Healthcare Industry News: Cardima
News Release - March 26, 2009
Cardima Appoints DKSH Healthcare to Distribute its Surgical Ablation System and EP Products in Thailand
Partners with MEDS Global, the Thai Ministry of Health, Ramathibodi Hospital and Mahidol University Medical School to Form Center of Excellence for the Treatment of AFFREMONT, Calif.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Cardima, Inc. (OTCBB:CADM ), a medical device company focused on the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) and manufacturer of the Cardima Surgical Ablation System and the REVELATION® line of therapeutic electrophysiology (EP) catheters, has appointed DKSH Healthcare as its distributor for Thailand. DKSH will provide Cardima with an integrated solution, including regulatory, logistics, marketing, sales, physician training, distribution and after-sales services. Cardima’s EP Products and Surgical Ablation System have received product registration approval in Thailand.
Additionally, Cardima is partnering with MEDS Global, the Thai Ministry of Health, Ramathibodi Hospital and Mahidol University Medical School, to develop a Center of Excellence in Bangkok, Thailand, for the treatment of AF. Cardima has successfully completed its second phase of cardiothoracic surgeon training in Thailand on the use of the Cardima Surgical Ablation System in a closed-chest setting. This minimally invasive procedure uses the Cardima Surgical Ablation System via a two port unilateral approach. The Thai Center of Excellence program will train physicians in public and private hospitals. These physicians are expected to treat Thai, as well as international “tourist medicine” ablation patients.
Commenting on the distribution agreement, Cardima’s CEO Robert Cheney said, “DKSH has a long history and extensive experience marketing medical products in the Asia Pacific region, making it an ideal partner for Cardima in Thailand. We intend to leverage DKSH’s expertise, highly trained staff and strong existing physician and hospital relationships to effectively position our products in a market that may otherwise be difficult for us to enter successfully. We look forward to expanding our partnership with DKSH Healthcare to other major Asian markets as our regulatory strategy advances.”
DKSH’s Vice President of Healthcare, Shane Benson commented, “We are excited to be working with Cardima in developing significant programs for the treatment of AF in the Asia Pacific region. Our combined experience in training physicians and setting up treatment programs in Thailand should provide valuable experience for expansion into additional Asian markets. As Cardima’s training program has progressed, we have observed a very favorable response from local surgeons and we are pleased to be introducing these important new treatment options for AF in an underserved market.”
About DKSH
DKSH, a the leading market expansion services group, is deeply rooted in communities across Asia Pacific as a result of its more than 140 years in business in the region. Healthcare is one of the fourth largest business units of DKSH and is a major focus of its Thailand operations. The DKSH Healthcare business unit provides services to 240 different healthcare companies across 11 markets and serves more than 130,000 customers in Asia; the unit is active in pharmaceuticals, medical devices and over-the-counter (OTC) business segments. DKSH, with its headquarters in Zurich, is a top 20 Swiss company ranked by sales and employees, generating annual gross revenues of CHF 8,800 million globally in 2007.
About Cardima’s Surgical Ablation System
The Surgical Ablation System uses Cardima’s patented technology for the ablation of cardiac tissue. The System incorporates a microcatheter-based surgical probe coupled with Cardima’s INTELLITEMP®, a radiofrequency energy management device, delivering Controlled RF. The probe incorporates irrigation, suction and illumination, which aid in placement and lesion depth. The Cardima Surgical Ablation System is able to create deep, long, linear and transmural cardiac lesions without gaps. The small, flexible design offers sole port-hole access, potentially decreasing procedure time, patient hospital stay and discomfort.
About Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and a major concern for healthcare providers worldwide. AF symptoms typically include a rapid and irregular heartbeat, palpitations, discomfort and dizziness. During AF episodes, irregular, disorganized and quivering spasms of atrial tissue result in the heart’s failure to pump adequate amounts of blood throughout the body. AF is a leading cause of stroke, can cause congestive heart failure and adds to the morbidity of any underlying heart disease. Recent estimates are that more than 2.5 million people in the U.S. have AF, of which 1 million are symptomatic, yet do not respond well to drug therapy. The cause of AF is unknown and there is no variation by geography or ethnicity. The incidence of AF increases with age. Furthermore, about 200,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S.
About Cardima
Cardima, Inc. has developed the PATHFINDER®, TRACER™ and REVELATION® Series of diagnostic catheters, the VUEPORT® and NAVIPORT® Series of guiding catheters, the INTELLITEMP® Energy Management Device and the Surgical Ablation System. All of these Cardima devices have received CE mark approval and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance. The REVELATION® Series of ablation catheters with the INTELLITEMP® EP Energy Management Device, developed for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), has received CE mark approval and is marketed in Europe.
PATHFINDER®, TRACER™, VUEPORT®, NAVIPORT®, REVELATION® and INTELLITEMP® are registered trademarks of Cardima, Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Investors are referred to the full discussion of risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements as contained in our reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Forms 10-K and 10-Q. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information.
Source: Cardima
Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its
content.
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.
