Altacor expands as Clinitas gains greater formulary acceptance
December 2011
Altacor, the specialist ophthalmology company, is expanding. It has appointed two experienced product specialists, Alison Jones for the East of England and Ceri Myles for the South East, to help drive awareness of its Clinitas dry-eye treatment products with Hospital Consultants and Primary Care Trusts.
The Cambridge-based company closed a £3.4m round of funding earlier this year and is building a portfolio of differentiated ophthalmic products for the European market. It has a number of proprietary development projects in the pipeline, principally in the fields of glaucoma and ocular infection.
Its Clinitas range of products for dry eye is available from the major dispensing opticians and pharmacies, and its prescription products are proving beneficial for patients with dry eye in the hospital and primary care setting.
Clinitas is now being included within both Hospital Ophthalmology Formularies and Joint Hospital/Primary Care Formularies which is increasing its availability to patients.
Altacor Head of Sales and Marketing, Gareth Thomas, said:
"Clinitas is now being included on the formulary of Hospitals and PCTs across the country as it becoming recognised as a very good option for patients with dry-eye and is very cost-effective.
"Although knowledge of Clinitas is high among some ophthalmology specialists, by expanding our team we aim to increase our coverage of Ophthalmology Units across the country and up-weight our commitment to educational development and training."
Both the new product specialists have significant experience in the hospital environment.
Alison Jones started her career as a nurse, gaining promotion to the hospital management team. She then left to join Astra Zeneca to broaden her experiences and was there for over 8 years. Alison says she has had a positive reception from the medical profession.
"I was attracted to Altacor because it is a small, successful and innovative company and I think there is enormous market potential for the Clinitas product. Many of the doctors and nurses I have been talking to are aware of its benefits so the challenge is to widen knowledge among the non-ophthalmic specialists."
Ceri Myles joins from Wyeth where she was a Clinical Meetings Manager in Transplantation, Haemophilia and Anti Infectives. She says Altacor has great ambitions and it is an exciting company to work for.
"Clinicians are keen to use the product and I am working to gain formulary inclusion within the hospitals. Altacor has exciting products in the pipeline and I am looking forward to being part of its success."
Clinitas contains 0.4% sodium hyaluronate presented in preservative-free individual units with 30 units per pack. It is Drug Tariff Listed in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Clinitas can therefore be prescribed by both hospital doctors and GPs.
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