New product to be used during bariatric surgeries and other procedures
RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - March 26, 2007) - MEDICAL VENTURES CORP. (TSX VENTURE:MEV) has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its new PeriPatchTM Aegis, a product designed to reduce complications during surgery. This clearance enables the company to begin marketing the product for sale in the United States.
PeriPatch Aegis is a system used to reinforce surgical staple lines during procedures such as bariatric surgery to treat morbid obesity, and thoracic surgery to treat certain kinds of lung disease. When used in conjunction with standard surgical staplers, the device can help physicians to reduce leakage and bleeding around staple lines. It can be used in minimally invasive laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures as well as in traditional open surgeries. The Aegis product incorporates Medical Ventures’ proprietary PeriPatchTM bovine (cow-based) tissue technology.
Bariatric surgery to treat obesity, commonly referred to as “stomach stapling”, is one of the fastest-growing medical procedures in the U.S. According to a recent Frost & Sullivan report, it is expected that more than 200,000 bariatric surgeries will be performed this year, up from only about 13,000 in 1998. It is also estimated that bariatric surgery will exceed 30 per cent growth over the next few years.
“Leakage along staple lines in the stomach or lungs after surgery can cause very serious complications or death,” said Alexei Marko, Medical Ventures’ vice president and chief operating officer. “Surgeons are increasingly using staple line reinforcement tools to help minimize the occurrence of such leaks. We believe that Aegis is the ideal product to meet this need, and with 510(k) clearance in place, we will begin working with our U.S. distributors to get it into the hands of our customers.”
Medical Ventures will begin limited marketing of the Aegis in Q2 2007. A full launch into the U.S. marketplace through the company’s existing U.S. distribution network is expected in the second half of the year.
MEV also announces it has granted 69,710 stock options to a director of the Company, exercisable at a price of $0.24 per share, with a term of five years.
About Medical Ventures Corp.:
Medical Ventures Corp. is a medical device company dedicated to developing products that address clinical needs in the quickly growing vascular and surgical marketplace. MEV products help doctors treat a wide range of health concerns, including vascular disease and obesity. The Company developed and manufactures the Metricath® System balloon catheter technology for use in angioplasty procedures, and PeriPatchTM, a suite of surgical tissue products. Medical Ventures is also a contract medical devices manufacturer. For more information, please visit www.medical-ventures.com.
Statements contained herein that are not based on historical or current fact, including without limitation statements containing the words “anticipates”, “believes”, “may”, “continues”, “estimates”, “expects”, and “will” and words of similar import, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in the regions in which the Company operates; technology changes; competition; changes in business strategy or development plans; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; existing governmental regulations and changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental regulations; liability and other claims asserted against the Company; and other factors referenced in the Company’s filings with Canadian securities regulators. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Medical Ventures Corp. Caren Holtby Investor Relations Manager (604) 805-8772 or (604) 270-4344 ext.110 Email: choltby@medical-ventures.com
or
Medical Ventures Corp. Jessica Ruffen Media Relations Manager (604) 248-4136 or (604) 270-4344 ext.206 Email: jruffen@medical-ventures.com Website: www.medical-ventures.com
