Aerocrine AB (LTS:0O35) Policy Acquisition Expense

Aerocrine AB is a medical technology company focused on improving the treatment of patients with inflamed airways. The company offers exhaled nitric oxide (NO) monitoring devices for research and clinical applications. Aerocrine's devices utilize methods for measuring minute concentrations of NO, and incorporate NO scrubbers to eliminate atmospheric NO from the patient's breath. Measuring NO values helps doctors differentiate asthma from similar conditions, and differentiate various forms of asthma from other airway diseases. The company markets two products globally namely NIOX Flex and NIOX MINO. These products are widely used by primary care asthma specialists in Europe, and have recently gained US regulatory approval. Distribution agreements have also been signed in Japan, and regulatory approval has been secured in China. The company has offices and subsidiaries in Sweden, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The parent company is located in Solna, Sweden, and has sales enterprises in Sweden, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom. NIOX was replaced by its successor, NIOX FLEX in 2007. NIOX FLEX was the first tailor-made device for measuring exhaled nitric oxide (NO). NIOX FLEX includes enhanced data handling facilities, add-on research kits, and USB ports for communication. Moreover, a new application, NIOX Flex Flow, can determine whether lung inflammation is located centrally or more peripherally, which can be highly significant to therapy choices. The Nasal Research Kit allows measurement of nasal NO, while the FlexFlo Research Kit enables measurement of exhaled NO at variable flow rates, to help identify the location of inflammation. NIOX MINO is a compact hand-held device, marketed for smaller clinics, healthcare centers, and hospitals. NIOX MINO is intended for routine measurements of NO. Patients hold the NIOX MINO and breathe into the mouthpiece. An audible tone helps patient maintain the right flow during exhalation, whereupon results are displayed on the front of the device.