Replies to post #43105 on Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Re: ArteFill, Restylane, and fat injection

>Artefil is a newly approved filler which uses bovine collagen as a bulking agent which contains small (methyl methacrylate I think} plastic beads which are about the size of red blood cells. The company is recomending this as a perminent filler for "smile lines." Plastic surgeons may not take to the idea of a perminent solution.<

I’ve debated this ad nauseam with xrymd, who is long ARTE. I think ArteFill is a loser and I’m looking for an opportunity to sell ARTE short.

>The duration of Restylane is probably a little longer than Collagen not dramatically so… Its certainly possible the stretch accompanying R induces some collagen formation, I think it highly unlikely the amount would be clinically significant.<

I have to strongly disagree here, based on both the product sales and my own experience.

If Restylane lasted only marginally longer than collagen, it would more than likely be a commercial flop. But Restylane is doing very well and, as you know, its success has attracted competition from AGN in the form of Juvederm.

I test these products on myself as a prerequisite to investing or selling short, and my experience is that Restylane lasts 3-4 times as long as collagen. (I haven’t yet tried Juvederm.)

>Which brings us to the real story which is micro fat grafting… I frequently inject over 30cc in one setting. If this were R this would be 18,000$ worth. Honestly.....the fat is better and easier to control.<

Are you doing this as part of a clinical trial? If not, then whose treatment protocol are you following? T.i.a.

[DewDiligence]

Q-Med AB Inks Distribution Agreement with Medy-Tox

[This agreement is for a botulinum type-A toxin to compete with Botox and Dysport. Q-Med is the company that developed Restylane, so they have a lot of credibility in this arena.]

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070314/20070314005723.html?.v=1

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Wednesday March 14, 10:52 am ET

STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Q-Med AB and Medy-Tox Inc. have today signed an agreement for the exclusive distribution of Medy-Tox Botulinum Toxin type A product in Europe, excluding Russia, and non-exclusive distribution of the product in Japan.

The contract covers all doses and the indications the product may be used for. Currently sold under the trade name Neuronox®, the product may under this contract be marketed under a new name in Europe. The contract is an extension of the development and commercialisation agreement Q-Med AB and Medy-Tox, a South Korean biopharmaceutical company, signed on February 9, 2007 for collaborative development and distribution of new botulinum toxin products. Medy-Tox Botulinum Toxin type A product is currently approved in South Korea, with approval in several other countries pending and expected during 2007. It is expected that it will take between two and three years before the product obtains EU certification. Present regulatory legislation allows sales in Japan with immediate effect. Under this contract, Q-Med AB shall pay Medy-Tox a distribution price for the product with no additional upfront or milestone payments. Q-Med shall take responsibility for registration of the product in Europe. The global market for botulinum toxin products is valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2006 [about 85% of this was AGN’s Botox]. The European market for botulinum toxin is growing rapidly, and it is expected that it will exceed USD 250 million in 2007.

Q-Med AB is a rapidly growing and profitable biotechnology/medical device company. The company develops, produces, markets and sells primarily medical implants. The majority of the products are based on the company's patented technology for the production of stabilized non-animal hyaluronic acid, NASHA(TM). The product portfolio today contains: RESTYLANE for the filling out of lips and facial wrinkles and for facial contouring, DUROLANE, for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip and knee joints, DEFLUX for the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux, VUR, (a malformation of the urinary bladder) in children, ZUIDEX, for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women and SOLESTA, for the treatment of fecal incontinence. Sales are made through the company's own subsidiaries or distributors in over 70 countries. Q-Med today has just over 600 co-workers, with approximately 400 at the company's head office and production facility in Uppsala, Sweden. The Q-Med AB share is listed in the Large Cap segment of the OMX Nordic Stock Exchange in Stockholm.
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[DewDiligence]

Landmark Discovery in Manipulating Fat Could Revolutionize Plastic Surgery

[The Georgetown animal study on neuropeptide Y (NPY) was previously reported.]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/07-02-2007/0004619286&...

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SOURCE American Society of Plastic Surgeons

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., July 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This week, physicians and researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center revealed they may have discovered a natural way to fill-in pesky crow's feet and get rid of unwanted fat in the thigh and abdominal areas. According to a study published online in the July 1 issue of Nature Medicine, physicians have been able to selectively add fat in targeted areas of the body in laboratory animals by injecting a natural chemical (neuropeptide Y) found in the body. Likewise, they have found blocking this chemical (neuropeptide Y2R blocker) can prevent the development of fat.

The study, partially funded by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) National Endowment for Plastic Surgery, could revolutionize aspects of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, says the ASPS.

"This is the first well-described mechanism found that can effectively eliminate fat, rejuvenate the face, or re-contour the body without surgery," said Stephen Baker, MD, DDS, ASPS Member Surgeon and study co-author. "Unlike current methods, this natural chemical could prove to induce a person's own body to remove or add fat. We are very excited about the animal findings, however; we know more research is needed and predict that studies in humans may not begin for another two years."

Patients could say goodbye to saddle bags and have results similar to liposuction, the third most popular surgical cosmetic procedures, by using the natural chemical to block the pathways that make cells create fat. In fact, this discovery could deliver the unproven promises of mesotherapy and LipoDissolve, which are touted to non-surgically remove localized fat.

Patients tired of staring at marionette lines or deflated lips could also see significant benefits. This natural chemical could be used to induce cells into making fat in a specific area. The patient's own body would naturally fill in wrinkles or augment lips without the high re-absorption rate found with current fat injection techniques.

"Through injections of the natural chemical, reconstructive plastic surgery patients may be able to produce their own fat in a targeted site, helping to fill in areas for breast and facial reconstruction that have been affected by disease or trauma," said Dr. Baker. "This discovery could be a future option for the more than 56,000 patients who had breast reconstruction in 2006."

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 90 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
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