MONTREAL, June 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - CryoCath(R) Technologies Inc., the global leader in cryotherapy products to treat cardiac arrhythmias, today announced the introduction of Arctic Front(R) in Hong Kong. Arctic Front, the company’s lead product for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), is a unique cryoablation balloon catheter that allows physicians to safely and effectively isolate all four pulmonary veins in the treatment of PAF.
Dr. Ngai-Yin Chan, Head of the Electrophysiological Department at the Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong performed the first procedures on May 28, 2008. Dr. Chan had previously attended the Arctic Front Masters Program for the cryoballoon system in Bad Neustadt, Germany. Leadership of this program is in the hands of Professor Dr. Burghard Schumacher and Dr. Marcus Koller, Herz-und Gefass-Klinik. Professor Schumacher and Dr. Koller, co-authors of The Cryoballoon Prospective Three Center Study, are two of the most experienced users of the Arctic Front system and are responsible for having trained in excess of sixty physicians on circumferential pulmonary vein isolation with Arctic Front.
“In Arctic Front, we see the potential for a groundbreaking therapy in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Our belief in cryoablation with the experience we have has been reinforced by a growing body of clinical evidence in Europe and throughout the world,” said Dr. Chan. “We are eager to offer Arctic Front as a potentially safe and effective treatment to the thousands of patients in Hong Kong suffering from atrial fibrillation.”
“We are extremely proud to see Arctic Front expand into new markets beyond Europe, first in Australia, and now in Hong Kong. With our rapidly growing body of clinical evidence, we are confident that our Arctic Front system will continue to broaden its user base,” said Jan Keltjens, President and CEO of CryoCath. “I am greatly encouraged by the support demonstrated by leaders in Hong Kong’s medical community. By strengthening our footprint in Asia, we look forward to delivering the benefits of our breakthrough therapy to a wider patient base, which will in turn accelerate the adoption of the Arctic Front system worldwide.”
Arctic Front will be exclusively distributed in Hong Kong by Pacific Medical (HK) Co. Ltd.
About Arctic Front
Arctic Front is a minimally invasive cryo-balloon catheter designed specifically to treat paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. This bi-directional, double balloon catheter enables physicians to rapidly isolate all four pulmonary veins for the treatment of AFib. Over 2,600 patients have been treated in over 45 centres across Europe.
About CryoCath
CryoCath - www.cryocath.com - is a medical technology company that leads the world in cryotherapy products to treat cardiac arrhythmias. With a priority focus on providing physicians with a complete solution of catheter products to treat cardiac arrhythmias, CryoCath has multiple products approved in the U.S., across Europe and several ROW countries. The Company is developing additional products to expand its pipeline of products to treat cardiac arrhythmias.
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including with respect to the timing of regulatory trials and their outcome. For information identifying legislative or regulatory, economic, climatic, currency, technological, competitive and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements, see CryoCath’s annual report available at www.sedar.com under the heading Risks and Uncertainties in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section.
CONTACT: visit our website at www.cryocath.com, or contact: Michael Moore,
Investor Relations, Phone: (416) 815-0700 ext. 241, Fax: (416) 815-0080,
E-mail: mmoore@equicomgroup.com