Ultrasis Plc Regulatory News (ULT)

31 May 2005 10:40

Ultrasis PLC31 May 2005 Ultrasis PLC NICE PRESCRIBES BEATING THE BLUES TO THE NHS Beating the Blues, the flagship product of interactive healthcare specialistsUltrasis, has been singled out in an authoritative Appraisal ConsultationDocument, published today on the web site of the National Institute for ClinicalExcellence (NICE), as the only evidence-based Computerised Cognitive BehaviourTherapy (CCBT) option for the treatment of mild and moderate depression. Thedocument strongly recommends that all patients with mild and moderate depressionare offered Beating the Blues. With mental health issues such as anxiety and depression on the increase inrecent years, NICE was tasked by the Department of Health and the NationalAssembly for Wales to conduct an appraisal of computerised cognitive behaviourtherapy for depression and anxiety, in order to provide guidance on its use tothe NHS in England and Wales. In its latest Appraisal prepared for further consultation, the committee statesthat of the three packages considered, only Beating the Blues would berecommended for use in the stepped care management of depression in primary andsecondary care, offered to all patients who present with mild to moderatedepression. Ultrasis' healthcare and biotechnology expert, Dr Charlie Martin, said; "Beatingthe Blues has already been clinically proven in Randomised Controlled Trialsconducted by Dr Judy Proudfoot and her colleagues at The Institute ofPsychiatry, King's College, London. All existing evidence, along with additionalfindings from more recent clinical use, was made available to the committee toassist with their appraisal. Needless to say, we are delighted that thesepreliminary findings support our own views on the effectiveness of Beating theBlues." Welcoming the news Ultrasis' CEO, Graham Lewis, said; "The previous ConsultationDocument was very favourable, but this recommendation, albeit a preliminary one,further strengthens the case for Beating the Blues as the clear CCBT option ofchoice for treatment of people with mild or moderate depression within the NHS." He added; "This is as a very significant staging post for Ultrasis. A potentialnationwide roll out of Beating the Blues would, in addition to its financialscope, constitute a vital step forward in our ambition to make our products anintegral part of mainstream NHS provision." Comments on the Appraisal Document are invited over the next few weeks and NICEis expected to make its formal recommendation to the Department of Health inSeptember this year. ENDS Enquiries Ultrasis PlcCharlie Martin, Executive Director0207 566 3900 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange