PLC Systems Expands Into New Manufacturing Facility
October 22 2004 - 11:16AM
PR Newswire (US)
PLC Systems Expands Into New Manufacturing Facility FRANKLIN,
Mass., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PLC Systems Inc. (AMEX:
PLC), a worldwide leader in cardiac laser technologies, today
reported that it has entered into an agreement to lease a clean
room manufacturing facility in Billerica, Massachusetts. PLC
intends to use the facility for the commercial manufacturing of the
disposable components for the Optiwave 980 Cardiac Laser Ablation
System. The Optiwave 980 laser is manufactured in PLC's Franklin,
Massachusetts facility. "This is an extraordinary opportunity for
PLC to lease a world-class facility, which includes a clean room
for manufacturing processes and product assembly of the Optiwave
980 disposable handpieces," stated Mark R. Tauscher, president and
CEO of PLC Systems. "I expect that this facility will be tested and
validated in the fourth quarter. We anticipate to be fully
operational and in production during the first quarter of 2005."
Tauscher continued, "Leasing this facility, which complements our
stated growth objective of expanding our product portfolio, is an
important step for PLC. This decision is a result of the continued
progress we are making in the commercialization of the Optiwave
980. After considering several options, we concluded that the
Billerica site meets our manufacturing expansion requirements."
During the first quarter of this year, PLC Systems and Edwards
Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) announced that the two companies
entered into an exclusive, multi-year agreement to develop and
manufacture Edwards' Optiwave 980 surgical ablation system. Prior
to the PLC and Edwards agreement, the Optiwave 980 project was an
ongoing program within Edwards. During 2004, the research and
development of the Optiwave 980 system was transitioned to PLC.
Tauscher concluded, "We are excited about the opportunities for the
Optiwave 980 project. Combined with our strategic alliance, current
development programs and our existing Franklin, Massachusetts site,
this facility will play an integral role in providing PLC with a
strong foundation for growth. This expansion will create a number
of technically-skilled jobs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
About PLC Systems Inc. PLC Systems is a medical technology company
specializing in innovative technologies for the cardiac and
vascular markets. Currently, the company is focused on two unique
cardiac laser therapies. Headquartered in Franklin, Mass., PLC
pioneered the CO2 Heart Laser System that cardiac surgeons use to
perform CO2 transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) to alleviate
symptoms of severe angina. In addition, PLC is developing and
manufacturing a surgical cardiac ablation laser technology, known
as the Optiwave 980, which is utilized by surgeons to ablate
cardiac tissue. Additional company information can be found at
http://www.plcmed.com/. This press release contains
"forward-looking" statements. For this purpose, any statements
contained in this press release that relate to prospective events
or developments are deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words
such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will" and
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Our statements of our objectives are also forward
looking statements. While we may elect to update forward-looking
statements in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation
to do so, even if our estimates change, and you should not rely on
these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of
any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Actual
results could differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of important
factors, including we may be unable to successfully develop
products under our new agreement with Edwards and Edwards may be
unsuccessful in distributing these products, operational changes,
competitive developments may affect the market for our products,
regulatory approval requirements may affect the market for our
products, we may be unable to convince health care professionals
and third party payers of the medical and economic benefits of the
CO2 Heart Lasers and the Optiwave 980 System, and there can be no
assurance that all payers will reimburse health care providers who
perform TMR procedures or that reimbursement, if provided, will be
adequate, and additional risk factors described in our Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and our other SEC
reports. PLC Systems, PLC Medical Systems, PLC and CO2 Heart Laser
are trademarks of PLC Systems Inc. Edwards Lifesciences, Edwards,
and Optiwave 980 are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences. Contact:
John Jordan Director of Investor Relations 508-541-8800, ext. 145
DATASOURCE: PLC Systems Inc. CONTACT: John Jordan, Director of
Investor Relations of PLC Systems, +1- 508-541-8800, ext. 145 Web
site: http://www.plcmed.com/
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