA are more commonly known as a superbug.

Best estimates suggest that each year there are at least 100,000 cases cases of HAI in England causing around 5,000 deaths, and the cost to the National Health Service may be as much as GBP 1 billion a year.

A survey showed Britain had the worst record for infection in Europe - patients here are 40 times more likely to catch MRSA than those in Holland.

The vast majority of HAIs are caused by high patient throughput, inadequate hygiene and misuse of disinfectants and antibiotics.

What are the problem microorganisms ?

Streptococcus pyrogenes is a common cause of sore throat. Althogh not very common the severity of the illness makes it an important pathogen to eradicate.

Entrococcus faecium has emerged as an important pathogen which is acquiring resistance to a range of antimicrobials.

Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfingens are spore forming bacteria and are the cause of much morbidity in elderly hospitalized patients.

Entrobacter cloacae, Gram negative species such as Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Burkholderia pose a serious threat to hospitalized patients.

However Staphylococcus aureus is the most important noscomial pathogen causing mortality in hospitalized patients. Strains resistant to antibiotics (MRSA) are a serious increasing problem and Doctors are very worried about the future with MRSA.

What is MRSA?

Staphylococcus is a family of common bacteria often found in 20-30% of the throats, noses and skin of healthy people.

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, but is shorthand for any strain of Staphylococcus bacteria which is resistant to one or more conventional antibiotics such as methicillin.

Some bacterial strains' genetic makeup will give them a slight advantage when it comes to fighting off antibiotic attack. So when weaker strains encounter antibiotics, they die, while these naturally resistant strains may prove harder to kill. Bacterial genes have an inbuilt self defence mechanism and are constantly mutating.

The number of reports of MRSA infections rises year by year - and the latest evidence suggests that deaths due to MRSA are increasing at a similar rate.

Already, the spectre of a bug resistant to all antibiotics is approaching.
In Japan it is understood that vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus VRSA, has acquired resistance to the drug considered the "last line of defence" when all other antibiotics have failed.

The UK has already seen several cases of GISA, or glycopeptide intermediate Staphylococcus aureus, a kind of "halfway house" between MRSA and VRSA, which has developed a resistance to antibiotics of the vancomycin family.

Although new antibiotics are being developed all the time, pessimistic experts believe it is only a matter of time at current rates until virtually every weapon in the pharmaceutical arsenal is nullified.

Why does MRSA exist ?

One reason behind their swift evolution into "superbugs" is the overuse of antibiotics, both in human and veterinary medicine.

Another, possibly more mysterious reason, is from dirty surfaces and lack of basic hygiene, inadequate cleaning and the casual use of disinfectants.

All surfaces maintain a molecular Bio Film where bacteria living or landing on a surface secrete a polysaccharide (sugar) complex. As more land and grow this living wallpaper thrives.

This Bio Film, which is almost insoluble, protects the micro organisms from attack by surface agents. Bio Films are not static but in a constant state of movement and change.

There is a constant re allocation of microbic species. By interfering with this constant change by the use of only partially effective disinfectants then an out of balance scene will develop and resistant microbes eg MRSA will attain supremacy.

Likewise the use of traditional cleaning detergents will leave an invisible nutrient rich film which will enhance the Bio Film and feed the microbic species, possibly to dangerous levels. The film will then dry out and encapsulated micro species will be carried by air currents until they land on a surface or an open wound.

Finally it is believed that MRSA has changed it now can actually penetrate and live inside certain other bacteria and possibly micro fungi. This isolates them from attack.

Why is it so dangerous ?

It is a fact of life in the NHS that patients are at higher than normal risk of picking up an infection on the wards.

This is for two reasons - firstly, that the population in hospitals tends to be older, sicker and weaker than the general population, making them more vulnerable to the infection. Also, there are by definition more people with diseases and open wounds in hospital, and more MRSA carriers. Often, hospital staff are carriers of the bug, without realising it.

Secondly, conditions in hospitals, which involve a great many people living together, create complex ecosystems whereby patients live in an unbalanced symbiosis with microbes within the building structure. This is the perfect environment for the transmission of all manner of infections.

What can we do about it now ?

The MRSA problem is not curing with antibiotics but changing cleaning and hygiene products and procedures to match the modern demands within a health care establishment. Strict hygiene is the best defense and falls into two categories Hand Hygiene and Surface Hygiene.

Hand Hygiene

This is essential, it is difficult to over emphasise the importance of good hand hygiene. Noscomial pathogens are transmitted via the hands of health care workers and hand hygiene is considered a leading preventative measure to reduce cross contamination in Healthcare settings.

Two different types of hand hygiene procedures are recommended to be followed.

1. Washing with an antibacterial soap or scrub.
2. Regular application of a hand disinfectant between patients and when hands are not dirty.

Hand washing on a regular basis is not always practical and can cause Irritant Dermatitis, hence the need for top up protection with the hand disinfectant.

Hand Hygiene agents should have anti microbial efficacy against noscomial pathogens. In Europe, the state of the art protocols to test their efficacy are referred to as the European norms (EN).

prEN12054 is a standard for establishing whether a Hand Wash or a Hand Disinfectant does have bactericidal activity under laboratory conditions. The test organisms are Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Entrococcus hirae and Staphylococcus aureus. Should a product comply with the test requirements, it can be considered to possess bactericidal activity.

En1499 (Phase 2 step 2) is the standard by which the efficacy of Hand Scrubs are tested under practical conditions where disinfection is medically indicated. The test comprises artificially contaminating hands of volunteers, before and after application of a Hand Scrub with test and reference products. To pass the test the reduction factor of the test product should be significantly superior to the reference product.

EN1500 is the standard by which the efficacy of Hand disinfectants are tested under practical conditions by comparison with the reference disinfectant (2-propanol, 60% volume per volume) tested on Eshererichia coli K12. The tested product should not be less effective that the reference alcohol.

However any Hand Hygiene agent, as it will be used on a regular basis, should be mild to the skin and provide low skin irritancy. Disinfection products that pass the above tests normally contain alcohol, unfortunately alcohol has little if any residual effect and after immediate application offers little protection, in addition alcohol causes skin irritancy and dryness and can lead to personnel avoiding their use.

Ebiox V2 Hand Scrub fully complies with prEN 12054 and exceeds the standard EN1499.

Ebiox V2 Hand Disinfectant fully complies with prEN12054 and EN1500.

Both products have been independently tested at the Hospital Infection Research Laboratory in Birmingham and are proven to eradicate MRSA from hands.

V2 Hand Hygiene products are unique they have a residual long lasting effect, do not contain alcohol and as such do not cause skin irritations, are lotions with moisturizers BUT STILL OFFER THE PROTECTION REQUIRED.

Surface Hygiene

This includes locker tops adjacent to patients, mattresses, floors, walls and other patient contact areas.

It is the efficient removal of the pathogen loaded Bio Film which is CRITICAL. This will eliminate the living wallpaper which is the source that harbours protects and feeds MRSA and provides the protective shell for the self generation of mutant and resistant bacteria

Conventional detergents and disinfectants have to be discarded, they simply do not have the power to deal with the rapidly changing bio-protective systems evolved by micro organisms.

Trionic Plus is a new technology surface active agent which will penetrate and completely remove the bio film and embedded pathogens. These micro organisms are then destroyed by the active ingredients in Trionic Plus which are effective against a broad range of bacteria and viruses. Trionic Plus in this form is ideal for regular use to clean, deodorise and sanitise surfaces on a general basis and maintain an hygienic environment.

When more than routine cleaning is required in either a sensitive or high risk area, in the event of a disease outbreak or a specific need to immediately eradicate a known pathogen Trionic Plus can be ACTIVATED to create a Terminal Disinfectant.

Trionic Plus when activated is probably the most powerful and safe oxidising biocide available containing nine different oxidants. Applied to any hard surface it will immediately eradicate bacteria, viruses, fungi and spores. It will eradicate MRSA and kill Parvovirus in seconds. Proven more effective than toxic Gluteraldehyde, corrosive Peracetic acid, Chlorine, Isopropyl alcohol and Ethanol whilst being user and environmentally friendly and safe to use.

Trionic Plus when activated will give total disinfection under extreme conditions.

The Hospital Infection Research Laboratory carried out an Assessment test to assess the Bio Film removal effect of Trionic Plus in normal use and the killing effect when activated.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 6749, Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 10788 and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 12493 were the test bacteria.

These were dried onto a stainless steel disks and immersed for a range of contact times. The number or remaining test organisms were counted to ascertain the removal/killing efficacy.

Trionic Plus outperformed the reference product and achieved a greater than 4 log reduction in test soiling which is equivalent to more 99.99% removal.

Trionic plus when activated killed the test organisms below non detectable level in less than 15 seconds.

Note: I believe Mike is happy to see this made public to help those writing to local MPs etc.

grevis2 - 19 Jul 2004 12:12 - 11 of 202

Independent

Poised to clean up
By Stephen Foley
19 July 2004

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.

itsmeagain - 19 Jul 2004 12:16 - 12 of 202

hope this is the start need funds for my pension

grevis2 - 19 Jul 2004 13:51 - 13 of 202

Volume Leaders

EPIC Name Price Volume
1 (1) VOD Vodafone Grp. 117.75 57,329,900
2 (2) SCR Securicor 131.25 47,629,900 A
3 (3) GSK Glaxosmithkline 1037.0 29,307,100
4 (4) HCEG Healthcare Ent. 1.745 25,540,600

grevis2 - 19 Jul 2004 14:32 - 14 of 202

John Reid has just been on the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 discussing MRSA.
They also had the chairman of the MRSA support group on.
The key points which struck me were:

The chairman of the MRSA support association said:
1) No.1 question he gets asked is how can I sue the NHS?
2) Research has shown MRSA can survive on a speck of dust for at least 3 months!
John Reid said:
3) Improved cleanliness most important measure with patients having more control.
4) Old hospitals, staff shortages and long waiting lists contribute to the problem.

grevis2 - 19 Jul 2004 14:39 - 15 of 202

Historical Prices - HCEG.L (HEALTHCARE ENTERPRISE GROUP PLC) As of 16-Jul-04
Date Open High Low Close Volume Adj. Close*
16-Jul-04 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.63 3,866,620 1.63
15-Jul-04 1.63 1.65 1.63 1.69 15,768,800 1.69
14-Jul-04 1.60 1.62 1.60 1.60 22,407,300 1.60
13-Jul-04 1.59 1.60 1.59 1.59 13,180,700 1.59
12-Jul-04 1.55 1.59 1.55 1.57 7,310,820 1.57
09-Jul-04 1.59 1.59 1.55 1.57 2,109,300 1.57
08-Jul-04 1.59 1.60 1.59 1.60 1,925,200 1.60
07-Jul-04 1.59 1.59 1.59 1.57 1,051,640 1.57
06-Jul-04 1.62 1.62 1.59 1.55 1,156,940 1.55
05-Jul-04 1.65 1.65 1.62 1.58 1,512,790 1.58
02-Jul-04 1.63 1.66 1.63 1.60 1,836,850 1.60
01-Jul-04 1.65 1.65 1.63 1.60 685,322 1.60
30-Jun-04 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.50 3,605,480 1.50
29-Jun-04 1.62 1.65 1.62 1.60 12,852,300 1.60
28-Jun-04 1.72 1.72 1.62 1.60 4,897,370 1.60
25-Jun-04 1.71 1.72 1.71 1.68 1,693,590 1.68
24-Jun-04 1.73 1.73 1.71 1.69 856,672 1.69
23-Jun-04 1.74 1.74 1.73 1.68 1,525,730 1.68
22-Jun-04 1.75 1.75 1.74 1.70 504,376 1.70
21-Jun-04 1.76 1.76 1.74 1.72 1,311,680 1.72
18-Jun-04 1.76 1.76 1.76 1.73 1,578,600 1.73
17-Jun-04 1.75 1.76 1.75 1.76 1,702,310 1.76
16-Jun-04 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.74 4,647,210 1.74
15-Jun-04 1.76 1.76 1.74 1.70 1,920,250 1.70
14-Jun-04 1.76 1.76 1.76 1.76 4,275,760 1.76
11-Jun-04 1.76 1.76 1.76 1.73 1,669,900 1.73
10-Jun-04 1.76 1.76 1.76 1.76 1,122,290 1.76
09-Jun-04 1.73 1.76 1.73 1.73 7,197,510 1.73
08-Jun-04 1.77 1.77 1.75 1.70 2,821,860 1.70
07-Jun-04 1.77 1.77 1.76 1.75 9,384,000 1.75
04-Jun-04 1.70 1.74 1.70 1.71 7,705,450 1.71
03-Jun-04 1.69 1.70 1.69 1.70 23,205,300 1.70
02-Jun-04 1.72 1.72 1.68 1.71 3,403,110 1.71
01-Jun-04 1.67 1.70 1.66 1.72 4,607,880 1.72
28-May-04 1.73 1.73 1.70 1.70 1,623,200 1.70
27-May-04 1.73 1.73 1.73 1.70 1,064,460 1.70
26-May-04 1.67 1.73 1.67 1.70 6,867,420 1.70
25-May-04 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.63 355,259 1.63
24-May-04 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.63 1,991,160 1.63
21-May-04 1.68 1.68 1.67 1.63 2,067,710 1.63
20-May-04 1.68 1.68 1.68 1.69 1,429,830 1.69
19-May-04 1.65 1.68 1.65 1.70 9,788,380 1.70
18-May-04 1.67 1.67 1.65 1.64 2,969,630 1.64
17-May-04 1.75 1.75 1.67 1.65 4,668,740 1.65
14-May-04 1.74 1.76 1.73 1.73 7,661,440 1.73
13-May-04 1.75 1.75 1.74 1.77 3,645,650 1.77
12-May-04 1.58 1.76 1.58 1.79 25,250,800 1.79
11-May-04 1.74 1.74 1.65 1.63 8,599,630 1.63
10-May-04 1.88 1.88 1.76 1.73 7,016,340 1.73
07-May-04 1.96 1.96 1.88 1.86 4,906,980 1.86
06-May-04 2.00 2.00 1.96 2.03 4,511,580 2.03
05-May-04 2.03 2.04 2.00 1.95 4,602,610 1.95
04-May-04 2.04 2.04 2.03 1.98 3,354,420 1.98
30-Apr-04 2.04 2.04 2.04 2.04 4,409,020 2.04
29-Apr-04 2.06 2.06 2.04 2.02 5,025,910 2.02
28-Apr-04 2.04 2.06 2.04 2.01 7,749,020 2.01
27-Apr-04 1.98 2.04 1.98 2.02 12,025,800 2.02
26-Apr-04 1.96 1.99 1.96 1.93 61,091,800 1.93
23-Apr-04 1.93 1.95 1.93 1.94 3,485,050 1.94
22-Apr-04 1.98 1.98 1.93 1.93 5,661,380 1.93
21-Apr-04 2.07 2.07 1.95 1.97 10,170,500 1.97
20-Apr-04 2.09 2.09 2.06 2.09 6,043,630 2.09
19-Apr-04 2.09 2.09 2.09 2.10 14,032,800 2.10
16-Apr-04 2.10 2.10 2.10 2.11 12,205,500 2.11
15-Apr-04 2.09 2.10 2.09 2.11 29,013,900 2.11
14-Apr-04 2.07 2.09 2.07 2.07 21,360,200 2.07
13-Apr-04 2.06 2.07 2.04 2.05 27,390,600 2.05
08-Apr-04 2.10 2.10 2.05 2.05 11,594,000 2.05
07-Apr-04 2.06 2.06 2.06 2.04 1,455,560 2.04
06-Apr-04 2.09 2.09 2.06 2.05 4,585,790 2.05
05-Apr-04 2.09 2.12 2.09 2.09 5,538,830 2.09
02-Apr-04 2.07 2.08 2.07 2.03 4,240,940 2.03
01-Apr-04 2.08 2.08 2.07 2.03 5,256,400 2.03
31-Mar-04 2.09 2.09 2.08 2.03 3,048,350 2.03
30-Mar-04 2.08 2.11 2.08 2.05 12,141,700 2.05
29-Mar-04 2.17 2.17 2.08 2.05 6,918,220 2.05
26-Mar-04 2.20 2.20 2.18 2.15 5,579,970 2.15
25-Mar-04 2.21 2.23 2.20 2.18 8,112,760 2.18
24-Mar-04 2.26 2.26 2.23 2.23 6,610,410 2.23
23-Mar-04 2.27 2.28 2.26 2.23 5,155,810 2.23
22-Mar-04 2.29 2.30 2.27 2.23 11,314,100 2.23
19-Mar-04 2.33 2.33 2.29 2.25 12,198,300 2.25
18-Mar-04 2.29 2.33 2.29 2.34 39,540,600 2.34
17-Mar-04 2.22 2.22 2.19 2.15 5,199,800 2.15
16-Mar-04 2.29 2.29 2.23 2.20 7,122,200 2.20
15-Mar-04 2.26 2.29 2.26 2.30 28,127,300 2.30
12-Mar-04 2.19 2.23 2.17 2.24 14,710,500 2.24
11-Mar-04 2.34 2.34 2.17 2.15 18,353,000 2.15
10-Mar-04 2.31 2.34 2.31 2.33 22,227,400 2.33
09-Mar-04 2.34 2.34 2.22 2.25 12,444,500 2.25
08-Mar-04 2.24 2.35 2.24 2.31 29,056,500 2.31
05-Mar-04 2.16 2.23 2.15 2.23 216,020,992 2.23
04-Mar-04 2.21 2.21 2.09 2.16 27,683,700 2.16
03-Mar-04 2.23 2.23 2.23 2.24 12,596,300 2.24
02-Mar-04 2.40 2.40 2.22 2.24 48,003,600 2.24
01-Mar-04 2.27 2.46 2.27 2.39 131,588,000 2.39
27-Feb-04 2.14 2.22 2.14 2.24 95,151,400 2.24
26-Feb-04 2.12 2.14 2.12 2.12 74,079,200 2.12
25-Feb-04 1.98 1.99 1.98 1.99 14,562,300 1.99
24-Feb-04 1.96 1.98 1.96 1.97 23,115,500 1.97
23-Feb-04 1.94 1.96 1.94 1.97 9,733,260 1.97
20-Feb-04 1.94 1.94 1.94 1.94 2,175,960 1.94
19-Feb-04 1.94 1.94 1.94 1.93 2,815,890 1.93
18-Feb-04 1.95 1.98 1.94 1.95 6,792,280 1.95
17-Feb-04 1.92 1.93 1.92 1.92 14,041,400 1.92
16-Feb-04 1.93 1.95 1.92 1.95 13,379,100 1.95
13-Feb-04 1.86 1.93 1.86 1.93 21,548,400 1.93
12-Feb-04 1.82 1.84 1.80 1.85 12,474,500 1.85
11-Feb-04 1.83 1.87 1.82 1.78 7,612,080 1.78
10-Feb-04 1.88 1.88 1.86 1.90 7,391,920 1.90
09-Feb-04 1.88 1.88 1.88 1.88 15,660,600 1.88
06-Feb-04 1.88 1.89 1.87 1.87 9,835,470 1.87
05-Feb-04 1.89 1.89 1.88 1.88 6,973,830 1.88
04-Feb-04 1.89 1.89 1.89 1.91 5,505,080 1.91
03-Feb-04 1.91 1.91 1.88 1.88 3,287,560 1.88
02-Feb-04 1.91 1.92 1.91 1.91 10,910,200 1.91
30-Jan-04 1.88 1.88 1.88 1.88 5,791,940 1.88
29-Jan-04 1.88 1.88 1.88 1.87 3,542,200 1.87
28-Jan-04 1.88 1.88 1.88 1.88 27,853,900 1.88
27-Jan-04 1.88 1.88 1.88 1.87 2,103,340 1.87
26-Jan-04 1.88 1.88 1.88 1.88 3,289,680 1.88
23-Jan-04 1.88 1.88 1.88 1.87 59,942,400 1.87
22-Jan-04 1.88 1.88 1.88 1.87 6,141,100 1.87
21-Jan-04 1.88 1.88 1.88 1.88 4,356,900 1.88
20-Jan-04 1.88 1.91 1.88 1.90 51,900,100 1.90
19-Jan-04 1.88 1.89 1.88 1.90 5,115,060 1.90

angi - 19 Jul 2004 15:59 - 16 of 202

I've heard 2 discussions about MRSA on the radio recently. The first was about Energy Technique, the second just a general Today chat, anchorman and parliamentary head nurse. Why on earth didn't they mention HCEG, does the press not know about it. It's time they did, not because I own a few shares, I've seen what this hospital administered bug can do.

itsmeagain - 19 Jul 2004 17:01 - 17 of 202

15000000 t trade at 1.67p,must of been expecting a rush and that it certainly did.Lookin good for the comming weeks.

itsmeagain - 19 Jul 2004 17:01 - 18 of 202

15000000 t trade at 1.67p,must of been expecting a rush and that it certainly did.Lookin good for the comming weeks.

grevis2 - 20 Jul 2004 00:31 - 19 of 202

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

hotrott - 20 Jul 2004 09:13 - 20 of 202

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

hangon - 20 Jul 2004 10:58 - 21 of 202

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.

mute_chris - 20 Jul 2004 11:26 - 22 of 202

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.

itsmeagain - 20 Jul 2004 20:07 - 23 of 202

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/

itsmeagain - 21 Jul 2004 07:25 - 24 of 202

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

emailpat - 21 Jul 2004 07:37 - 25 of 202

How about calling the TV news channels !

grevis2 - 21 Jul 2004 11:03 - 26 of 202

10 Million buy has just gone through!
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