Omrix Ethicon - We're number 2 in Thrombin

During Omrix Q2 discussion was made on Evicel, Quixil, Evithrom, the Fibrin pad and a mystery bonus product that was just icing on the earnings cake. Revenue was up 72% year over year, led by Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon's 155% jump in sales of Omrix's biosurgical products. Most of that likely came from improved sales of Evicel -- its fibrin sealant used to stop surgical bleeding. The product was approved for use in all surgeries earlier. CEO Taub stated the obvious for the thrombin market "I'll rank the three competitors, King one, Ethicon/Omrix two and ZymoGenetics three."
On Ethicon intiatives with Evicel:
“a focus on burns and orthopedics and plastic surgery”
“an updated evicel website”

On Quixil:
“growing nicely” in Europe especially in Orthopedics.

On Evithrom:
continued “moderate growth” approx. 40% of purchasers were first time buyers.

On Fibrin Pad trials in Israel and USA:
ongoing but on target
anticipating approval first half 2010

On major costs:
Plasma costs expected to rise

On the “mystery” $ 1.9 million contributing by-product of Omrix plasma preparation:
It is an imuno-therapy product not a biosurgical
A 3 year contract is in place to continue selling these previously discarded by-products
The product is used on humans
Contractually unable to release name or country of partner