Lombard Medical reports new data demonstrating that its Aorfix™ stent graft reduces the risk of endoleaks in angulated necks
London, UK, 19 January 2006 – Lombard Medical Technologies PLC (AIM: LMT) reports today the publication of an abstract in the Vascular journal by Jean-Noel Albertini, MD et al. at the Vascular Surgery Department, Hospital Robert Debre, Reims, France. The study concluded that the Company’s Aorfix™ stent graft was the only device which did not develop endoleaks, regardless of the angulation of the neck of the abdominal aorta.
Proximal endoleaks are an important risk factor following stenting of abdominal aortic aneurysms. The risk of leak increases as the angle of the proximal ‘neck’ increases. Aorfix™ is a new flexible stent graft designed to overcome this issue. The aim of this study was to compare the endoleak flow rate (EFR) in relation to neck angle between the Aorfix™ and other manufactured stent grafts.
EFRs corresponding to 10 neck angles between 0 and 70º were measured. Eight stent grafts were tested: Aorfix™ (Lombard), Ancure (Guidant, Indianapolis, IN), Powerlink® (Endologix, Irvine, CA), AneuRx® (Medtronic, Sunnyvale, CA), Excluder® (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ), Zenith™ and Zenith-Flex™ (Cook Inc., Bloomington, IN), and Lifepath (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA).
For all stent grafts except the Aorfix™, the EFR was greater than at baseline for neck angle ≥ 30º (p < .01). The EFR at neck angle ≥ 30º was lower with the Aorfix™ compared with the other stent grafts (p < .01).
Neck angle had no influence on the EFR with the Aorfix™. The Aorfix™ may decrease the incidence of proximal type 1 endoleak in patients with a severely angulated aortic neck.
Alistair Taylor, Executive Chairman of Lombard, commented:
“It is very pleasing to see the publication of this report endorsing the benefits of our Aorfix™ stent graft. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that Aorfix™ is the only stent graft that can successfully treat abdominal aortic aneurysms in severely angulated necks.”
Enquiries:
Lombard Medical Technologies PLC | Tel: 01235 750 800 |
| Alistair Taylor, Executive Chairman | |
| Brian Howlett, Chief Executive Officer | |
| Financial Dynamics | Tel: 020 7831 3113 |
| David Yates / John Gilbert |
Notes to editors
Lombard Medical Technologies is a medical devices company developing stent grafts and other medical products for use in the treatment of vascular disease. The Company’s lead product, Aorfix™, is a stent graft for the treatment of aortic aneurysms, a balloon-like enlargement of the aorta which, if untreated, may rupture and cause death. Abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms are the 13th largest cause of death in the US and the market is estimated to be worth approximately US$2 billion by 2010. Aorfix™ is currently being commercialised in the EU, with US clinical trials expected to commence during 2006. The Company has a strategic collaboration with one of the world’s leading medical devices companies, Boston Scientific.
Lombard Medical has recently successfully completed its initial public offering on AIM and was admitted to listing in December 2005, raising £23.9 million, net of expenses. The Company, based in Oxfordshire & Yorkshire, currently employs 47 people.
Further background on the Company can be found at www.lombardmedical.com.