Friday 28 June 2013

USA-Early Detection of PC (AUA)

Whether you agree with the recent AUA guidelines or not there is quite a lot of information on this page that might be of interest(click on link at BOP for better view):


On May 3, 2013, the American Urological Association (AUA) released a new Clinical Guideline on the Early Detection of Prostate Cancer. The new guideline, which addresses screening in asymptomatic men of average risk of prostate cancer, updates the Association's Best Practice Statement on Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA), originally released in 2009. The following tools are available to help the health care community and the public better understand and implement the guideline:

•Frequently Asked Questions about the 2013 AUA Guideline on Early Detection of Prostate Cancer [pdf]

•"Is Prostate Cancer Screening Right for You?" Wall Chart [pdf] (Larger display version can be ordered in quantities of up to 50 per month from the Product Store.)

•"Is Prostate Cancer Screening Right for You?" Brochure [pdf] (Order up to 50 per month from the Product Store.)

•"What Men Should Know about Prostate Screening" Fact Sheet [pdf]

•"Is PSA Screening Right for Me?" Decision Tool/Checklist [pdf]

•"To Test or Not to Test for Prostate Cancer: A Shared Decision" Patient Fact Booklet [pdf] The following videos are also available

•Video: Is Prostate Cancer Screening Right for You? Dr. H. Ballentine Carter talks to patients about prostate cancer screening.

•AUA2013 Plenary Session Webcast [summary presentation]

•AUA2013 Panel Discussion Webcast (includes Panel Chair Dr. H. Ballentine Carter, Practice Guidelines Committee Chair Dr. J. Stuart Wolf, Jr. and Health Policy Chair Dr. David F. Penson)

•AUA TV Guideline Segment with Panel Chair H. Ballentine Carter

http://www.auanet.org/advnews/psa-testing-toolkit.cfm

Tuesday 11 June 2013

UK-Father's Day film

One gang, one plan, one big problem.

A man dies every hour and they all have to face up to it.
Joe wants out but the Don won't take no for an answer. Carl lays a plan to use Alison as the bait. Will it work, or will Joe walk away?
Father's Day is a dark mini-drama with a twist. It's the brainchild of actor Neil Stuke, and also stars Ray Winstone, Charles Dance, John Simm, Tamzin Outhwaite, Cyril Nri and Stuart Laing.

Find out more, this Father's Day

The film airs on ITV4 Sunday night at 11.15pm, capping a week of activity by ITV and Prostate Cancer UK to raise awareness of a disease that is underfunded and poorly understood. If you can't tune in on Sunday, check this page on Monday to watch the film.
Join our Stand By Your Man pledge to talk to the men in your life about prostate cancer.
Find out what else you can do to make a difference this Father's Day.



Tuesday 4 June 2013

SPOTLIGHT-Prostate Cancer UK (Registered Charity)

I thought these videos would be of general interest and highlight this charity along with a mark of respect to John Anderson:

Mr John Anderson (1953 - 2013)






PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT-URODYNAMICS & CLINIC RANGE



Ideal for hospitals and research institutions performing comprehensive urodynamics

The Clinic system performs urodynamics studies with Sensic or Duet software. With medical grade hardware and a high quality computer it offers the best specification system.

Features:

  • Medical-grade touchscreen
  • Custom trolley including printer
  • 4 pressure channels & 1 channel of raw or average EMG
  • Smooth 8-roller infusion pump
  • Artifact-resistant spinning disk uroflow
  • Compatible with air-charged, water-filled or electronic catheters
  • Automatic motorized puller can be added for precise and repeatable catheter retraction for Urethral Pressure Profiles

Upgrades:

Monday 3 June 2013

Mediwatch PLC Half Yearly Report

3rd June 2013

Interim Results for the six months to 30 April 2013

Mediwatch plc ("Mediwatch", "the Company" or "the Group", AIM: MDW), the innovative urological diagnostic company, is pleased to publish its interim results for the six months ended 30 April 2013.

Financial Highlights
-- Sales revenues of GBP4,911,000 (H1 2012: GBP5,084,000)
-- Gross Margin increases by GBP35,000 despite lower sales
-- Operating Profit of GBP161,000 (H1 2012 GBP78,000)
-- EBITDA of GBP311,000 (H1 2012: GBP245,000)
-- Profit before Taxation up 210% at GBP121,000 (H1 2012: GBP39,000)

Operational Highlights

-- Successful launch of New Clinic+ Urodynamics system, NANO Portable UDX system, Mediwatch Procedure Couch and Venus Pelvic Floor device, which were well received at the European Association of Urology annual conference and exhibition in Milan in April and the American Urological Association annual conference and exhibition in San Diego in May
-- Restructuring of UK sales to deliver the same effectiveness with lower cost
-- New distribution contracts signed in the USA
-- Strong sales growth of capital goods in the USA
-- New Distributors signed in Latin America
-- PSAwatch is continuing positively with potential for large scale work-place screening
-- Successful ISO 13485:2003 and CMDCAS renewal
-- Regulatory approvals in China and Latin America are in progress

Omer Karim, Mediwatch Chairman commented

"The Board is encouraged with the results for the first half of the 2013 financial year; in particular it is pleasing to see that the cost reductions have firmly benefited the bottom line. With new product launches well underway and more to come later in the year; the Group is positioned for a positive second half""

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"Editors Notes: Mediwatch plc: Innovative Diagnostic Solutions Mediwatch is a leader in its field. The Company is continually striving to develop and market faster, simpler and less invasive diagnostic products to save lives and restore quality of life for people with a variety of urological conditions. Founded in 1995, Mediwatch (www.mediwatch.com) has developed a range of medical equipment for the diagnosis of urological disorders.

The business focuses its design skills towards diagnostic products that can be used across the medical profession.

Overview

Whilst overall sales have been flat compared to last year the cost reductions made both in product cost of sales leading to higher gross margin as well as in lower selling and administration expenses has resulted in a profit before tax increase of 210% over the 2012 half year.

Mediwatch's vision for the future is to develop affordable equipment for the treatment of conditions in its targeted clinical areas. The new product launches planned for 2013 have started well. The first of these a new urodynamic range of Clinic and Encompass, the new Nano, a new procedure couch and the tablet Portaflow were well received at European Association of Urology meeting in Milan in April and the American Urologists Association annual conference and exhibition in San Diego in May. There is more to come later in the year.

Trading

In the six month period to 30 April 2013, Group turnover was GBP4.9 million, (H1 2012: GBP5.1 million). The Group has seen the continuing effects of the US economy emerging from the global slowdown ahead of other markets with the US business showing good growth in revenues and it now accounts for some 55% (51% H2 2012) of Group revenues. Revenue in the UK (which services Europe and the Rest of the world) has declined and, following the failed attempt to partner with Genesis in an attempt to improve these sales, the UK sales team has been restructured to reduce cost with minimal impact on the team's effectiveness and the UK profitability has been enhanced. The product mix experienced during the first half of the 2013 financial year was also similar to that experienced in the first half of 2012.

The Group achieved an EBITDA of GBP311,000 for the six months to 30 April 2013 (H1 2012: GBP245,000). Profit is very slightly ahead of the Board's expectations at this stage.

Cash flow was down due to increasing working capital requirement in the USA from the increasing sales. Additional debt funding has also been taken on in the UK to support the Research and Development effort.

UK, Europe and ROW Operations

Highlights from the UK operations include:
-- On budget performance in profit despite lower sales
-- PSAwatch continues to gain momentum
-- Restructuring of UK sales to deliver the same effectiveness with lower cost
-- Successful ISO 13485:2003 and CMDCAS renewal

US Operations

Highlights from the US operations include:
-- Strong sales growth, 13% increase on the first half of 2012
-- Gross Margin percentage higher than last year
-- Savings on selling and administration expenses over 2012
-- New distribution contracts signed
-- Strong sales growth of capital goods
-- New Distributor agreements signed in Latin America and Canada

Research and Development

Expenditure on research and development, including capitalised costs, was GBP263,000 (H1 2012: GBP363,000) during the six months to 30 April 2013. The main spend being on:
-- Development of a new cart system
-- Upgrade of product software to latest standards

-- Producing the products which were launched at the European Association of Urology annual conference and exhibition in Milan in April and the American Urologists Association annual conference and exhibition in San Diego in May

Management and employees

The Board would like to take this opportunity to again thank all employees for their hard work and contribution in achieving the continuing success of the business.

Current trading and outlook

The Group is currently trading just above management's budgets and we expect to meet market expectations for the year.

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4. PRESS RELEASE

Copies of this report will not be issued to shareholders but will be available for download from www.mediwatch.com. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the interim report please contact the Mediwatch offices on +44 (0)1788 547 888 to request a copy.

Full report from link below: added soon

Sunday 2 June 2013

Mediwatch-Corporate News

Announcements

AUA San Diego May 2013

The American Urology Association congress was amazing.  The new graphics, branding, and display features for our expanded booth created a wonderful way to showcase and present products.  Although the layout of the convention floor led to a slow steady stream of doctors, we actually generated 25% more leads this year than last, and an estimated over 50% of the leads were generated with 15+ minute conversations, meaning that we had time to give detailed presentations.

We showed off the brand new Clinic system for Urodynamics and Anorectal Manometry, the new Mediwatch powered procedure chair, and the soon to be launched Nano system, all of which generated a great deal of excitement and interest. Each year we aim to make the AUA show more successful, and we feel that this year was an excellent result.

Of course we've already started planning for the 2014 congress in Orlando, Florida, with an even larger booth to show off our forthcoming products.

EAU Milan March 2013

The launch of the new products was very well received by both doctors and distributors alike – We exhibited the new Clinic system, Nano Portable unit Urology couch, Portaflow Tablet Flowmeter, Venus Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation software and the Catscan Bladder Scanner, together with the Urodyn+ and our range of Disposables.

During the exhibition we met with a number of our distributors from around the world – Extensive discussions were held with them and a delegation of doctors from Libya were given some “on the spot” training by Anders Pedersen. In addition we met with many doctors from around Europe and the Middle East, with specific enquiries coming from the UK for the purchase of equipment.
We also were asked to participate and provide the only Urodynamics system, Clinic with Sensic, for the official EAU Urodynamics training course, attended by 40 doctors – This course was run by the Bristol Urology Institute, one of the most well-recognised groups in Europe.

To cap an all round successful exhibition, we learned that  Omer Karim, our Chairman, was awarded a prize for “Innovative Surgery in Urology” – Congratulations Omer.

ASCRS Phoenix April 2013

The ASCRS meeting went very well this year, as Mediwatch was able to show off several new systems, including the new Clinic+ for Anorectal Manometry, incorporating a new Pudendal Nerve Stimulation module, along with the Venus Biofeedback system. We also had a 360 degree colorectal ultrasound scanner on the stand as a concept for future development. There was a strong interest from both American and International physicians in our product line, leading to nearly double the leads being taken compared to last year.

LATEST NEWS AND FUTURE EVENTS






Mediwatch Positions/Jobs

Future Events Events where Mediwatch are attending/exhibiting will be marked as so or updated,hopefully before the event is finished.More Events to add later

British Association of Urological Surgeons 2013 Annual Meeting (UK 17th–20th June)Mediwatch are exhibiting



 Mediwatch/Distributor Training Courses

Newsletters
Mediwatch Newsletter 2013 Q2
Mediwatch Newsletter 2012 Q1
Mediwatch Newsletter 2011 Q4

STUFF THAT MAYBE DID BUT NOW DOESN'T FIT IN WITH THE TITLE...