Biosense Webster to offer a Comprehensive Electrophysiology (EP) Lab Solution

Published on Tuesday, 10 January 2012 16:45 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

DIAMOND BAR, Calif.-( Business Wire )-

Biosense Webster, Inc., a worldwide leader in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, announced today a long-term collaboration with GE Healthcare Systems to co-distribute their electrophysiology (EP) systems in the US and jointly enhance the integration of their recording and 3D mapping systems. Under the terms of the agreement, Biosense Webster will offer a suite of GE EP systems, including CardioLab® EP Recording System, and GE will distribute Biosense Webster’s navigation system, the CARTO® 3 System, effective January 1^st 2012.

“This agreement will allow Biosense Webster to address the rapidly growing and underpenetrated Atrial Fibrillation (AF) market by offering a breadth of top EP innovations to meet customer needs,” said Shlomi Nachman, Worldwide President, Biosense Webster. “As the market leader in EP recording systems, CardioLab® System further enhances the Biosense Webster product offering and the CARTO® 3 System by improving the networking capabilities and workflow efficiencies in the lab.”

This latest distribution agreement marks a significant step towards providing a comprehensive EP lab solution. With a broad portfolio of products, Biosense Webster is uniquely positioned to provide hospitals with the full lab integration with the CARTO® 3 System and through distribution agreements for the ACUNAV® ultrasound catheters and systems by Siemens, the GE recording system and the Odyssey lab consolidation system from Stereotaxis.

About AF and cardiac ablation

Atrial Fibrillation is the most prevalent arrhythmia, and is a leading cause of stroke among people 65 years and older. Worldwide, it is estimated that 20 million people have AF, yet only ~130,000 are treated with ablation every year. The public health implications of AF are a growing concern because those with AF are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality as well as a reduced quality of life.

Most patients with AF today are treated with anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs), even though about half of them are refractory to these drugs. During cardiac ablation, energy is delivered through the catheter to those areas of the heart muscle causing the abnormal heart rhythm. This energy “disconnects” the pathway of the abnormal rhythm. Cardiac ablation is a very common treatment for “simple” arrhythmias, like Wolff-Parkison-White Syndrome and atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT), and is increasingly being used for more complex arrhythmias like ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation. ThermoCool® Navigation Catheters are approved for drug refractory recurrent symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, when used with Carto® Systems (excluding NaviStar® RMT ThermoCool Catheter).

About Biosense Webster, Inc.

Biosense Webster, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, pioneered EP diagnostic catheters more than 20 years ago and continues to lead the industry as an innovative provider of advanced diagnostic, therapeutic, and mapping tools. As the leader in navigation systems and ablation therapy, Biosense Webster, Inc. has technology that includes the largest installed base of navigation systems worldwide in leading hospitals and teaching institutions. For more information about Biosense Webster and its products, please visit: www.biosensewebster.com (this site is intended for US visitors only).

(This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Biosense Webster, Inc. and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; economic factors, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; technological advances and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals; domestic and foreign health care reforms and governmental laws and regulations; trends toward health care cost containment; and increased scrutiny of the healthcare industry by government agencies. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Exhibit 99 of Johnson & Johnson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2011. Copies of this Form 10-K, as well as subsequent filings, are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Neither Biosense Webster, Inc. nor Johnson & Johnson undertake to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.)

For Biosense Webster, Inc.Sandra Pound, 908-541-4040m: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.