Medical portal business on the rise

DocCheck AG based in Cologne increased sales by 9% in the first nine months of 2007, taking the figure from 9.4 mln euro to 10.3 mln. The development of the portal business under www.doccheck.com was particularly dynamic.

The largest portal for medical professionals in Europe increased sales by 49% in the first nine months, going up from 1.6 mln euro to 2.4 mln.

In the third quarter of 2007 sales in the DocCheck Division increased by 77% compared to the same quarter in the previous year, taking the figure to 845,000 euro. Sales were boosted in particular by an increased demand for advertising spaces and online direct marketing.

DocCheckShop, the trading business of DocCheck, increased sales by 24%, rising to 3.7 mln euro. The antwerpes Division – the Group’s agency business – recorded a slight decrease in sales of 7% in the first nine months, with sales dropping to 4.5 mln euro. Sales in the agency business totalled 1.6 mln euro in the third quarter which reflected a 23% rise compared to the second quarter. The temporary weakness in demand, which was caused by the healthcare reform at the beginning of the second quarter, has therefore been overcome.

DocCheck AG is expecting an increase in sales totalling 14.2 – 14.5 mln euro for the whole year, which reflects a rise of 4.4 – 4.6%, and a profit per share of 7 – 8 cents (previous year: 16 cents).