STOCKHOLM, Sweden, January 28, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Vitrolife Vascular Preservation Kit(TM), tailor-made for safe and consistent handling of vascular grafts during coronary by-pass surgery, has received CE-mark. Each year, approximately 800 by-pass surgeries are performed per million inhabitants in the industrialized world for the treatment of ischemic heart disease. This translates to about one million procedures annually world-wide.
In coronary by-pass surgery, typically, blood vessels (vascular grafts) are taken from the patient's leg or arm, flushed and stored in a solution before being transplanted to the heart to by-pass occluded portions of coronary arteries. The inside lining of all blood vessels consists of endothelial cells, which play a major role in vascular graft function. Today many clinics use Sodium Chloride solution (saline) for flushing and storage of the grafts, despite many scientific studies showing that exposure to saline inflicts rapid damage to the endothelium and thus jeopardizing the long term beneficial effects of the operation.
Vitrolife Vascular Preservation Kit(TM) is a pre-sterilized, disposable kit containing all necessary items to ensure safe and consistent handling of vascular grafts in the operation theatre during coronary by-pass surgery. The main component of the kit is Vitrolife's proprietary tissue and organ handling solution, Perfadex(R), which has been shown to prevent early endothelial injuries, such as cell swelling, leading to impaired ability for vascular relaxation. The kit also includes pre-filled syringes with necessary additives, and equipment for flushing and handling grafts. Vitrolife Vascular Preservation Kittm will be available throughout the European market in late February.
"The importance of an optimized flush solution when handling vascular grafts during coronary by-pass surgery has previously been overlooked. Published scientific data indicate that today's use of saline causes damage to the graft. Vitrolife Vascular Preservation Kit(TM) ensures a safe, efficient and convenient handling of grafts in the operation theatre," said Dr. Magnus Nilsson, Business Area Director for Vitrolife Transplantation Systems.
"Vitrolife Vascular Preservation Kit(TM) in close collaboration with thoracic surgery practitioners and researchers, which vouch for its user-friendly design for optimal graft handling. The Kit is the first on the market for handling of vascular grafts and we strongly believe this product fulfils a significant need on the market," said Mr. Christer de Flon, Marketing Director, Vitrolife.
"This new product is part of a series of product launches that manifests Vitrolife's mission to develop safe and optimized media and systems for preservation and handling of cells, tissues and organs," said Dr. Peter Svalander, CEO, Vitrolife.
Vitrolife
Vitrolife's business mission is to develop, produce and sell advanced products and systems for the preparation, cultivation, preservation and support of cells, tissues and organs. Vitrolife intends to further expand the Company's production capacity to meet an expected increase in demand for its products, as well as strengthen its global market position as a leading company in the development of innovative cell and tissue technologies.
Vitrolife believes that the number of procedures performed annually involving tissue and cell technologies will increase as new treatments are introduced and existing treatments are improved. In addition, Vitrolife expects that the regulation surrounding approval processes and quality control for its products will increase. Vitrolife aims to create competitive advantages from this regulation by meeting and exceeding expected future demands of regulatory authorities, ahead of the Company's competitors.
Since it commenced its operations in 1993, Vitrolife has expanded rapidly. The Company currently has more than 90 employees and sells its products in over 80 countries. During the latest five-year period, sales have increased by an average of 33 percent and totaled more than SEK 82 million for the fiscal year 2000. The Vitrolife share is listed on the Stockholm Exchange (Stockholmsborsen) O-list under the ticker VITR.
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