Cardiogenesis Announces Successful Educational Symposium at Society of Thoracic Surgeons Meeting in San Francisco
January 28 2009 - 6:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cardiogenesis
Corporation (Pink Sheets: CGCP), a global leader of innovative
therapies for ischemic cardiac disease and the market leader of
surgical products for transmyocardial revascularization (TMR),
sponsored an educational symposium titled "Advancements in
Revascularization & Stem Cell Therapy," which was attended by
over 40 cardiothoracic surgeons. The Program Chair was Dr. Emerson
Perin, Director, New Interventional Cardiovascular Technology,
Texas Heart Institute. "The objective of the symposium is to
provide cardiac surgeons with a state of the art update on the
application of stem cells in cardiovascular medicine, including
exciting new information on TMR plus cell therapy. Cardiologists
are challenged everyday in treating medically refractory patients
suffering from chronic ischemia. This program highlights recent
advancements with TMR plus cell therapy for the treatment of
chronic ischemia, including innovative new tools available to
surgeons today," explained Dr. Perin. He continued, "While there is
still much to be learned about the therapeutic potential of stem
cells, the safety and feasibility of autologous bone marrow stem
cells in cardiac applications is well established. There are
obvious advantages to intramyocardial cell delivery in the surgical
setting - including precision and control, and the strategy of
delivering platelet rich plasma in conjunction with minimally
invasive TMR is a logical initial step." The symposium included
presentations of real world experiences with TMR as well as TMR
plus cell therapy. -- Dr. Guillermo Reyes, a cardiothoracic surgeon
from Madrid presented his early experience using the Cardiogenesis
PHOENIX delivery system which in this series combined TMR plus
autologous bone marrow stem cells. The 12 month outcomes on 16
patients included the elimination or significant reductions in
angina, with no mortality and no major adverse events. -- Dr. Kurt
Wehberg, a cardiothoracic surgeon from Salisbury, MD described the
implementation of a minimally invasive Fast Track TMR program.
Using a strict patient care protocol, combined with minimally
invasive thoracotomy technique, he reported a time to discharge
postoperatively of 23 hours for 80% of his stand alone TMR
patients. Dr. Wehberg also presented 6 month follow up on 11
patients treated with TMR plus platelet rich plasma (PRP). The 6
month outcomes included a significant reduction in angina (82% of
patients free of angina) and a trend towards improvement in
ejection fraction. "This symposium outlines the Company's progress
on developing breakthrough clinical tools in treating the
increasing problem of ischemic heart disease and refractory angina.
Intraoperative TMR both as stand alone therapy and as an adjunct to
coronary bypass surgery has proven effective in randomized,
controlled clinical trials. We believe that the future of TMR plus
cell therapy can make this a more potent technology with
significantly greater clinical adoption," said Richard Lanigan,
President of Cardiogenesis. "We will build on this successful event
by driving the awareness of the benefits of minimally invasive TMR
to the referring cardiology community as well as work towards
initiating a U.S. clinical trial of TMR plus cell therapy." About
Cardiogenesis Corporation Cardiogenesis specializes in providing
surgical devices to treat cardiovascular disease and severe angina.
The Company's market leading holmium:YAG laser system and single
use fiber-optic delivery systems are used to perform a procedure
known as Transmyocardial Revascularization (TMR). To date,
thousands of patients have been treated with the Cardiogenesis TMR
technology. For more information on Cardiogenesis, please visit the
Company's website at http://www.cardiogenesis.com/. Cardiogensis
also maintains a website where patients suffering from angina can
learn more about the TMR procedure at
http://www.heartofnewlife.com/. Safe Harbor Statement With the
exception of historical information, the statements set forth above
include forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements
in this news release related to the possible effectiveness of the
Company's technologies and the effect of such technologies on the
Company's sales, profitability, the adoption of its technology and
products and FDA clearances are based on current expectations and
beliefs and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many
of which are outside the Company's control, that could cause actual
results to differ materially. Factors that could affect the
accuracy of these forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to: any inability by the Company to sustain profitable
operations or obtain additional financing on favorable terms if and
when needed; any failure to obtain required regulatory approvals;
failure of the medical community to expand its acceptance of TMR
procedures; possible adverse governmental rulings or regulations,
including any FDA regulations or rulings; the Company's ability to
comply with international and domestic regulatory requirements;
possible adverse Medicare or other third-party reimbursement
policies or adverse changes in those policies; any inability by the
Company to ship product on a timely basis; the Company's ability to
manage its growth; the effects of recent disruptions in global
credit and equity markets and other adverse economic developments
that could adversely affect the market for our products or our
ability to raise needed financing; actions by our competitors; and
the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property. Other
factors that could cause Cardiogenesis' actual results to differ
materially are discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December
31, 2007 and the Company's other recent SEC filings. The Company
disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements
as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press
release. DATASOURCE: Cardiogenesis Corporation CONTACT: William R.
Abbott, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Cardiogenesis Corporation, +1-949-420-1800 Web Site:
http://www.cardiogenesis.com/
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