DANVERS, Mass., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ABIOMED, Inc. announced today that the Company will be launching its new web site on Monday, November 1st. Designed to reflect ABIOMED's increased commercial focus and industry expertise, the site is intended to educate patients, families, clinical teams, investors and the media on ABIOMED's full product line for circulatory assist, from heart recovery and assist to heart replacement.
The new site has an extended section highlighting the stories of patients whose lives were saved by ABIOMED's BVS5000 and AB5000 systems. Additional enhancements to the site have been planned for this quarter, including the addition of online learning tools for clinical staff. Designed to improve outcomes, these tools will include interactive courses available to clinical staff for continuing education credits. In addition, the site will have specific content directed at nurses, surgeons, perfusionists and cardiologists offering protocols from top centers, recent journal articles, and a searchable "Ask the Expert" bulletin board where professionals can share information.
"We have completely rebuilt our web site in order to provide a comprehensive source of information on our product offerings in mechanical circulatory support," commented Michael R. Minogue, CEO and President of ABIOMED. "We understand that education is a critical element to supporting positive outcomes and saving lives. As a result, we will be continually adding new tools and resources in order to share best practices with our entire installed base."
Numerous studies and ABIOMED's own clinical database show that there are a series of best practices that influence survival rates for patients on ventricular assist devices, including early implantation and time on support. At the top 20 percent of centers in the Company's installed base, the survival rate is greater than 50 percent. This year, ABIOMED has rolled out a new service program focused on providing customers educational tools necessary to help ensure the best possible outcomes.
Based in Danvers, Massachusetts, ABIOMED, Inc. (pronounced "AB'-EE-O-MED") is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical products designed to assist or replace the pumping function of the failing heart. ABIOMED, which currently sells the BVS(R) 5000 Biventricular Support System and the AB5000(TM) Circulatory Support System, is the market leader in devices for the temporary support of patients with failing but potentially recoverable hearts. In September 2004, ABIOMED applied for initial FDA market approval for the AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart to treat a defined subset of irreversible end-stage heart failure patients under a Humanitarian Device Exemption.
Media Contact: Andrea tenBroek Communications Specialist (978) 646-1815 mediarelations@abiomed.com Investor Relations: Mark Vincent Vice President Euro RSCG Life NRP (212) 845-4239 mark.vincent@eurorscg.com
ABIOMED, Inc.CONTACT: Media Contact: Andrea tenBroek of ABIOMED, CommunicationsSpecialist, +1-978-646-1815, mediarelations@abiomed.com; or InvestorRelations: Mark Vincent, Vice President of Euro RSCG Life NRP,+1-212-845-4239, mark.vincent@eurorscg.com
Web site: http://www.abiomed.com/