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@BBN - Cytiva probably already have agreements / partnerships with US HMOs that can be used.
Ophidian
Continuing the distributors themed thread for those that find it useful.
Here is what the June presentation said ;
"Avacta has put in place a distribution partner for the direct-to-consumer market (Medusa19) and will put in place additional distribution partners for the healthcare professional/work-force testing markets, as well as OEM partnerships in order to maximise the commercial opportunity."
So as well as OEM partnerships, which itself could be dissected considerably, we can expect further distribution partners who won't be able to sell direct to consumers.
Intriguing beyond belief because it is clear that AVCT knew the wider strategy when they signed Medusa19 up. Hence why Medusa19 only got "non-exclusive rights to supply the tests to businesses for workforce testing."
Who is on that list AVCT?
Note also that the 20th May RNS states a belief that ;
"There will also be an ongoing need for several years for this type of testing as the disease recurs."
@Milcait FRom the Medusa19 website ;
"Medusa19 has the exclusive distribution rights to directly deliver to consumers a saliva based rapid test, currently under development by Avacta Group Plc, for the COVID-19 antigen, subject to regulatory approval. As such, its immediate priority is to invest in the necessary functions that will enable Avacta’s test to be rapidly and globally deployed once it becomes available."
Right now, it is AVCT who are very close to announcing the manufacturers and not Medusa19. There has to date been no indication that Medusa19 would fulfill such a role. That's as much as we know right now.
"Longer-term, the Group’s objective is to entrench itself within the global medical supply chain, serving businesses and consumers worldwide with a range of tests and solutions that identify a variety of conditions, supporting health, well-being and business continuity throughout the globe."
Then we have the above longer term goal, which as I say, if it is indeed to fed at least in part, by AVCT "in-house" products, then those products shouldn't be too far away from being begun to be spoken about.
From the placement RNS dated 4th June ;
"Expansion of in-house diagnostics product development capabilities including facilities, capital equipment; scientific, commercial and senior leadership teams"
It doesn't say it is specifically for Covid.
Furthermore, the same update goes on to state ;
"This substantial fundraising allows us to. . . scale-up the diagnostics business to expand the Affimer® diagnostic products pipeline"
This can of course be referring to more diagnostic tests being developed for partner distribution deals, as has been carried out to date. However, as Dr Smith states in the 2019 Annual Report Q&A ;
"The principal reason for this is that the process of a partner committing their own resources to developing an Affimer-based product so that they can evaluate its performance before committing to a commercial licence is slow"
"It is the time taken by the partner to develop and evaluate the Affimers, when other business activities may well take priority, that is rate determining."
"This is why we have taken the step of developing Affimer diagnostic assays ourselves, because we can prioritise the resources to do this more quickly than a partner and reduce the time to get to a licensing deal."
The next natural step is to focus on DTC tests, such as the Covid test, which itself when successful will be a demonstration of the methodology because it is the pioneering product that allows manufacturing partnerships and distribution deals to be formed and put to the test. New products can therefore 'simply' follow the same trail.
Difficult to fully appreciate at the moment but potentially a really big opportunity for AVCT and their new partners.
@BBN - true that we need a company update to confirm, but I do find it odd that medusa might be getting involved in sourcing & manufacture, and not just sales & distribution.
One possible reason for this, is that Avacta are maybe concentrating on manufacture & supply for a different demand eg UK Gov. Just my thoughts here....all should become clear over time.
@Milcait A good point which can only truly be answered through company developments themselves.
Of additional interest to myself is the fact that these directors have joined a start up that to date only has 1 product, which is still in development. Medusa19 may have other partnership announcements pending but to date they are still quiet on this and their website is clear, their product base to date is the AVCT rapid antigen test only.
For me this is yet another example of the confidence that AVCT have in their ability to deliver a product that is suitable for DTC sales because whilst this deal was itself announced early (20th May), the MD is reported to have been in place since April.
In addition, we have highly successful and well publicized entrepreneurs from Boohoo (recent newspaper accusations noted) who have gone public very early on this deal. Again another sign of the confidence that AVCT have demonstrated to these investors.
There could/should of course be a lot of work in promoting and rolling out a product that they have "exclusive distribution agreement with Medusa19 for the supply of the COVID-19 rapid test direct to consumers globally." So lots to keep them busy and as a side note, plenty of reason to believe that they will be very active in country specific authorisations because it is in their interest. Add to this the fact that they must be putting a lot of effort into advanced sales and I am sure that through Boohoo, this net can be cast far wider than AVCT would currently be able to achieve.
However, there is only so long that such "significant investment that Medusa19" can be justified before new products are required to expand what is a attempt to corner/develop/expand the DTC market in diagnostics.
AVCT 20th May RNS ;
"We look forward to working with Alastair and his team and to distributing other Avacta products as they become available in due course.”
One does not say other products unless there is an agreement or basis for such a relationship and there are clearly signposted products in development. These processes after all are not normally so short.
I recognise the negative press of late over Boohoo but I remain open minded about the overall influence that this deal can deliver to AVCT because it looks to be clear that AVCT are expanding their diagnostic business not just to meet the Covid test demands but to expand upon the DTC market opportunity, an opportunity that Dr Smith is clear on, in that it delivers revenue from the moment the first test is sold.
All of which, much like the Pre-cision and TMAC platforms, will be further strengthened by every pound that the Covid tests generate for AVCT.
yeah, I suspect retail devices will look different. maybe supplied with different spit tubes / packaging etc
I got a feeling that medusa are supporting with the sourcing of suppliers and manufacturers. Hopefully it's because the demand is so big that Avacta can't do it all...
I don't know the answer but I imagine there will be different a appearance between wholesale and retail devices and packaging etc.
Just guessing
With medusa clearly building up the management team, and recruiting for other positions, it got me thinking.
How are Avacta going to satisfy the demand from public and private sector? Would they have different manufacturers for both? That makes sense to me that they separate out manufacture/supply to medusa, separate to any UK Gov supply.
Also, I thought one of the job titles at medusa seemed a bit odd "Manufacturing and Sourcing Consultant". Why would medusa be involved in the manufacture side? Unless, they are having to source their own manufacturers?
Thoughts anyone?