-- Prototype of the Innovative Combined Technology on Demonstration at AACN Expo --
LAKE FOREST, Ill., May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hospira, Inc. , a leading global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company, today announced the coming integration of its clinician-friendly Symbiq(R) smart infusion pump and industry-leading EndoTool(R) glucose management software. A prototype of this technologically advanced combination system is being demonstrated at the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition in New Orleans through May 21.
“Unveiling the integrated Symbiq and EndoTool development effort illustrates Hospira’s commitment to providing cutting-edge medication delivery technology, and ensuring compatibility between and integration of important hospital technologies,” said Philip Settimi, M.D., vice president, Global Marketing, Global Devices, Hospira.
As a leading provider of advanced medication delivery systems, Hospira offers hospitals and health institutions innovative solutions to improve clinician efficiency and patient safety. The Symbiq infusion system, which helps prevent medication errors, and the EndoTool glucose management system, a clinical-decision support tool designed to aid workflow, are novel technologies created with clinician input throughout the development process to ensure maximum usability. The AACN Expo attendees will be able to provide feedback regarding the integrated Symbiq/EndoTool system.
The Symbiq infusion system is a highly advanced, easy-to-use device with several clinician-friendly features to help improve workflow and decrease medication errors. An estimated 1.5 million medication errors occur annually, with 400,000 preventable drug-related injuries occurring in hospitals (1). With Hospira MedNet(R) safety software built into the device, Symbiq was the first general infusion system designed to provide additional medication-error protection by ensuring compliance with safety software. Symbiq requires users to select a drug library entry from the safety software for all drug delivery programs. With its innovative, award-winning human factors design, Symbiq also incorporates an intuitive layout and a large LCD touch screen to help minimize pump programming errors.
EndoTool is a highly sophisticated glucose management system designed to improve the safety and quality of care, as related to the treatment of hyperglycemia (high blood glucose). It calculates the dose of intravenous (I.V.) insulin needed to effectively control blood glucose levels. EndoTool is a 510(k) approved system. It is a dynamic and adaptive software, which identifies individual patient responses to I.V. insulin to help manage current and predict future dosage levels. Replacing the traditional paper-based system used to manage insulin treatment, EndoTool helps clinicians maintain the appropriate precision to manage blood glucose levels in a variety of hospital settings. Overly aggressive insulin therapy can increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose), an independent risk factor for mortality (2)(3). EndoTool software can operate on a hospital’s existing computer system, and is currently available for use on stand-alone personal computers or in bedside terminal environments.
Hospira is targeting a 510(k) submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the integrated Symbiq/EndoTool system by the end of the year.
About Hospira
Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing Wellness(TM). As the world leader in specialty generic injectable pharmaceuticals, Hospira offers one of the broadest portfolios of generic acute-care and oncology injectables, as well as integrated infusion therapy and medication management solutions. Through its products, Hospira helps improve the safety, cost and productivity of patient care. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has more than 14,000 employees. Learn more at www.hospira.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Hospira cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect Hospira’s operations and may cause actual results to be materially different from expectations include the risks, uncertainties and factors discussed under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Hospira’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, and Hospira’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and incorporated by reference. Hospira undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as the result of subsequent events or developments.
(1) Institute of Medicine. Preventing Medication Errors. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 2007. 25 Jan. 2008 < http://www.nap.edu >
(2) Van den Berghe G, et al. N Engl J Med 2006;354:449-61.
(3) Krinsley JS, et al. Crit Care Med 2007;35:2262-7.
CONTACT: Media, Tareta Adams, +1-224-212-2535, or Financial Community,
Karen King, +1-224-212-2711, both of Hospira, Inc.
Web site: http://www.hospira.com/
