Jones Thrombin

Executive Summary

Firm cancels hospital discounting contracts for Thrombin-JMI, as Jones emerges as the only remaining marketer of a therapeutic thrombolytic, Jones Exec VP-Marketing & Business Michael Bramblett told Chase H&Q. AWith Parke-Davis out of the business, and Johnson & Johnson leaving the business, we are no longer going to discount the product,@ Jones said. Parke-Davis has stopped marketing its thrombolytic and Johnson & Johnson will wind up its competing Thrombogen program this year following termination of the manufacturing contract between J&J and Jones manufacturing subsidiary GenTrac. Jones acquired GenTrac in 1991 along with a long-term agreement to produce Thrombogen. Jones will not renew J&J=s manufacturing contract when it expires this year. GenTrac is the only facility currently licensed to manufacture J&J=s product. Thrombin 1999 sales will be approximately $30 mil., Bramblett said. Jones lost some Brevital customers in the process of canceling hospital contracts and re-pricing Thrombin, he noted. Brevital sales in 1999 are estimated at $11.5 mil., up slightly from $11.1 mil. in 1998