Aegate News

Aegate Stamps its Mark on Belgian Market

Belgium, 18 December, 2007 - Aegate, the pharmaceutical authentication company, has made significant strides in the Belgian market this year with the announcement today that it has now commenced roll out with Corilus, the largest pharmacy software provider and has appointed a new General Manager to drive its senior management team.

Jean-Marie de Maeseneer has been appointed as General Manager and will be responsible for Aegate's operations and growth strategy across the region.

He brings with him a wealth of relevant experience having previously worked at Deloitte, where he held the post of International Senior Manager for medical CRM solutions. Prior to Deloitte, Jean-Marie founded Pharma Vision Benelux, a company specializing in providing strategic business intelligence for the industry. In 1996 he left the VUB as a researcher in oncology and became General Manager at PMSI Pharmaceutical Marketing Services Inc'.

"I am looking forward to being part of this dynamic team driving awareness of Aegate's service to the pharmaceutical market as well as working alongside Belgian pharmacists to help meet patient safety goals", comments Jean-Marie.

In a move which further strengthens its position in the Belgium market, Aegate also announces today that Corilus has started the roll-out of the Aegate patient safety service across pharmacies in Belgium. Corilus is the second pharmacy software provider to collaborate with Aegate in implementing its patient safety service. Earlier this year, the company also commenced rollout with Farm@d. This announcement with Corilus follows impressive growth in the Belgium market, where Aegate has doubled the number of pharmaceutical companies signed up to the unique service over the last year and in less than a year has achieved an impressive 56% uptake by those pharmacies with access to Aegate so far.

Aegate's service creates a communication channel between pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists at the point of dispensing. The unique barcode on the pack of medicine is scanned by the pharmacist and electronically authenticated against the information in Aegate's secure database. Recalled, stolen, out of date or illegal products are identified and the appropriate patient safety message is returned directly to the pharmacist in less than a second. This channel provides an additional layer of protection for the patient, the pharmacist and the manufacturer against sub-standard medicines.

The collaborations with software companies ensure the service is fully integrated into the pharmacy software, meaning there is a positive enhancement of the dispensing process with no loss of speed.

Ronny Robbrecht, Managing Director of Corilus, said: "Partnering with Aegate was an easy decision for Corilus to make as we continue to deliver best of class services to our pharmacy network. We are delighted to be partnering with Aegate and look forward to our customers experiencing the benefits of this unique patient safety service."

This latest announcement is further testimony to Aegate's continued successful work across Europe. Since its launch in Belgium in 2006, Aegate now works alongside ten pharmaceutical companies including Merck Sharpe and Dome, Lilly, ratiopharm, Solvay, Merck Generics and Boehringher Ingleheim (OTC). Following its recent launch in Greece in October 2007, Aegate is seeing a huge response from pharmacies wishing to have greater information regarding patient safety at the point of dispensing. In Greece, Aegate, has just concluded its agreement with a fifth pharmacy software company, and 2008 will also see the service being made available in Italy.

Gary Noon, CEO of Aegate, said: "Belgium was the first country in the world to pioneer our innovative patient safety system, and since our launch in 2006 we've seen impressive take-up and success. We're delighted to be announcing these two significant developments and are also excited at our increasing expansion across Europe."