Advanced Medical Solutions Group Share News (AMS)

Wound care specialist Advanced Medical Solutions revealed an 80% increase in half year profit after strong sales of its ActivHeal range.For the six months ended 30 June 2011 profit from operations, post exceptional items, rose to £2.62m from £1.5m the year before. Profit from operations, pre-exceptional items, was up 25% to £2.6m. Group revenue rose 12% to £16.3m during the half year.Sales of ActivHeal, the group's range of wound care products for the NHS, grew by 64% compared with the first half of 2010. It now contributes more than 10% of the Advanced Woundcare business. Its wound closure and Sealants business grew by 2% to £3.1m. InteguSeal sales declined 20% compared with the first half of 2010.Chairman Don Evans said he was pleased with the group's progress in the first half of 2011, with advances in each of its key growth drivers helping to produce another period of strong growth. "Our broad range of products, partners and markets, together with continued innovation enables the board to remain optimistic about the long term prospects", he said.AMS said it continues to look for opportunities to buy or in license complementary products.An interim dividend of 0.145p has been offered. ---CJ