Subj: Premier Laser receives IEC approval for Centauri; sales to European countries t
Date: 97-06-25 07:57:31 EDT
From: AOL News
BCC: BarbPayne1
IRVINE, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--June 25, 1997--Premier Laser
Systems Inc. (NASDAQ NM:PLSIA) Wednesday announced that on June 12 its
Centauri Erbium:YAG laser system met the electrical performance
standards for European countries of the Geneva-based International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
The company plans to market Centauri for applications in
ophthalmology, surgery and hard-tissue dentistry. Premier Laser
recently received FDA clearance to market Centauri in the United
States for dental hard tissue procedures. Centauri will be marketed
in Europe through the company's distributor network.
According to Premier Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer Colette Cozean, Ph.D., the IEC approval "will help pave the
way for the European introduction this fall of our dental and
ophthalmic laser systems. It's one key to the kickoff of our
marketing programs in European countries and we are now planning
laser training of large numbers of professionals in major cities
there."
Cozean added that the high calibre and substantial dental
industry experience of the company's distributors "should help double
the potential market for our dental hard tissue applications in
Europe. Europeans have led the way in the adoption of laser
technologies in general -- French and German dentists alone have as
many lasers as those sold to dentists in the United States."
She said the fact that Centauri underwent the most extensive
clinical testing of any system currently available "should prove to
be a major plus in our marketing efforts."
Cozean said that the company has received a substantial number of
inquiries about Centauri's availability from physicians and dentists
throughout Europe. One practitioner and university faculty member,
Frankfurt-based Dr. George Romanos, commented, "I've been waiting
impatiently for a long time for this system; the IEC clearance is
great news to me."
Romanos pointed out that German dentists in particular "have
eagerly adopted high technology products, including lasers. Premier
has dominated the U.S. dental laser market; now they are ready to
offer this major technological advance to European practitioners."
Premier Laser Systems develops, manufactures and markets several
lines of proprietary medical and dental lasers, fiber optic delivery
systems and associated products for a variety of dental, ophthalmic,
dermatological and surgical applications.
-0-
The statements in this news release that relate to future events
or performance, including statements concerning future levels of
sales, future production capacity, future shipment rates and future
product introductions are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with
uncertainties related to the development of markets for and
commercial acceptance of the company's products and services, the
availability of components, competitors' product introductions and
other risks identified in the company's SEC filings. Additional
governmental approvals may be required in certain countries in the
future. Actual results may differ from those described in these
forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of
the date hereof.
--30--CB/np* KM/np
CONTACT:
Allen & Caron Inc
Marty Tullio (investors)
Owen Daley (media)
714/252-8440 |
