Lombard Medical Announces that Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening to Commence in the US
London, UK, 10 February 2006 – Lombard Medical Technologies PLC (AIM: LMT) reports that the US Congress yesterday passed legislation for one-time ultrasound screening to commence for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in the US.
With this legislation, the Social Security Act will be amended to provide coverage of the Medicare program, which provides health care to the 41 million elderly in the US who are most at risk from this type of AAA disease. Patients at risk for AAA will receive the ultrasound screening benefit as part of their "Welcome to Medicare" physical, in the hope that more AAA’s will be diagnosed and treated with a stent graft. The covered patient population includes men age 65 and over who have smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their lives, plus women with a family history of AAA. Coverage will begin in early 2007.
Alistair Taylor, Executive Chairman of Lombard said:
“The commencement of this screening programme in the US has the potential to save thousands of lives. The great majority of patients only discover the presence of an aneurysm when it ruptures with potentially fatal effects. These lives can be saved through preventative screening, and, where necessary, insertion of a stent graft to restore normal blood flow.
“There is an increasing body of evidence that suggests that Lombard Medical’s Aorfix™ stent graft is the only device which can serve the AAA market effectively as it does not develop endoleaks, does not migrate and can effectively treat 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.