De Mello Holding http://www.demelloholding.com/ 2012-02-22T18:49:54+01:00 Webzine Maker China may prove a hard pill for India to swallow - FT 31-08-07 2007-09-03T19:19:00+02:00 http://www.demelloholding.com/China-may-prove-a-hard-pill-for-India-to-swallow-FT-31-08-07_a27.html http://www.demelloholding.com/photo/art/imagette/3117338-4453651.jpg 2007-09-03T19:13:00+02:00 Holding De Mello China may prove a hard pill for India to swallow - FT 31-08-07
Dear shareholder,

Enclosed an article about the increasing importance of China within the pharmaceutical and biotechnologie industrie.
You can also find the article in the private part of De Mello website 'press'.

Nathalie Bries
De Mello Holding

]]> Pantarhei Devices - Shareholders Management Letter Q3 2007 2007-09-03T14:04:00+02:00 http://www.demelloholding.com/Pantarhei-Devices-Shareholders-Management-Letter-Q3-2007_a26.html 2007-09-03T13:41:00+02:00 Holding De Mello Confidential
Content exclusively for internal section
Website De Mello Group


Shareholders Management Letter Q3 2007
Pantarhei Devices BV

By:
Rene Hol (CEO)

Date: 13 August 2007

Strategy
Pantarhei Devices’ market strategy is based on the unique patented medical device Pantarhei Sampler. The Sampler gives women (self-sampling) and professionals the opportunity to obtain a high quality vaginal specimen in a woman friendly way. The market strategy of Pantarhei is to gain a market leader position with profitable solutions in screening for cervical cancer and Sexually Transmitted Infections. The point of departure of such a leading role is the dominance in the value chain; Pantarhei aims at leading the chain of
-> approaching targeted women
–> sampling
–> testing
–> medical advice
–> follow guidance

Implementing this value chain player strategy means that a couple of crucial interventions are needed. First of all we need solid data to convince stakeholders in the field (see paragraph Clinical Trials below). Also we need to get the buy in of leading scientists around the globe, but especially in the countries we want to sell. Selling solutions means also building solutions. This implies that we have to cooperate with other leading players in the chain. All technologies must be tuned 100%. Last but not least we need business partners in the local markets. They should know how to sell. It gives us access to sales channels.

Business Development
In March 2007 the PTC patent submission for the Pantarhei Sampler has been converted into a registration in 61 countries. A list of countries is available at request.

Cervical cancer screening is the first business development application. The reason for this priority is the available data. Our device is almost validated for two generic high risk Human Papilloma Virus tests (Digene’s Hybrid Capture 2 and the Vrije Universiteit GP5+/6). Creating demand for our sampling method means directly creating demand for such tests.

In our vision the end game will be that we offer a complete test pallet for one sample to obtain a full risk assessment regarding developing cervical cancer. Such an assessment gives the opportunity to provide women with a customized advice on next steps in diagnostics or treatment, or even better to tell them that they can wait many years until the next screening.

The distribution model we work on is more or less similar for the countries. We start with establishing a local subsidiary: a joint-venture between Pantarhei Devices and a local business partner. This partner secures the knowledge of and the entrance in the local market. The Pantarhei Devices Country X company is responsible for the marketing, local trials and training of the sales channels. They sell to several potential customers, like wholesalers, retailers and hospitals.

The second application domain are the traditional STI’s (Sexually Transmitted Infections). Here we have a longer way to go to enter the market. The offering will not be a single test, like Chlamydia. We will focus on the development and positioning of a multiplex technology, like combining Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomonas.

Clinical Trials
Our clinical director Marloes Voll is developing in close cooperation with Herjan a solid Clinical Development Plan, which shows the studies needed to generate the data for our commercial propositions.

We have identified four areas of Research & Development:
- HPV, cervical cancer
- STI’s
- Test development
(see what is written under Business Development)
- Acceptability, new generations of the Pantarhei Sampler.

Recently we have finished a small study with the STI clinic in Amsterdam regarding Chlamydia. This study had a positive result. We were successful in showing the feasibility to detect Chlamydia with our device. This result is a basis for succeeding studies.

The main clinical trial is the large non-responders study of the Vrije Universiteit medical center (VUmc) in Amsterdam. Pantarhei Devices fulfilled the complete logistics of this study. Between January and March 2007 we shipped more than 30.000 packages with our Sampler to women’s private addresses. The operation was very successful, which gives us a lot of credits in the field of business fulfillment.

Women who received the kit, were generated from a database earmarked that they didn’t make use of the invitation for a pap smear twice. When they sent in (simply by regular mail) their sample taken with our device, the VUmc tested the sample for HPV. If positive, the women were referred to the general practitioner for a pap smear. If the pap smear was also positive they were referred to the gynaecologist for next steps.

Some interesting quotes we received:
- from a gynaecologist in a regional hospital: “it is impressive how busy our office hours suddenly are with women with high grade abnormalities”
- from the study leader: “we found already one real cancer”
- from a woman who received the kit: “I did something wrong and asked for a new kit. The next day I had already a new kit from the VUmc. Great service!”
- from a woman of a capital venture company: “I received the kit as a non-responder. I liked it very much, easy to handle. I prefer this instead of the doctor. Are there still investment opportunities in Pantarhei?”
- from the help desk (HPV telephone service) employee: “I was called by many Turkish families who asked for some explanation in their language. Luckily I am Turkish so I could help them. It shows the importance for special ethnic groups”
- from the internal VUmc post room: “we died from how many carton boxes with samples we received”

In many places in the world small studies are conducted (or planned to be launched soon) with our device to show the acceptance in their setting. Examples are Italy Malta, Malaysia and Singapore.

In close cooperation with our partner Columbia University in NYC we are preparing a study plan and protocols in the field of STI to gain the FDA approval for our device.

In case of any questions don’t hesitate to contact Rene by e-mail or telephone.
Telephone: +31 6 4145 3230
E-mail: rh@pantarhei-devices.com

]]> Report H1 2007 2007-07-10T16:55:00+02:00 http://www.demelloholding.com/Report-H1-2007_a22.html http://www.demelloholding.com/photo/art/imagette/3117339-4453653.jpg 2007-07-09T11:29:00+02:00 Holding De Mello Promising Biotech outlook for H2 2007
Fundamentals are more then ever in place to give the biotech sector a leg up. The juggernaut of M&A and rich partnering deals are giving the sector enhanced visibility. It is only lately that investors started to perceive M&A and partnering as long-term trend that shapes investment strategies beyond superficial attempts to pick acquisition targets. Pharma and big biotech seem to be sending a message that innovation happens in some of the smaller biotechs, which is leading to a renewed look at them. M&A and favorable partnering deals are shifting the historically focus from large cap names to mid – and small cap biotechs. More value is seen by the investor in M&A and partnering deals through venture investments and follow-on’s then in IPO’s. Hereunder the statistics about investments in biotech for the H1 2007:

Report H1 2007

DeMello Portfolio Companies: an update
Pantarhei Bioscience: The Company has arranged a financing this year of €10mln which gives it enough resources to develop its programs further and into the next level. We suggest you to have a look at their recently updated website as well as a recent interview with their CEO, Prof. Herjan Coelingh Bennink, in the Dutch newspaper Het Financieel Dagblad

Pantarhei Devices: The Pantarhei Sampler has obtained its CE-marking. The product may now be sold through the European zone and many areas outside like Asia. The first order was booked with a leading cancer institute in Italy: IEO. The device patent is registered in 61 countries.

GeneMoRe Holding: Since the begin of 2007 the company started to receive the first orders for their mitochondrial DNA detection kit. Eurogentec finalized a profound due diligence on the company, products and development programs. The CEO of Eurogentec, Jean-Pierre Delwart, is making a proposal to his board about a collaboration/partnership with GeneMore.

ProteoNic: After a small private placement to secure the necessary financing, the Company moved into new premises at the Leiden bioscience park. It is currently negotiating business-deals with several large European companies.

Embryonics: after all the legal paperwork has been cleared, the company is now ready to start building their business of managing and creating early stage biotech companies

Administrative issues
A completely new and updated website is being launched: www.demelloholding.com

]]> Pantarhei Bioscience Financieel Dagblad 21 juni 2007 2007-07-10T17:06:00+02:00 http://www.demelloholding.com/Pantarhei-Bioscience-Financieel-Dagblad-21-juni-2007_a21.html 2007-06-26T15:17:00+02:00 Holding De Mello Beste aandeelhouder,

In bijlage het artikel dat op voorpagina van het Financieel Dagblad verscheen op 21 juni over Pantarhei Bioscience BV.
Dit artikel kan u tevens terugvinden onder 'press' op onze website. Voor dit gedeelte heeft u allen een persoonlijk paswoord en login gekregen. Indien u dit niet meer heeft kan u mij steeds contacteren.

met vriendelijke groet,

Nathalie Bries
nathaliebries@libello.com


]]> Embryonics 2007-03-31T18:43:00+02:00 http://www.demelloholding.com/Embryonics_a16.html 2007-03-22T13:32:00+01:00 Holding De Mello Embryonics is a company dedicated to participate in privately owned, early-stage biotechnology companies that invent and develop therapies and (companion-) diagnostics in the areas of oncology, neuro-degenerative diseases and virology.
Big pharmaceutical companies are in high need to fill their pipelines in these areas with true innovative approaches they themselves usually do not develop and hence, have to bring in through licenses or acquisitions. These innovative approaches come from research-based, technology oriented small biotech companies. When investing in such companies the highest financial upside, but also most riskfull, is in early stage companies. Therefore a broad diversification among companies and therapeutic fields is needed to spread the risk. The investments should represent the top tiers of biotech universe: oncology, neurogenerative diseases and viral diseases. Embryonics builds a portfolio of 5 to 7 companies in each of the mentioned areas.
Embryonics only participates in companies with true innovative, patent protected approaches, invented by driven, best in-class researchers.
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