29th Feb 2008 07:01
Smith & Nephew Plc29 February 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Smith & Nephew launches Negative Pressure Wound Therapy products V1STA* portable and EZCARE* systems - a fresh perspective in NPWT Exciting additions to Smith & Nephew's portfolio will provide doctors andpatients more options to realise all the clinical benefits of negative pressurewound therapy (NPWT) while improving performance in cost effectiveness, patientcomfort and ease of use February 29, 2008 Smith & Nephew's (LSE: SN; NYSE:SNN) Advanced Wound Management business unit istoday launching its Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) products as part ofits complete portfolio of wound management products, thereby offering provensolutions across the continuum of wound care. With this addition, Smith & Nephewis the first and only wound care company to provide a complete portfolio ofadvanced wound care solutions including negative pressure wound therapy. The V1STA and EZCARE products, acquired from BlueSky Medical in May 2007, arepart of Smith & Nephew's range of customer solutions for hard-to-heal wounds andare the cornerstone of Smith & Nephew's global NPWT business. The NPWT globalmarket is the fastest growing segment of the wound care market, estimated to beworth $1.6 billion in 2008. The launch of these products will allow Smith &Nephew to enter into a rapidly expanding area of the market that grew at anannual rate in excess of 15 percent in the US and 28 percent in non-US markets. NPWT, through the application of sub-atmospheric pressure, can be used to treatchronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers, pressure sores, and post-operative andhard-to-heal wounds more efficiently and effectively than ever before. Theaddition of NPWT products makes Smith & Nephew the only company to offer acomplete portfolio of advanced wound care solutions to help physicians treat abroad range of wounds. Smith & Nephew can now help physicians select thetreatment path most appropriate for the unique requirements of each wound. In October 2007 Smith & Nephew announced it had reached an agreement withUniversal Hospital Services ("UHS") to bring its NPWT products to the US rentalmarket through UHS, focusing on the US Acute Care market. UHS is a leadingmedical equipment lifecycle services company, operating through more than 80offices across the US. UHS's diverse customer base includes more than 3,800acute care hospitals. The combination of Smith & Nephew's NPWT productportfolio, with the medical equipment management and logistics support of UHSwill provide customers with the most efficient access to this advanced woundtreatment technology. Joe Woody, President, Advanced Wound Management said, "Following the acquisitionof Blue Sky in 2007, we are very excited to launch our new NPWT franchise, whichgives Smith & Nephew the opportunity to offer physicians an additional weapon intheir armoury to treat serious wounds. Smith & Nephew now provides woundtreatment solutions that can treat the full spectrum of wounds. This is a highlyunderserved market and we look forward to introducing V1STA and EZCARE to themarket in the coming weeks. This product area fits perfectly in our company'sportfolio of products all dedicated to improving patients lives." Robin Carlstein, Senior Vice President - NPWT Strategic Business Unit said, "Weplan to leverage Smith & Nephew's key strengths in attractive market segments inadvanced wound management, including NPWT, infection management, foams andsurgical Settings. The company will support the global launch of the V1STA andEZCARE products with a comprehensive offering of training and educationalservices, as well as providing clinical evidence across the global reach, toassist the medical staff in incorporating NPWT into their wound care practices.Today was a great first step in this process as we are meeting with more than150 physicians, nurses and wound care specialists who will be able to put thisexciting technology into practice to help improve quality of life for theirpatients." Analyst/investor inquiries: Liz HewittSmith & Nephew+44 (0) 20 7960 [email protected] Media inquiries: Sidonie MyersSmith & Nephew Advanced Wound Management+44 (0) 1482 673246/+44 (0)7855 [email protected] Notes for Editors Smith & Nephew is the first and only wound care company to provide a completeportfolio of advanced wound care solutions including negative pressure woundtherapy (NPWT). NPWT is a technology used to treat chronic wounds such asdiabetic ulcers, pressure sores, as well as post-operative and hard-to-healwounds. It aids in the healing of open wounds by the application ofsub-atmospheric pressure. Smith & Nephew has now added a range of NPWT products to its advanced woundmanagement portfolio including: EZCARE* - A NPWT system that is designed for simple operation to minimisetraining requirements and improve efficiency. It has a long battery life, safetyalarms, patient lockout and a quiet operation. It also operates at lower vacuumlevels enhancing patient comfort and compliance. V1STA* - A NPWT system that is lightweight and easily portable. The deviceincorporates a range of safety features such as low vacuum alarms for detectionof leaks and sensing technology to protect against high vacuum levels. Both NPWT systems are designed to be used with a range of wound sealing dressingkits, and canisters now offered by Smith & Nephew. The EZCARE and V1STA systemsinvolve simple dressing changes that take less nursing time and are easy tolearn and teach. Smith & Nephew will officially launch their Negative Pressure Wound Therapy(NPWT) products this weekend to over 150 physicians, nurses and wound carespecialists at a conference held in Las Vegas. The event will be chaired by Dr.Mark Chariker, MD, FACS, who developed (with Katherine Jeter, EdD, ET) thepioneering Chariker-Jeter method, which was the first documented use of vacuumdressing in the US and resulted in improving wound healing. About Smith & Nephew Smith & Nephew Advanced Wound Management, is headquartered in the United Kingdom. The organisation has manufacturing centres in the United Kingdom and Largo,FL. Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising inOrthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma and Clinical Therapies, Endoscopyand Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew is a global leader inarthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading globalorthopaedics companies. Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Companyprides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons andprofessional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with highstandards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in 32countries around the world. Annual sales in 2007 were nearly $3.4 billion. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within themeaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Inparticular, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading marginsdiscussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions ofour product pipeline. These statements, as well as the phrases "aim", "plan","intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect","target", "consider" and similar expressions, are generally intended to identifyforward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known andunknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but notlimited to, the outcome of litigation, claims and regulatory approvals) thatcould cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew,or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performanceor achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Pleaserefer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securitiesand Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, asamended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for adiscussion of certain of these factors. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on informationavailable to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof. All written or oralforward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person actingon behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or reviseany forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith &Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions orcircumstances on which any such statement is based. \* Trademark of Smith & Nephew. Certain marks registered US Patent and TrademarkOffice. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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