Medical House Plc

Ref: MH003
Date: 3 May 2000

MEDIA RELEASE

BT and The Medical House alliance trials new opportunity

Sheffield based medical services group The Medical House, today (28 April 2000) announced a major partnership deal with BT, which will help revolutionise the clinical trials of drugs throughout the world.

The acquisitive group, which is headed up by Ian Townsend, has signed a deal with the UK telecoms giant to provide both technical expertise and content for BTs use of the Internet for clinical trials. The alliance has been designed to capitalise on the abilities of the group’s web company Healthworks, which specialises in the provision of specialist content for the medical industry.

BTs Robert Besford explains, "Traditionally, clinical trials data was sent by trial professionals, on paper based forms, which were then forwarded to the trialing agency which would collate and record the data in a statistically useable form. The new BT Clinical Trials service allows data to be forwarded instanteously from a medical professional’s desktop and thus be analysed more rapidly to enable faster test conclusions. In essence the value to the industry of getting new drugs to market place, even if only just a matter of months earlier, can bring major benefits for both pharmaceutical companies and patients alike."

The purpose of the alliance with Healthworks is to ensure the technological format is effectively designed and managed. In addition, medical information will be available through the finished site. Content will include a store of the latest medical CD-ROMs available and a ‘health on the internet’ database - detailing content of the majority of the world’s key medical websites.

Ian Townsend commented, "This type of project requires a level of expertise and specialisation which it is difficult to find in any other company within the medical information sector. The Medical House is fast becoming the definitive source of electronic medical and health reference material. To maintain our growth and position, we will indeed be seeking further alliances and making additional investments in complementary areas."

Initially the trial will be accessible through the desktops of 1,000 investigators across Europe, but demand is anticipated to drive the product to a full international roll out.

Townsend believes that this alliance with a telecoms giant is increasing recognition of the company’s position as market leader within its sector. The alliance comes prior to the flotation of The Medical House, a development expected to take place in June of 2000.

Ends

Editor note:

CD ROM Store
The CD ROM Store is a comprehensive list of content for medical professionals, currently including more than 1,000 titles available for secure online purchase.

The ‘Health on the internet’ database
Over the last 6 years, Healthworks has reviewed more than 3,000 websites for content – a process, which continues even now on a daily basis. Following review, a paragraph on the function of each site is displayed. From this a clinician can evaluate each site for their own interest. This dramatically streamlines the process of searching the web for medical content.

Healthworks (key contact is Steve McCann)
Healthworks is the definitive source of electronic medical and health reference material on the Internet.

The Medical House (key contact is Ian Townsend)
The aim is to develop Medical House into a collection of businesses within the medical world. It will offer the opportunity for the spectacular growth associated with Blue Sky ventures, whilst providing a safety net of companies with solid earnings

websites: www.themedicalhouse.com
www.healthworks.co.uk
www.medecal.com

Further information, and interviews with key personnel contact:
Paul Snape or Tim Cooper at Appeal on 01423 56 44 22 or e-mail paul@appealpr.co.uk

Additional notes to editors where a fresh approach :

Medical House - The concept

Ian Townsend together with his partner Gerry Kemp, has launched a new company called the Medical House and set it on an acquisition trail.

The aim is to develop Medical House into a collection of businesses within the medical world. It will offer the opportunity for the spectacular growth associated with Blue Sky ventures that technology companies can ignite, whilst providing the secure foundations of companies with solid earnings.

What it means?

Having reviewed the market, they feel there is an opportunity to fill a gap:

Most companies rely on one product / invention to generate investment return, which whilst it can offer significant return, this can also result in significant losses
olid companies provide secure earnings, without the opportunity for dramatic returns

A combination of both gives potential investors the security of return with the excitement of spectacular growth potential and the medical sector provides a unique opportunity for this

The present

The Medical House is currently talking to a number of companies which it feels will provide the correct balance of solid earning and growth potential within the sector. It is continually on the look out for more.

Additional background

Eurocut

The principal subsidiary company under the Medical House banner is Eurocut, Europe’s leading manufacturer of orthopedic instruments. Established for 11 years, it employs nearly 70 people in Sheffield and has sales in excess of £4m per annum. This year, orders are expected to be reported at record levels.