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Vasomedical Announces Long-Term Benefits From EECP Therapy Highlighted At American College of Cardiology
WESTBURY, N.Y.--(BW HealthWire)--March 21, 2001--
Report Comparing EECP Favorably With Invasive Treatments for
Angina and Study Suggesting Expanded Use in Patients
With Peripheral Vascular Disease Also Presented At This
Year's Conference
Vasomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq: VASO - news) announced today that the results of two studies presented at the 50th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) showed sustained angina relief with EECP® therapy up to one year following treatment.
These results confirmed earlier studies on the duration of benefit derived from EECP, and were among several studies presented demonstrating the effectiveness of EECP in treating coronary artery disease. The results were included in a release issued by the ACC announcing significant clinical developments from this year's conference. The ACC concluded today in Orlando, Florida.
In a study entitled ``Enhanced External Counterpulsation for Chronic Angina is Associated with Improved Outcome at 6 Months,'' lead author Gregory W. Barsness, MD of Mayo Clinic presented findings showing sustained benefit from EECP at six months post treatment. 80% of the 35 patients studied improved at least one Canadian Class. A significant improvement in quality of life measured by the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), a measure of cardiac functional status, was also observed. Patients in this study also reported a significant reduction in the number of angina episodes per week as well as a reduction in the use of sublingual nitroglycerin. The findings provide independent confirmation of several earlier studies that looked at data from the International EECP Patient Registry (IEPR), including another study presented at this year's ACC. In the study entitled ``Are the Initial Benefits of Enhanced External Counterpulsation Sustained at One Year'' by Drs. William Lawson and John Hui of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, a reduction in angina symptoms by at least one Canadian Class was observed in 73% of 1,254 patients enrolled in IEPR. This reduction in angina was maintained at six months and one year following therapy.
Results of a study comparing the effectiveness of EECP with Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI), such as balloon angioplasty and stent placement, in reducing angina were also presented at the conference. A study entitled ``Intervention for Stable Angina: A Multicenter Comparison of Consecutive Patients Undergoing Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) and PCI,'' by Richard Holubkov, Ph.D. and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, showed EECP to be comparable to invasive and more costly PCI procedures in reducing the most severe levels of angina. The study examined data from the IEPR and the National Heart Lung Blood Institute Dynamic Registry (NHLBI) and showed that the rate of severe angina in both groups at one year was comparable, with only 11% of the EECP and 8% of the PCI study groups reporting severe symptoms.
Results from an investigation on the effectiveness of EECP in patients with angina and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) were also presented. A study entitled ``Patients with Non-Cardiac Vascular Disease and Chronic Angina Benefit from Enhanced External Counterpulsation'' by lead author Dr. Subash Bazaz of the University of Pittsburgh, looked at 584 patients with angina and PVD and 1,499 patients with angina but no PVD. Results suggested that patients with PVD achieve the same level of angina reduction as patients without PVD. Dr. Bazaz concluded that patients with PVD should not be excluded from consideration for EECP treatment.
``The response we've received from cardiologists around the world has exceeded our expectations,'' said D. Michael Deignan, President and CEO of Vasomedical. ``This heightened interest clearly indicates the extent to which EECP is being accepted as an effective treatment for angina. We expect study results like those presented at this year's event to accelerate the adoption of EECP as a standard part of the therapeutic portfolio for treating patients with coronary artery disease.''
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.
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Contact:
Vasomedical, Inc., Westbury
D. Michael Deignan, 516/997-4600 x 155
Douglas A. Goldman, 516/997-4600 x 163
www.vasomedical.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS, 516/997-4600 x 790
investorrelations@vasomedical.com |
