Healthcare firm BTG (BTG) reveals chronic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) patients with post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) can be treated effectively with its EkoSonic system.
Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that usually develops in the leg and affects approximately one in 1,000 people every year in the UK, according to the NHS.
WE WERE AHEAD OF THE GAME
Shares readers would have expected the news as we flagged BTG in May. The news might already be priced into the share price, which is up 1% this morning to 679p.
EkoSonic, also known as EKOS, uses ultrasonic waves with clot-dissolving drugs to dissolve clots to restore healthy blood flow.
The system was acquired from EKOS in 2013 and BTG is expected to have trebled sales by the end of its full year 2018 says stockbroker Numis analyst Paul Cuddon.
EKOS is the only treatment regimen proven to significantly reduce signs and symptoms of PTS and improve quality of life, according to the latest results of its ACCESS PTS trial.
This was presented at the Society for Vascular Medicine 28th Annual Scientific Sessions in New Orleans earlier this week.
Cuddon says EKOS improved symptoms by 34% and had a positive effect in the quality of life, providing an advantage over Boston Scientific’s Angiojet and Penumbra’s Indigo systems. The latter failed in this indication.
VALUATION CALL
‘It is becoming increasingly difficult to justify why BTG’s Interventional Medicine business should trade on a lower EV/sales multiple than its US peers, against whom its EKOS device has been shown to be more effective in treating chronic DVTs’ comments Cuddon.
