Is Coloplast's Virtue Male Sling Struggling?

tpelle

For those of us with incontinence issues -- the web address below gives a financial analyst's point of view regarding the state of competition of Coloplast's Virtue vs AMS's AdVance male slings:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/economy/ap/analyst_raises_rating_on_american_medical_systems_saying_competitor_is_struggling-60238197.html

Here is an exerpt from the article:

Block (Jonathan Block of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey) said he once expected sales of American Medical Systems' AdVance device (Advance Male Sling) would be hurt by the launch of a newer product, Coloplast Group's Virtue. But Block said Virtue appears to have a higher rate of side effects than AdVance, and Coloplast has struggled to roll out the device. The company now appears to the planning to step up commercial efforts in mid-2010 instead of late 2009, he said.

"While we continue to expect some trialing, with a slow rollout and safety possibly an issue, we question the level of success Virtue will have in the market," he said.

AdVance is a small sling made of a synthetic mesh, and it gives greater bladder control by supporting the urethra, American Medical Systems says. The device is implanted in an outpatient procedure and is intended to treat mild incontinence in men.

Virtue raises and compresses the urethra to treat stress urinary incontinence, according to Coloplast. Urinary incontinence often affects men who have had prostate surgery, the companies say, and American Medical Systems said about 5 million men in the U.S. are incontinent.