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

Ticking up again this morning

see the bid went up to 2.0p following the announcement this morning ref Optiscope thought would post it incase anyone missed it.

Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC
10 November 2004


Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC

Optiscope Technologies Ltd Manufacturing Agreement

Optiscope time to market, accelerated through agreement with Wahl Optoparts


Healthcare Enterprise Group announces agreement with Wahl Optoparts GmbH, a
division of JENOPTIKS AG, for the development and manufacture of Optiscope, a
rigid endoscope based on proprietary technology. Optiscope is one of HCEG's key
portfolio technologies. JENOPTIKS AG is a world leader in photonics
technologies operating out of twenty countries with group sales of 3 billion.

Optiscope combines a revolutionary, patented optical design with innovative
plastic manufacturing methods and components, to produce a disposable clinical
product with no compromise to functionality. This gives Optiscope a significant
clinical advantage by removing the risk of cross contamination normally
associated with the re-use of expensive endoscopy equipment. Optiscope's
products will have high quality optics and are planned to be marketed at an
extremely attractive unit cost to hospitals, clinics and general practitioners.
In addition to the elimination of cross contamination, the low price will enable
bulk purchase, thereby streamlining procedures and reducing waiting times.

As part of this agreement, Wahl Optoparts has undertaken to perform a series of
laboratory tests on Optiscope's optic design and plans to introduce, together
with Optiscope, additional elements of its own expertise that will enhance both
the intellectual property and product functionality. It is thought that the
partnership with Wahl Optoparts will accelerate time to market for the finished
product by nearly a year. HCEG now anticipates that a commercial product will
be available for FDA inspection by mid 2005.

Optiscope is uniquely competitive in the endoscope market. The cost of a
comparable re-useable rigid endoscope is circa $3,000 per instrument. These are
frequently damaged during use, resulting in costly repairs. They also require
disinfection, decontamination, sterilisation and servicing following each
operation and, with a life span of approximately 200 operations, the estimated
cost per use is $40.

Gabriele Wahl-Multerer CEO, Wahl Optoparts GmbH, commented:

'The relationship with Optiscope provides Wahl Optoparts with an exciting
opportunity to develop our business in optical products and demonstrates our
commitment, as an OEM supplier with a closed process chain, to the international
medical market.

'Wahl's know-how and established procedures will ensure effective development
and manufacture, for example, through giving us 100% traceability throughout the
total production process. We are extremely excited to be associated with
Optiscope.'


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

'This relationship with Wahl represents a pivotal step for Optiscope and sets
out the timetable to market. Wahl, as part of the mighty JENOPTIKS, should be
viewed as major endorsement and confirms our original belief, that Optiscope has
significant market potential.

'Both Ebiox and Optiscope have received acclaim at the highest levels which will
provide HCEG shareholders with confidence in management's ability as we move to
roll out our new product portfolio.'

10 November 2004


Enquiries:

Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC 020 7351 7500
Stuart Bruck, Executive Chairman

College Hill 020 7457 2020
Nicholas Nelson/ Corinna Dorward

November 11, 2004

Smaller stock to watch



Healthcare Enterprise, the AIM-listed medical devices specialist, edged up 0.03p to 1.99p on signing a manufacturing agreement with Jenoptiks, a German company with 3 billion (2 billion) of sales. Jenoptiks will develop and make Optiscope, Healthcares disposable endoscope, which is expected to be ready for inspection by the US Food and Drug Administration by mid-2005. Numis Securities yesterday repeated its 2.4p target.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2727-1353271,00.html

Up again today--at last we are seeing some good results. Any trading figures due soon?

Good news about the acquisition of Crest Medical today and interim results will be out today at some point

No sooner said than out. Link to interims

http://tinyurl.com/3kxgv

Good results good prospects but I am out because any company share consolidation usually seems to cause a drop in price after consolidation--look at Icap, Majestic wine and planestation for example. I look to buy again when things have settled down

Yes, it's certainly dropped in price recently!!! :-) Massive potential market in USA which they seem to be tapping into well enough. Must reap benefits mid to long term if the sales and marketing departments are so active and successful?

Up again! Anyone get out of these recently? OUCH!!!!!

Fidelity bought over 3% according to RNS this morning,also the bid rose and the spread came in,are there further buys in the offing and can we expect another RNS any idea's?.

Looking very strong this AM only three trades recorded as sells. Spread went down as low as .459% earlier. No news about but looks interesting

LONDON (AFX) - Two products from Bioquell PLC and Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC have been identified by the UK Department of Health's Rapid Review Panel (RRP) as having potential value in the battle against the MRSA superbug in hospitals.

The panel highlighted Bioquell's RBDS de-contamination system, which use a range of hydrogen peroxide vapour systems to de-contaminate hospital rooms, and Healthcare Enterprise's Ebiox range of hand hygiene products that use non-alcohol based gel for hand cleaning.

However, the panel concluded that the products still need to be subject to further evaluation in an NHS clinical setting.

Bioquell said the results of the trials are encouraging and its will be working with the RRP to agree the basis on which it should supply additional data, which would allow its technology to be introduced into NHS clinical practice following peer reviewed trials and economic appraisal.

Nick Adams, chief executive of Bioquell said: "The positive recommendations of the RRP should make it significantly easier for us to sell our unique technology to eradicate MRSA and other "superbugs" in hospitals in the UK and internationally."

Commenting on the Bioquell product, the panel said: "The product has been shown to be effective in removing MRSA from the hospital environment. Results suggest that Bioquell hydrogen peroxide vapour is most effective on non-porous surfaces.

(The product) is only appropriate for enclosed rooms and units that can be emptied of patients and staff and sealed for the period of decontamination.

The key question is whether the ability of Bioquell hydrogen peroxide to kill environmental micro-organisms will translate into reduced numbers of healthcare associated infections."

The Rapid Review panel is made up of top UK scientists, and was set-up by the Health Protection Agency at the request of the Department of Health to provide a prompt assessment of new equipment, materials and other products or protocols that may be of value to the NHS in improving hospital cleanliness, hygiene and infection control.

Proposals received or identified by the Department of Health are referred to the panel for review.

The panel does not conduct evaluations of products but reviews information and evidence provided and makes recommendations to the Department of Health.

Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC
01 December 2004


Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC


Ebiox Handrub


Health Protection Agency review confirms effectiveness against Hospital Acquired
Infections


Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC is pleased to report a satisfactory outcome from
the Rapid Review panel of the Health Protection Agency, following tests at the
Hospital Infection Research Laboratory, showing that the Ebiox Handrub conforms
to EN 1500.


EN1500 is the standard by which the efficacy of non-water based products is
tested under practical conditions. In tests earlier this year 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.


An independent survey by Nursix has shown that two thirds of nurses reported
skin problems using alcohol based products and that they would be more compliant
with NHS protocols if a non-alcohol based product were available.


The Rapid Review Panel has concluded that Ebiox hand disinfectant; 'may have
potential value as an alternative to alcohol-based gels for hand hygiene: in use
evaluations/trials are now needed in an NHS clinical setting to show
acceptability in routine use'.


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


'These tests now provide a stamp of approval from the Government taking us to
the next step in our bid to tackle the Hospital Acquired Infections epidemic.


'We will be guided by the Rapid Review Panel which recommends on the ground
tests in an NHS setting.'


The Rapid Review Panel was set up by the Health Protection Agency in August 2004
in response to the Chief Medical Officer's Action Area 7 in Winning Ways.


The remit of the Panel is to promptly assess new procedures and products with
regard to their potential effectiveness and ability to prevent, reduce or
control healthcare associated infections (HCAI).



The key element of acceptability is the demonstration of a significant effect on
HCAI in the clinical setting. Ideally, this will be the result of formal
clinical studies reported in peer-reviewed publications.

1 December 2004


Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC 020 7351 7500
Stuart Bruck, Executive Chairman

College Hill 020 7457 2020
Nicholas Nelson/Corinna Dorward

YOU'VE JUST GOT TO BE HAPPY WITH THIS NEWS!!!!!

And I know HCEG's management and sales team will be moving into overdrive to sell this product on the back of this news.

Anything that gets passed so quickly through any governmental system has to be pretty bloody good as a product and something that can be used for political means as well.

Now the goverment can take credit for "discovering" and approving this product. Future blame can be placed fair and square on the NHS hospital managers should they choose not to buy it in!

BIG, BIG, BIG sales ahead IMHO, DYOR, etc, but this company is really going places with ebiox based products!

Telegraph today report Health Minister John Reid's speech in which he identified eibox as the right stuff.Good news again but sp not moved up much. Probably the 25 for 1 consolidation is holding it back.A lot of people will wait until the sp steadies at 50p or whatever.

bid could be held back to allow further institutions to get on board at a set price and drop in an occasional large sell and it keeps the price remaining even without going beserk.

Believe this was a no brainer bearing in mind HCEG products have passed everyone else's tests (check all previous RNS's)

Note EU handrub tests back in July 2004http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/index?search_type=3&words=hceg&go.x=22&go.y=14

This continues to climb at a steady rate. reaching the kind of levels it did previously befor its retracement. Needs to find support as it has done and this could and should go onto great things. No idea on what price it could climb to but 5p must be a target within a 3month period? Afer that.....hold on. It goes without saying DYOR.

Although a holder I'm not impressed by management...the AGM was a real let-down like the School Govenors were talking to an intake of first-year pupils. That was some time ago and we have seen very little product activity - if you had such a wonderful product, why wouldn't it be in the public arena in record time?
(ignore the NHS route, just flog it through Boots/ASDA)
/
What we are left with is a company with millions of shares (soon to be consolidated 25:1 ) which have not shifted much product and whose sp is within a wisker of what it was when the Good News was first thrown to eager investors.
//
On MRSA itself, I can claim no Authority, but FWIW if we all carry the seeds of MRSA then cleaning a ward will not help - the MRSA will return with the first humans to enter. Until you can breed cloned-sterile medics, hospitals need another way to combat MRSA. I think the "hand-washing" is a smoke-screen and it's being played out to keep the Public from panicing. - - -Once installed - - - we can watch the MRSA fall to zero -(I don't believe it!)
//
Isn't it like blocking up the keyhole (of a door) to guard against nuclear fallout (dust) when the windows are open? The promise of a cure (by getting staff to wash their hands every few minutes ), seems a little unrealistic....you'd need a 30% increase in staff to keep changing the bottles and make-up the nursing-time lost, etc.

Don't you just get the feeling that MRSA is not about to be cracked, yet?

I am not convinced HCEG will make me a profit, either.

there is more to HCEG than Ebiox.