The meetings and events sector is today recognised as a core revenue stream for academic venues. Sam Booth explains how schools, colleges and universities can give your meeting a degree of excellence.

The majority of academic venues offering conference facilities now function under a dedicated brand with a specialist conference team and, despite operating in a difficult economic environment, the majority have continued to invest in the upkeep and improvement of their facilities. It is because of this that the academic venue provides some of the highest quality conference and events facilities available for event organisers today.

With such large scale purpose built facilities it is not surprising that the academic venue has become the preference for many organisations’ annual conferences and conventions. Combined with state-of-the art audio and visual support, a mix of old and new facilities, and a vast amount of high quality on-site accommodation, they provide a one-stop shop approach to modern conferencing.

 

Extracurricular facilities

With the addition of some of the more unique sections of the university being opened up for use, they have also become a popular choice for product launches, awards dinners and even large exhibitions. Sports facilities are also another great asset, playing host to tournaments or team building for many different groups.

It is because of the fact that all of these facilities are already in place that the academic venue can offer a competitive price for delegates, unlike many purpose built conference centres or hotels.

However, it is not just the top class facilities or cost effective offering that is attracting event organisers. The sheer amount of supporting research and access to academic speakers at a university is also playing a major influencing factor on choice. Coupled with the fact that the facilities have been built with learning in mind, this element can enhance and enrich an event and in turn help to add credibility and increase delegate engagement too.

 

School fees

In return, students and academics will benefit from this too with all profits generated being reinvested directly back into the university, giving research programmes and other learning facilities a welcome boost in resources.

The academic venue is a vibrant, unique and highly cultured choice for any event and can help make a significant contribution in paving the way for the country’s next generation of leaders. I would urge anyone to give them a try.

Sam Booth is the Head of Keele Conferences and Events.

France is Europe’s biggest importer and exporter of medical devices. However, current reforms are driving cost reduction and efficiencies. Medtech Business in association with Espicom takes a look at the French market for medical technologies.

France is one of the top five medical device markets in the world, accounting for around 3.9% of the global market.* Within Europe, the market ranks behind Germany and is a similar size to that of the UK.

The country has a well-developed healthcare system, combining public hospitals with commercial clinics that are the main providers of elective surgical treatment. While the public sector is the largest purchaser of most diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, the private sector is the dominant purchaser of surgical equipment and supplies.

The high level of healthcare expenditure (11.8% of GDP) and the substantial health deficit are major concerns that have prompted various reform programmes aimed at curtailing costs and improving efficiency in the healthcare system. For this reason, the medical market is only likely to see moderate growth, rising from US$8.3 billion in 2011 to US$9.8 billion by 2016.

Despite several high-profile investment programmes, France continues to lag behind its European neighbours in some high-technology fields, most notably imaging and radiotherapy equipment. A second five-year cancer plan has now been launched which aims to increase the numbers of scanners.

With flagging domestic production in several sectors the French medical device market is increasingly reliant upon imports, which now account for around 80% of consumption. However, many imported products are re-exported to other countries.

 

The market in 2011

In 2011, the French medical device market (see Figure 1) is valued at US$8,280 million. Consumables is the largest product category, accounting for 20.9% of the overall market, followed by diagnostic imaging (19.8%).

Espicom estimates that the medical device market will grow at an average annual growth rate of 3.5% between 2011 and 2016 – bringing the total market value to US$9.8 billion by 2016.

Orthopaedic and prosthetic devices are expected to continue to be the most dynamic sector of the market, with growth forecast to be more than double the rate for the overall market. Conversely, diagnostic imaging is forecast to have the lowest growth during the 2011–16 period.

 

Predictions for market segments

Figure 2 shows Espicom’s predictions for the major segments of the medical device market.

1. Consumables. The market for medical consumables is estimated at US$1,729 million. The consumables market grew at an annual rate of 5.1% in US dollar terms between 2006 and 2010. Imports supply the greater part of the market. Espicom estimates the consumables market will continue to grow by an average of 3.5% over the next few years.

The wound care products market is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of 2.9% in US dollar terms during the 2011–16 period. Syringes, needles & catheters has been the fastest growing sector of the consumables market and will continue to be, with a CAGR of 4.1% to 2016.

2. Diagnostic imaging apparatus. The market for diagnostic imaging is estimated at US$1,636 million. The market grew at an annual rate of 2.8% between 2006 and 2010. France lags behind its European neighbours in the diagnostic imaging field, though the second cancer plan aims to increase provision of MRI, CT and PET scanners.

Imports supply the greater part of the market, though their market share is lower for radiation apparatus due to the strength of the domestic manufacturing industry. The USA and Germany are the major sources of supply. Espicom estimates that the imaging market will grow by an average of 2.1% between 2011 and 2016.

3. Dental products. The market for dental products is estimated at US$859 million, equal to 10.4% of the total medical device market. The dental products market grew at an annual rate of 4.2% between 2006 and 2010. It is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 3.5% over the next few years, taking the total to US$1,020 million by 2016.

4. Orthopaedic & prosthetic devices. The market for orthopaedic & prosthetic devices is estimated at US$1,336 million, equal to 16.1% of the total medical device market. The orthopaedic & prosthetic devices market grew at an annual rate of 9.2% between 2006 and 2010.

Imports have seen particularly high growth in recent years, though a corresponding increase in exports in this sector indicates that not all imported products are destined for the domestic market. The majority of orthopaedic imports are supplied by Switzerland and the USA.

The orthopaedic & prosthetic devices market is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 6.1% in US dollars over the next few years, taking the total to US$1,794 million by 2016.

5. Patient aids. The market for patient aids is estimated at US$1,131 million, equal to 13.7% of the total medical device market. The patient aids market grew at an annual rate of 4.5% between 2006 and 2010.

French imports of patient aids far exceed the value of the domestic market due to a high level of re-export activity, particularly for pacemakers. Switzerland and the USA are the leading suppliers of portable aids, whilst the USA and China are the major sources of supply for therapeutic appliances.

The patient aids market is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 3.9% over the next few years, taking the total to US$1,367 million by 2016.

 

Imports

The value of French medical device imports has recorded a steady rise over the past decade, reaching US$10.4 billion in 2008 before falling back to US$10.3 billion in 2009.

Imports of consumable items amounted to US$1,780.6 million in 2009. Imports fell by 1.0% over 2008 in US dollar terms (though they increased in euro terms). Syringes, needles, catheters & cannulae are the largest subcategory.

Diagnostic imaging imports totalled US$1,564.0 million in 2009, equal to 15.2% of the total. This was the weakest performing category in 2009, with a fall of 16.4%.

Imports of orthopaedic & prosthetic devices were worth US$1,549.1 million in 2009, equal to 15.1% of total medical device imports. This was the fastest growing category in 2009, with a rise of 26.6%. All three subcategories – artificial joints, orthopaedic appliances and other artificial body parts – recorded strong growth.

Patient aids are the largest import category, with imports worth US$2,624.1 million in 2009, equal to 25.5% of total medical device imports. Pacemakers accounted for 54.7% of imports in this category in 2009, but also accounted for more than half of patient aid exports.

The leading suppliers of French medical imports in 2009 were the USA, Switzerland and Belgium, with the UK ranking eighth as a supplier with imports worth US$288,964 (2.8% of the total).

 

Exports

In 2009, medical device exports registered a 3.0% fall in value to US$9.2 billion, having recorded steady growth in previous years with a CAGR of 6.8% for the 2005–2009 period.

In 2009, 69.5% of all French medical device exports were sent to the rest of the EU, with the Netherlands taking a 17.6% share, followed by Germany with 14.4%. The UK took 6.6% of French medical device exports.

Outside Europe, the leading destination is the USA, which accounted for 9.1% of exports. The USA is the leading destination for French exports of diagnostic imaging apparatus.

Next month, Medtech Business will look at the medical technologies market in Germany.

This article is based on information from Medical Market Outlook reports published quarterly by Espicom Business Intelligence. *All figures are in US $. For further details of the 66 markets covered, please visit www.espicom.com/outlookm1

Sanofi has appointed David Meeker as CEO of Genzyme to incorporate its Rare Disease and Multiple Sclerosis franchises.

He will join the company’s Group Management Committee, reporting to Sanofi’s CEO, Christopher Viehbacher.

He said that David’s “medical and business experience will be essential to move Genzyme’s broad portfolio of products forward and deliver much-needed therapies to patients”.

Mr Meeker joined Genzyme in 1994 as medical director to work on the company’s Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy programme. He has since held various positions at the company, including President of Global Rare Disease Business, and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2009.

Sanofi is a global healthcare provider, which develops and distributes therapeutic solutions in diabetes care, human vaccines, innovative drugs, rare diseases, consumer healthcare, emerging markets and animal health.

The ruling by a European court banning patents on inventions derived from stem cell research has been described as ‘devastating’ for biotech researchers and life science companies that depend on their findings.

The Court of Justice of the EU has ruled that inventions requiring the use of human embryos (at whatever stage of development) as base material are excluded from patentability, even if the patent does not itself refer to such use.

The ruling could see an end to UK investment in stem cell research and life science companies that rely on it, including medtech companies developing diagnostics and therapies relating to this area of biotechnology.

The regenerative properties of stem cells from human embryos is a key discovery of the biotech sector, and the new ruling excludes Europe from what has been hailed as the medical breakthrough of the new century.

Researchers have predicted that stem cell research could deliver effective therapies for degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

“This is a devastating decision that will stop stem cell therapies’ use in medicine,” said Pete Coffey, a researcher at UCL. “The potential to treat disabling and life-threatening diseases using stem cells will not be realised in Europe.”

Patent attorney Dr. Richard Gibbs, Associate at Marks & Clerk, noted: “This decision may do serious damage to stem cell research and technology in Europe. Those with existing patents will be uncertain of their enforceability; those intending to apply may need to reconsider their options.

“The potential for successful commercialisation is the major pre-requisite for attracting much-needed funding and investment in the arena of stem cell technology, and this decision significantly impacts that potential.”

Religious campaigners against stem cell research have praised the ruling as a victory for their view that individual life begins at conception.

In the US, the current administration has overturned the previous ban on stem cell research – but if a future government restores the ban, a medical breakthrough at the heart of a new life science industry sector could be lost to the Western world.

Takeda Pharmaceutical has called a halt on big deals following its recent $13.7 billion buyout of Nycomed.

Takeda’s President, Yasuchika Hasegawa, has said that the company will hold back on big mergers and acquisitions to “focus on integration for the next year or two”, adding that Japanese companies have been typically poor at integrating foreign acquisitions in the past.

Hasegawa said that domestic deals are even harder to get right, and told the Wall Street Journal that “it’s not worth it”.

He commented that acquisitions outside Japan tend to work better when companies are looking to fill in gaps, such as Takeda’s plans to develop products and pipeline projects to make up for loss of patent protection on its leading drug, Actos.

The medtech industry must focus on meeting the cost-efficiency and health outcome needs of health systems through a value-based innovation strategy, according to a new report from industry association Eucomed.

The European medical technology industry association launched its five-year industry strategy report ‘Contract for a Healthy Future’ at the MedTech Forum in Brussels, outlining the industry’s role in guiding healthcare systems towards a sustainable future.

Eucomed called on the medtech industry to change its business model and mindset, but also called on healthcare payers and policy-makers to embrace the concept of value-based innovation.

A report from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), sponsored by Eucomed, opened the MedTech Forum. ‘Future-proofing Western Europe’s healthcare’ examined how healthcare systems need to change in order to square the circle of growing demand and tighter budgets.

The EIU report argued that Europe’s healthcare systems need to become more efficient, effective, integrated and informed. The medtech industry can support these developments with evidence-based technologies – providing not just the technologies but the evidence base to support their implementation.

The Eucomed report emphasised that the medtech industry needs to change and will deliver and demonstrate solutions to meet the cost-efficiency and health outcome needs of payers and policymakers in order to ensure sustainable, accessible healthcare and healthy ageing for the population.

However, Eucomed emphasised, other healthcare stakeholders must also reconsider their role: for value-based innovation to have full impact, policy-makers must develop better cost models and abandon silo-based budgeting, while payers must prioritise value – in terms of productivity and efficiency – rather than price.

“We have to rethink our healthcare systems in Europe and steer them back onto a sustainable path,” said Eucomed Chairman Guy Lebeau (pictured below). “As an industry, innovation has always been at the heart of what we do. But the future will demand a different kind of innovative thinking from all stakeholders in our economies. We will take the first step and deliver value-based innovations that deliver a demonstrable positive return on investment in healthy life years for citizens.”

John Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Eucomed, added: “It is short-sighted to cut back on medical technologies when health budgets are squeezed, especially when you consider that 70% of health spending is consumed by personnel and hospital organisation. Compare that with medical technology which accounts for less than 5%.

“If the industry delivers its promise and enables healthcare systems to become more productive and efficient, governments should reward us and invest in the right technologies.”

More information on these ideas can be found on a dedicated website, Reforming Healthcare in Europe, launched by Eucomed.

Eucomed represents 22,500 designers, manufacturers and suppliers of medical technologies. SMEs make up more than 80% of this sector.

Guy Lebeau

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has licensed a new rapid meningitis diagnostic test for worldwide exclusive marketing rights.

The new test, developed by scientists at the Royal Victoria Hospital and commercialised by Irish start-up company HiberGene Diagnostics, uses an emerging molecular method known as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), that can to provide reliable diagnosis within an hour.

Meningitis is a difficult disease to diagnose as symptoms are typically flu-like. Standard laboratory tests take at least 24 hours to process, and there is a need for rapid and accurate results to allow earlier confirmation to enable earlier treatment.

Brendan Farrell, CEO of HiberGene Diagnostics said: “We are particularly pleased to have secured exclusive rights to the meningitis test from the Belfast Trust. Clinical validation of the test has shown a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99.7% which is excellent.”

Consultant Paediatrician Professor Mike Shields, who led the research, said: “Meningitis presents a clinical challenge for the emergency department doctor because the patient's symptoms can be non-specific.

“No doctor wants to send a seriously sick child home, which is why this new diagnostic test holds such promise. When this test is available it will have the potential to save many lives.”

HiberGene Diagnostics Ltd is a start-up client company of NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre at the University College Dublin.

The company plans to market the test in the first half of 2012 and is in discussions with potential distribution partners in the US and Europe.

US rehabilitation therapy company Bioness has received CE Mark Approval and FDA clearance for its Ness H200 Wireless system for hand paralysis patients.

The advanced wireless hand rehabilitation device uses mild Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to help patients to grasp and release objects while performing daily life activities.

The Ness H200 Wireless system aims to improve hand function, increase therapy time and encourage motor recovery in those suffering from hand paralysis resulting from stroke or other central nervous system disorders.

Todd Cushman, Senior Vice President of Global Business Development and Marketing for Bioness, said: “It is well known in rehabilitation that frequency of therapy and training has a direct impact on outcomes. Simply put, the more patients are able to be active and integrate therapy into their day to day lives, the better their outcomes.”

The device consists of three components: a wireless, lightweight stimulation support (orthosis); a small handheld remote that communicates wirelessly with the system; and a clinician’s programmer that allows patient activity tracking.

The company expects the equipment will become commercially available to neurorehabilitation hospitals and centres in the US and Europe, as well as to consumers for home use, later this year.

Based in California, Bioness specialises in neurostimulation devices to restore mobility and independence to people suffering from nerve damage.

Global pharmaceutical contract sales revenues will reach $5.24bn in 2015, a new report predicts.

The World Pharma Contract Sales Organisation (CSO) Market 2011-2021 found that revenues will continue to grow over the next decade as pharma companies look to cut costs.

Richard Lang, pharmaceutical industry analyst, says pharmaceutical companies are turning to CSOs for “new approaches to sales, targeting doctors and healthcare payers”.

The report by Visiongain found that supplying sales teams was currently the largest source of revenue for outsourcing companies in 2010, accounting for 80% of the market.

Pharma companies based in the US, UK and Japan will continue reduce sales forces, the report predicts, in coming years, providing an opportunity for contract sales companies and sales teams.

An increased emphasis on speciality drugs will also require new procedures and expertise for CSO sales teams, the report says, with e-detailing, tele-detailing and medical science liaison having a greater prominence over the next ten years.

“Face-to-face detailing of healthcare professionals is still the most common pharmaceutical sales technique in many markets,” said Mr Lang. “However, with increasingly busy schedules, more and more doctors are implementing 'no-see' policies for sales reps.

“The drive to cut rising healthcare costs will increase the influence of payers in future prescribing decisions.”

The demand for contract sales services is also expected to continue to grow in emerging markets such as China and India, according to the report’s predictions, with companies seeking to enter or expand their sales field-force presence in these regions and rely increasingly on the local knowledge and expertise CSOs offer.

Andrew Witty, GSK Chief Executive, has said the company is eyeing up new investments in the Indian pharmaceutical market.

In an interview with The Times, Mr Witty outlined plans to purchase assets of up to £2bn as it looks to increase its presence in one of the world’s largest emerging markets.

But Mr Witty ruled out any large-scale takeovers was as the company already has an “enviable” brand in the country.

Glaxo currently employs 5,000 people in India with a turnover in the country of more than £1bn.

The Indian pharmaceutical market in the country was recently reported to reach $55bn a year by 2020. In 2009, the market was worth around $12.9bn.

GSK is not the first company to invest in the Indian market. Sanofi recently announced a deal to acquire Universal Medicare’s over-the-counter unit in the country. India’s The Economic Times also reported that Takeda is in takeover talks with the generic drug manufacturers Cipla and Lupin which are based in the country.