29 Jan 2009 07:00
Embargoed: 0700hrs, Thursday 29 January 2009
Imperial Innovations Group plc
("Imperial Innovations")
Imperial Innovations Forms New Portfolio Company MyAction Limited
Imperial Innovations (AIM:IVO), a leading technology commercialisation and investment company, has today announced the formation of MyAction Limited ("MyAction") - a joint venture between Imperial Innovations and Bromley MyTime, an innovative community based leisure centre. MyAction is the company behind England's biggest community-based cardiovascular disease prevention programme.
NHS Westminster, in partnership with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, is the UK's first primary care trust to incorporate MyAction in its heart disease prevention programme which was launched yesterday at an event attended by Health Minister Professor the Lord Darzi.
MyAction works by providing expert medical supervision to those at risk of developing cardiovascular disease and brings together GPs, cardiologists, nurses and physiotherapists to tackle a disease that has become one of the most common causes of premature death in the UK. It was created as a result of collaboration* between Imperial College London, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Brunel University and Bromley MyTime, which hosted the initial programme. Professor David Wood from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London was the lead academic involved in the underlying study.
MyAction transfers learning to primary care trusts and local authorities and uses novel techniques to move care closer to home for patients who already have or who are at risk of developing, cardiovascular disease. MyAction has developed sophisticated infrastructure and technology to support these programmes which can be used by participating organisations, and from which MyAction can capture valuable data. Although MyAction will run programmes initially in the UK there is considerable potential in overseas markets.
Pilot programmes have already provided compelling evidence that MyAction improves diet, increases physical activity, reduces obesity and belly fat, reduces blood pressure, reduces cholesterol and controls diabetes. Surveys revealed that 94 per cent of MyAction participants were "highly satisfied" with the programme.
Susan Searle, CEO of Imperial Innovations said,
"MyAction has already proven its efficacy in lifestyle management, as a key component of its Healthy Hearts and Minds Programme, amongst patients with cardiovascular disease. Following the first major launch by Lord Darzi at NHS Westminster it has the potential to be rolled out to multiple international markets, generating a long term recurring income stream to its shareholders, by addressing a growing health problem."
*The programme is based on the findings of the Euroaction cluster randomised controlled trial (published in The Lancet in June 2008).
-Ends-
For more information contact:
| Imperial Innovations | |
| Susan Searle, Chief Executive Officer | +44 (0)20 7594 6591 |
| Lucy Ahfong, Marketing Communications Executive | +44 (0)20 7594 6644 |
| M:Communications | |
| Ben Simons or Harriet Totty | +44 (0)20 7153 1530 |
| JPMorgan Cazenove (NOMAD to Imperial Innovations) | |
| Steve Baldwin | +44(0)20 7588 2828 |
About Imperial Innovations
Imperial Innovations is one of the UK's leading technology commercialisation and investment companies. Founded in 1986, its ordinary shares were admitted to trading on the AIM Market of London Stock Exchange plc in July 2006, raising £26 million. It raised a further £30 million in November 2007 by means of a placing of new ordinary shares with investors.
Imperial Innovations' integrated commercialisation approach encompasses the identification of ideas, the protection of intellectual property, the development and licensing of technology and the formation, incubation and funding through investment of technology businesses. Based at Imperial College London, Imperial Innovations commercialises a wide range of technologies primarily within the areas of healthcare, energy and the environment.
www.imperialinnovations.co.uk
MyAction
NHS Westminster has commissioned the largest MyAction vascular prevention programme in the country. The initiative will provide a comprehensive multi-disciplinary programme to around 1,500 families annually in 7 units located in a range of accessible venues across the Borough. The programme is based on the findings of the Euroaction cluster randomised controlled trial (published in The Lancet in June 2008) led by Professor Wood and the cardiovascular academic team at Imperial College London. This study provides a strong evidence base for how improvements in lifestyle can reduce risk factors for health. Building on this research, the MyAction programme will be provided by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in partnership with Central West London Community Services and Westminster City Council.