A visit to GUMM facilities: (post from yahoo)
messages.yahoo.com
>>Just got back from a business trip to Phoenix which included an opportunity to visit the GUMM facilities briefly. This was my second visit as I had a tour after the 7/98 stockholders meeting. A few observations and thoughts:
1. The new coating, production and packaging equipment has added substantial capacity in the past year. With the additional 30,000 sq ft around the corner for warehouse and packaging, the combined buildings' space with the new equipment will allow for more efficient production since they will not have to engage in expensive changeovers between runs;
2. Some significant space and equipment has been devoted to nicotine related gums and FDA compliance is part of the plan. GMPs are a done deal but ANDA and FDA approvals for whatever is in the works is required and anticipated. I did not get a timing schedule as my tour guide was careful to be conservative in his comments (Gary K was out of the country and Brown Russell was in CA with GelTech so I imposed upon Rich Sigtermans for a brief tour. Rich followed Gary to GUMM from NJ and Nabisco/Lifesaver a year or so
ago. I appreciated his time during an after hours visit.)
3. The plant has 4 or 5 times the capacity, at least, than it is using, maybe a LOT more. With this, work continues on increasing capacity. A bit like "if we build it, they will come". While something with nicotine is driving the build up, there are some interesting developments in delivery systems. One was a cube which chewed like gum for 10-15 seconds, then disolved so as to deliver the active ingredient sublingualy without the ressidual gum. (a big hit for Singapore, for sure.)
4.Zicam is being distributed from the warehouse in Phoenix to various retailer warehouses. The second clinicals are expected by the end of the month, after which the ad and PR effort will kick in. No numbers on the amount distributed so far. I would g <<
messages.yahoo.com
>>4. I would guess that the amount of Zicam stock on hand to be in the 6 figure area, although I did not really try to count it. Some of the display units being shipped were quite large. The Costco one looked like 144 units, but the Zicam could be purchased in single units rather than the "more than you need" packaging that is common in these big box stores.
5. All in all, it looks like it will be an interesting next few months for anyone, long or short, involved with GUMM.
p.s. I returned to Atlanta via Vegas and left with more than I started. While GUMM is a gamble, too, I expect the same positive results there. << |
