Cover Article in the Journal of the
American College of Cardiology
Highlights Significant New Benefit of Vasomedical's EECP
Therapy
New study from Japan demonstrates improved cardiac relaxation and
myocardial perfusion
WESTBURY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 16, 2001-- Vasomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq: VASO -
news) announced today that a new study featured in the current issue of the highly respected Journal
of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) showed that EECP® enhanced external
counterpulsation therapy has a striking effect on the heart's ability to relax. Until now, the relationship
of EECP to cardiac contractility functions had not been linked to improved cardiac relaxation. The
heart's ability to relax between beats strongly affects its overall performance as a pump. In addition,
radionuclide scans seen on the cover of JACC show that EECP significantly improves perfusion to
ischemic regions of the heart.
Commenting on the recent Japanese findings, Andrew Michaels, MD of the University of California
at San Francisco said, ``This study is exciting because it provides the first clear-cut evidence that
EECP improves diastolic filling during the relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle in patients with
coronary artery disease. Until now, the relationship of EECP therapy to relaxation and contraction
functions of the heart had not been extensively studied. The findings in this report give us important
clues as to how EECP therapy reduces myocardial ischemia.'' Dr. Michaels went on to say, ``The
radionuclide scans seen in this study strongly suggest that improvement in exercise capacity is linked
to better cardiac perfusion.''
Douglas A. Goldman, Vice-President of Marketing and Business Development for Vasomedical,
stated, ``One-third of the patients analyzed in this study had ''silent ischemia.`` We've known that
EECP reduces symptoms in those with angina, but these most recent data suggest that EECP may
be equally effective in treating the estimated 3-4 million patients in the United States who have
myocardial ischemia, but are not symptomatic.'' Silent ischemia is a temporary shortage of oxygen to
the heart that occurs without pain. Those with silent ischemia may be more prone to heart attacks
without warning. Mr. Goldman added, ``This study demonstrates that EECP has a positive effect on
the filling aspect of cardiac function which may also have important implications for patients suffering
from congestive heart failure (CHF).'' CHF is a disabling condition affecting nearly 5 million
Americans and the most frequent cause of hospitalization for those over 65 years of age. A large
pivotal trial sponsored by Vasomedical on the efficacy of EECP in the treatment of CHF patients is
scheduled to begin shortly.
The new study, entitled ``Enhanced External Counterpulsation Improves Exercise Tolerance,
Reduces Exercise-Induced Myocardial Ischemia, and Improves Left Ventricular Diastolic Filling in
Patients with Coronary Artery Disease,'' by lead author Hisashi Urano, MD of the Kurume
University School of Medicine in Kurume Japan, looked at a cohort of 12 patients with stable
coronary artery disease (CAD) and documented myocardial ischemia. Patients were evaluated in
two phases: a control phase to determine baseline characteristics, and a treatment phase in which
patients received an average of 35 hours of EECP treatment. The effects of EECP therapy were
assessed following the completion of treatment by a series of clinical examinations including exercise
stress tests, radionuclide scans and an array of hemodynamic evaluations.
The results of the study show that EECP improved cardiac filling capacity function by several
measures. In particular, pressure in the left ventricle decreased at the end of diastole and both the
peak filling rate and the time to peak filling of the left ventricle improved significantly. Results also
showed statistically significant improvement in all exercise tolerance parameters measured in the
study, including exercise duration and time to ST-segment depression, important measures of the
heart's response to exercise induced stress. These results were attributed to the effects of EECP as
reflected in radionuclide perfusion scans, which showed significantly improved circulation in the
myocardium following therapy.
EECP is a non-invasive, outpatient therapy that utilizes pneumatic cuffs to compress the lower
extremities in time with a patient's heartbeat. The therapy reduces angina symptoms by decreasing
the heart's workload and improving circulation in areas of the heart deprived of adequate blood
supply. The treatment has been scientifically validated over the past several years, and has been
approved for Medicare reimbursement.
Vasomedical, Inc. is primarily engaged in designing, manufacturing, marketing and supporting
external counter pulsation systems based on the Company's proprietary technology currently
indicated for use in cases of angina, cardiogenic shock and acute myocardial infarction. EECP® is a
registered trademark for Vasomedical's enhanced external counterpulsation system. This system is
now in use at major medical centers, including the Beth Israel Medical Center - New York City,
Christ Hospital and Medical Center, the Cleveland Clinic, Texas Heart Institute, Johns Hopkins,
JFK Medical Center-Atlantis, FL, University Hospital at UMDNJ/New Jersey Medical School,
Kaiser Permanente of Denver, the Mayo Clinic, the Miami Heart Institute and the Ochsner
Foundation Hospital, as well as medical centers affiliated with Columbia University, the University of
Pittsburgh, the University of California at San Diego, the University of California at San Francisco,
University of Florida at Gainesville, State University of New York at Stony Brook and the University
of Virginia. The Company provides hospitals, clinics and private practices with EECP® equipment,
treatment guidance and a staff training and maintenance program designed to provide optimal patient
outcomes. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.vasomedical.com.
Except for historical information contained in this release, the matters discussed are forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this release, words such as
``anticipate,'' ``believe,'' ``estimate,'' ``expect'' and ``intend'' and similar expressions, as they relate to
the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
statements are based on the beliefs of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by
and information currently available to the Company's management. Among the factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of business and economic
conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; capacity and supply constraints or
difficulties; product development, commercialization or technological difficulties; the regulatory and
trade environment; and the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company's SEC reports.
The Company undertakes no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements as a result of future
events or developments.
Contact:
Vasomedical, Inc.
D. Michael Deignan, 516/997-4600 Ext. 155
President & CEO
or
Douglas A. Goldman, 516/997-4600 Ext. 163
VP of Marketing & Business Development
www.vasomedical.com
or
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
The Equity Group, Inc.
Devin Sullivan, 212/836-9608
www.theequitygroup.com |
