Ultrasis Plc Regulatory News (ULT)

23 Jun 2008 07:00

Ultrasis plc

"Beating the Blues" is to be translated for use in Dutch and Belgian healthcare markets, demonstrating the therapy's cross-border potential

Ultrasis plc, the provider of interactive healthcare and associated services, is pleased to announce that it has agreed a contract with Innohealth BV for its flagship product, Beating the Blues, for the treatment of anxiety and depression, to be translated into Dutch. Under the contract Innohealth BV has exclusive rights to market Beating the Blues in the Dutch language in Holland and Belgium.. Innohealth will be responsible for providing a complete re-filming of the video components as well as a translation of the text and voice into Dutch. Innohealth will pay Ultrasis exclusivity and royalty fees. 

Nigel Brabbins, Ultrasis' Chief Executive, said: "This is a significant breakthrough for Ultrasis as it signals a wider acceptance of the economic and clinical value of Beating the Blues in non-English speaking markets. It is especially important given that the Dutch healthcare system has recently moved from a public funding model to a health insurance model, paid for by the individual, where patient choice and value for money will be key. The contract we have agreed with Innohealth BV secures both a proven route to market once the Dutch conversion is complete and guarantees income flow from exclusivity payments and royalty fees. 

 "The value of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the treatment of depression and anxiety is widely recognised. Translation of the existing Beating the Blues programme into other languages should now lead to opportunities for Ultrasis across Europe and beyond, providing other countries with a ready-made solution to their mental health needs."

Arjan van der Weijde, Innohealth Chief Executive said: "Innohealth.BV has been established to meet the growing need for cost effective and evidence based solutions in the Dutch healthcare market. The availability of Beating the Blues as a treatment option for depression and anxiety will provide additional choice and value for the patient and support practitioners to provide increased value for money services. We fully expect Beating the Blues to deliver the same excellent clinical outcomes in Holland and Belgium as those achieved in the UK and are delighted to have agreed a contract with Ultrasis for exclusivity in the Dutch language in both these Countries."

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Editors Notes

Innohealth.BV is a new company created by the owners of Mentaal Beter (www.mentaalbeter.nl) who are underwriting the development and launch of the translated version. Mentaal Beter, who provide services and support to networks of therapists across the Netherlands are well placed to maximise this opportunity having launched their own psychological health care business in 2004 and now achieving a turnover  in excess of €16 million utilising a franchisee network of 330 therapists. 

Dutch National Healthcare has recently moved to an 'insurance model' where every individual is required to purchase their own insurance from Health Insurers and the 'state' subsidises the insurers directly for specific chronic health care conditions. In effect, people who are most unwell receive a larger state subsidy than those who are well. This model is being looked at by many countries to determine whether it offers a better way of managing both demands and costs. 

Mentaal Beter works closely with the major insurers and already provides services on their behalf which are then 'franchised out' to its network of 330 therapists. 

Ultrasis plc is a healthcare company with core expertise in health, psychology, software development and programme management. The Company delivers computerised healthcare products to the NHS, the corporate sector and other healthcare providers in the UK and US. 

Ultrasis was the first company to offer computerised products based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and interactive multimedia, and is the world leader in this field. The products help people tackle stress, anxiety and depression, and a full spectrum of related chronic conditions. 

Beating the Blues is an eight-week, web-based treatment programme for depression based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Following a rigorous examination by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), "Beating the Blues" was approved by NICE in February 2006 for use in the National Health Service. 

On 28 March 2007 the Secretary of State for Health announced a framework agreement for the use of cCBT in the NHS and approved "Beating the Blues", saying: "Computer-based therapy for milder, but more common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety should be made available to any patients in England who could benefit from it from April 2007."

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