Lombard Medical Technologies: First U.S. Patients Treated With Aorfix

LONDON--(Marketwired - August 27, 2013) -

 Lombard Medical Technologies PLC (“Lombard Medical” or “Company”) LOMBARD MEDICAL ANNOUNCES FIRST U.S. PATIENTS TREATED WITH AORFIX FLEXIBLE AORTIC STENT GRAFT Only Endovascular Stent Graft Approved in U.S. for Use in Most Challenging Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Cases London, UK and Irvine, CA, August 27 2013 - Lombard Medical Technologies PLC (AIM: LMT), the specialist medical technology company focused on innovative vascular products, today announces that the first U.S. patients have been successfully treated with AorfixTM, the Group’s flexible stent graft for the endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Aorfix was approved by the FDA for commercial sale in the U.S. in February 2013. The approval included a label indication for thetreatment of patients with angulations at the neck of the aneurysm from 0 to 90 degrees. Moreover, Aorfix is the only endovascular stent graft with approved labeling for use in more challenging cases with neck angulations greater than 60 degrees. The first U.S. cases using Aorfix included patients with aortic neck angles significantly greater than 60 degrees that would have previously required more invasive open surgical AAA repair or “off label” use of an alternative device not designed to treat patients with this level of tortuosity in the aorta. The patients were treated by Victor J. Weiss, M.D., a vascular surgeon at Meriter Hospital in Madison, WI and Sachinder Hans, M.D. of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, respectively. Kim Hodgson, M.D. of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Division of Vascular Surgery, Springfield, Illinois, also reported a further case where the patient was successfully treated using Aorfix. All patients are doing well following the procedures. Simon Hubbert, Chief Executive Officer of Lombard Medical said:"We are delighted to see the first patients being treated with Aorfix since the FDA granted approval earlier this year. Previously these patients would have received more invasive open surgery repair or would have been treated using a less flexible endovascular device, unlicensed to treat high aortic neck angles. Since receiving U.S. FDA approval, the Company has invested in the right people and worked diligently to ensure we have the commercial infrastructure and processes in place to become a significant player in the AAA market in the United States.” Dr. Victor Weiss commented:"The flexible design of Aorfix promises to make it possible to treat the most challenging patients and provides a less invasive treatment option to open surgery repair. Based on my initial experience with Aorfix, I believe its ease of use and unique design will provide us with an important new tool to ensure the effectiveness of endovascular treatment of AAAs.” Dr. Sachinder Hans added:"I was particularly impressed by how Aorfix conformed to a very challenging anatomy. This patient had several health issues that existed prior to the procedure, including poor renal function and heavy calcium deposits, but we had a very successful outcome due to our ability to address the AAA in a minimally invasive fashion. Aorfix provides a new and important addition to the armamentarium of physicians working with patients with AAAs.” -Ends- For further information: Lombard Medical Technologies PLC Tel: +44(0)1235 750 800 Simon Hubbert, Chief Executive Officer Ian Ardill, Chief Financial Officer Canaccord Genuity Limited Tel: +44(0)20 7523 8000 Lucy Tilley / Tim Redfern / Henry Fitzgerald O’Connor / Dr Julian Feneley FTI Consulting Tel: +44(0)20 7831 3113 Simon Conway / Susan Stuart / Victoria Foster Mitchell Allen & Caron Tel: +1 (949) 474 4300 Matt Clawson About Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms AAAs are a balloon-like enlargement of the aorta which, if left untreated, may rupture and cause death. Approximately 4.5 million people are living with AAAs in the developed world and each year 600,000 new cases are diagnosed. In the U.S. aortic aneurysm disease is among the leading cause of death and it is estimated that 1.7 million people over the age of 55 have an AAA. The market for the repair of AAAs in the U.S. is valued at more than $600 million annually, and is forecast to grow to $1.6 billion worldwide by 2015 according to independent market research. About Lombard Medical Lombard Medical Technologies PLC (AIM: LMT) is a medical device company focused on device solutions for the $1.3 billion per annum abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair market. The Company’s lead product, Aorfix, is an endovascular stent graft which has been specifically designed to solve the problems that exist in treating complex tortuous anatomy, which is often present in advanced AAA disease. Aorfix is the only stent graft approved for AAA neck angulations of up to 90 degrees and is currently being commercialized worldwide. Aorfix is the first AAA stent graft not of U.S. origin to gain FDA approval. The Company is headquartered in Oxfordshire, England with U.S. operations in Irvine, CA. Further background on the Company can be found at www.lombardmedical.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange END