Medi-Flex, Inc., Maker of ChloraPrep®, Changes Name to Enturia, Inc. as International Expansion and Rapid Growth Fuel New Opportunities
Share:
LEAWOOD, Kan., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Medi-Flex, Inc., maker of the patient preoperative skin prep, ChloraPrep®, today announced it is changing its company name to Enturia, Inc. to help facilitate its expansion into international markets and its strategic plans to extend and develop its product line. The change in name builds on the momentum that began last year with the launch of ChloraPrep into the U.S. surgical market and capitalizes on a growth rate that has seen revenue soar by 500 percent in the last five years. The company will begin operating under the new name in January 2007.
In conjunction with the re-naming, the company announced the establishment of Enturia Ltd. (United Kingdom) and the beginning of operations in the European Union. This international expansion represents a new opportunity for privately held Medi-Flex(TM), which in the past year has added several executives with global business experience to help formulate its overseas expansion plans. Medi-Flex also is expanding its activities in Canada and plans to launch ChloraPrep in Latin America in the near future.
"Last year we celebrated our 20th anniversary and, as we turn 21, we are truly coming of age, with record sales, international expansion, development of new product lines, and a vision for the future that is about growth, innovation, and improvements in healthcare," said company founder and Chief Executive Officer Joe Brandmeyer. "Medi-Flex came to mean many things to the associates who built this company. We believe that Enturia(TM) will come to mean even more to our associates, partners, and customers -- for the next 20 years and beyond."
The name change will enable Enturia to expand internationally by providing a company name and brand that is unique. The name Medi-Flex already exists in certain overseas markets and has several variations existing in the United States, and the company says its goal is to own a unique "space" that is readily and clearly identifiable in the United States and abroad. The new company name establishes an entity through which the company can develop additional product lines and expand its overall market presence.
The international expansion will help drive the company's aggressive growth strategy, and additional markets are currently being explored. "The U.K. represents a significant new market for us -- and a great first step into Europe -- because we have known for some time that there is pent-up demand for our unique system of skin antiseptics, ChloraPrep, in the National Health Service," said Jim Mitchum, Chief Operating Officer at Medi-Flex and former head of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis in Japan. "The U.K. is battling the same challenges with healthcare associated infection (HAI) that we are seeing here. It is truly a global problem that is not only financially expensive, but is costing many thousands of lives each year. We are thrilled to be part of changing the HAI equation by proactively helping to reduce the risk of infections and the associated high cost of treatment."
In the United States the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate 2 million patients suffer from healthcare associated infections each year, resulting in at least 90,000 deaths -- as many deaths as AIDS, breast cancer, and auto accidents combined. Further, a recent study in Pennsylvania found in that state alone, 11,668 healthcare associated infections were associated with an additional 1,510 deaths, 205,000 extra hospital days, and $2 billion in hospital charges last year.
About Medi-Flex
Medi-Flex is the leader in providing innovative products and clinical education that improve the quality of healthcare. From peripheral IV insertion to major surgery, Medi-Flex is the only company that provides a full line of chlorhexidine gluconate patient preoperative skin preps that meet the unique needs of most hospital departments. Founded by Chief Executive Officer Joe Brandmeyer in 1985, Medi-Flex has a 20-year history of leading innovative clinical formulation and development of antiseptic skin products. In addition to producing millions of ampoules and unit-dose antiseptics, Medi-Flex also provides private label manufacturing services for a number of nationally recognized first-aid and industrial products and companies. Medi-Flex is based in Leawood, Kan., with manufacturing and distribution facilities in El Paso, Texas, and sales associates located throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.
About ChloraPrep
ChloraPrep, a full line of patient preoperative skin preparations used to help reduce bacteria that can cause bloodstream and surgical site infections, is the rapid acting, persistent, superior preoperative skin preparation. Available in applicators ranging in size from .67 mL to 26 mL, ChloraPrep can be used in a wide range of medical procedures, including major surgery. According to the CDC, 2 million patients suffer healthcare associated infections (HAIs) each year, resulting in at least 90,000 deaths. Infections contracted in hospitals are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, causing more deaths than homicides and auto accidents combined.
Source: Medi-Flex, Inc.
CONTACT: Sonya Butler of Medi-Flex, Inc., +1-913-451-0880, x3515, sbutler@medi-flex.com , or Jeff Shafer for Medi-Flex, Inc., +1-816-512-2244, jeff.shafer@fleishman.com
