Aptilon Announces the Signing of an Important Enterprise Commitment with Merck & Co.
MONTREAL, July 3 /CNW Telbec/ - Aptilon Corporation (TSX.V:
APZ), a leading provider of physician access through its innovative
alternative sales and marketing channel today announced that Merck
& Co., Inc. has renewed its relationship with Aptilon's
AxcelRx(SM) Live. Merck uses the company's video detailing software
platform and hopes to increase the number of potential physician
users who are interested in participating via Aptilon's ReachNet
physician access network. Merck has renewed its agreement for a
term of one-year for an undisclosed amount. The revenues generated
from this agreement are two-fold, including both fixed fees to
license, manage and support the platform as well as performance
fees that will vary based upon usage.
Physicians' increasing patient loads and administrative burdens
have made access for sales representatives more difficult,
particularly during traditional office hours. Many hospitals and
group practices now restrict or prohibit sales representative
visits. The corresponding decline in representative productivity
has led to searches for new, efficient and effective means of
reaching and educating prescribers.
Aptilon President, Denis Martineau, said, "Merck's expanded
commitment to the AxcelRx alternative sales channel is a validation
of its marketplace effectiveness and a demonstration of our "Sales
Force of the Future" strategic approach that enhances sales force
access and addresses productivity, an issue that all pharmaceutical
companies face today."
Aptilon's AxcelRx Live video detailing program serves health care
professionals when and where they are accessible, even at home,
during nights and weekends. Aptilon's current rep-physician
interactions are averaging more than 8 minutes and achieve high
levels of physician satisfaction.
Aptilon has successfully enabled large numbers of rep-physician
interactions for Merck and other health care companies, accessing
more than 450,000 opted-in physicians through Aptilon's ReachNet
physician access channel, an extensive network of partner and
company-owned websites. Aptilon's daily, high-volume outreach
activity provides live interactions between sales representatives
and selected, high-prescribing health care professionals who in
many cases are not accessible during normal practice hours.
About Aptilon
-------------
Aptilon enables pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device
companies to effectively reach and interact with physicians via the
Internet through its innovative AxcelRx Live video detailing (with
company reps), virtual programs, peer selling and other sales and
marketing programs. Leading health care companies have adopted
Aptilon's "Sales Force of the Future" model, driving tens of
thousands of high-quality rep-physician interactions averaging
almost 10 minutes in length. Aptilon provides the infrastructure
necessary for sales representatives to build physician awareness,
understanding and preference during all stages of a products life
cycle, from pre-launch education through end stage support. For
more information, visit www.aptilon.com.
Forward-looking statements
--------------------------
This news release contains forward-looking information. These
statements relate to future events or future performance and
reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such
forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and
are based on information currently available
to management of Aptilon. A number of factors could cause actual
events, performance or results to differ materially from the events
performance and results discussed in the forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the
date hereof and Aptilon does not assume any
obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or
circumstances.
-30-
/For further information: For U.S. Media: Mark Gleason,
Aptilon
Corporation, (847) 331-8628, mgleason@aptilon.com; Jed Weiner, White
Oak
Communications, (847) 910-1330, jed.weiner@comcast.net; For Canadian
Media:
Alexandra Malka, Aptilon Corporation, (514) 889-0961, amalka@aptilon.com/
Posted: July 2007
