New Swansea spin-off for ambitious Welsh firm 

British Biocell International, the AIM-listed manufacturer and developer of point of care diagnostic tests, has launched a new healthcare division in Gorseinon, Swansea.

BBI Healthcare will market the company’s flagship GlucoGel diabetes product for people with hypoglycaemia, along with a portfolio of novel diabetes and health care products under acquisition.

And Managing Director Lyn Rees, who was part of British Biocell International’s original management buyout team in 2000, plans to inject the same ambitious company growth into BBI Healthcare.

“Since our IPO in 2004, BBI Holdings’ market cap has grown from £10m to £24m in April 2006, with a staff increase of 58%”, said Mr Rees. “By setting up BBI Healthcare we have created further roles, and hope to increase this as our ambitious growth plans gather momentum.” 

Mr Rees, who hails from Swansea, was formerly Director of Sales and Marketing at British Biocell International, and was heavily involved in the acquisition of GlucoGel in 2004. The product, a dextrose gel which is used for people with hypoglycaemia, is listed on the British National Formulary and has achieved a strong reputation amongst healthcare professionals and health trusts during its 22 years in production. During this time, sales of the product were remarkably achieved by word of mouth recommendations, with no dedicated sales and marketing support. 

“Despite being a step away from our core business of gold reagents for rapid diagnostics, we brought GlucoGel into the BBI portfolio to bring us closer to the consumer, and in a strategic move up the value chain” continued Mr Rees. 

“We have put in place a strong brand awareness and educational campaign aimed at healthcare professionals and people with diabetes, and as the campaign gathers pace, it has impacted strongly on the market performance of the product. With this in mind, we’ve put in place a dedicated team to build the brand and product awareness. Furthermore, as diabetes grows in prevalence in the United Kingdom, the demand for such products will continue to grow. BBI Healthcare is now perfectly placed to identify and market such products to a global customer base.” 

BBI Healthcare is the third subsidiary to fall under the BBI Holdings portfolio, and this latest launch comes just a week after BBI Holdings announced a conditional agreement to acquire its largest UK competitor, Alchemy Laboratories based in Dundee. The BBI Holdings Group is one of south Wales’ success stories, partnering a global blue chip customer base which includes Bayer, Roche, and Pharmacia Diagnostics. 

“BBI Healthcare is backed by a highly successful group, with first hand experience of growing a highly profitable and ambitious global business. We’re delighted to be launching BBI Healthcare in Swansea, and look forward to another Welsh success story” said Mr. Rees.

26th April 2006

For further information, contact BBI Healthcare on 01792 229 333 or email info@bbihealthcare.com