PLEASANTON, Calif., April 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thoratec(R) Corporation today announced that two presentations on the HeartMate(R) II left ventricular assist system (LVAS) will be given at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Conference in Madrid, Spain. Two sessions will also be presented on Destination Therapy, or the permanent support of late-stage heart failure patients who are not eligible for heart transplantation. To date, Thoratec is the only company with a product indicated for use in Destination Therapy.
The presentations will include: * Initial Clinical Experience with the HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist System -- O.H. Frazier, et al to be presented at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 5 * Improvement of Renal and Hepatic Function in Advanced Heart Failure Patients Implanted with the HeartMate II Continuous Flow LVAD -- S.D. Russell, et al to be presented at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 5 * Predictors of Long-Term Survival in Destination Therapy Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients -- A.H. Healy, et al to be presented at noon Friday, April 7 * The Impact of Patient Selection on Long-Term Outcomes of Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation as Destination Therapy for End-Stage Heart Failure -- K. Lietz, J. Long, et al to be presented at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, April 8
Ventricular assist devices will be discussed in more than 60 papers and posters throughout the conference.
About Thoratec Corporation
Thoratec Corporation is a world leader in hemodynamic restoration therapy-developing products to treat cardiovascular disease. The company's product line includes the Thoratec(R)VAD and HeartMate LVAS with more than 10,000 devices implanted in patients suffering from heart failure. Thoratec's product line also includes the Vectra(R)VAG (vascular access graft) for patients undergoing hemodialysis. Additionally, its International Technidyne Corporation (ITC) division supplies blood testing and skin incision products. Thoratec is headquartered in Pleasanton, California. For more information, visit the company's web sites at http://www.thoratec.com or http://www.itcmed.com .
Many of the preceding paragraphs, particularly but not exclusively those addressing guidance for future performance or timelines and milestones for clinical trials, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements can be identified by the words, "expects," "projects," "hopes," "believes," "could," and other similar words. Actual results, events or performance could differ materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond Thoratec's control. Therefore, readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these statements. Investors are cautioned that all such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including risks related to the development of new markets including Destination Therapy, the growth of existing markets for our products, customer and physician acceptance of Thoratec products, changes in the mix of Thoratec product sales and the related gross margin for such product sales, the results of clinical trials including the HeartMate II, the ability to improve financial performance, regulatory approval processes, the effects of healthcare reimbursement and coverage policies, the effects of seasonality in Thoratec product sales, the effects of price competition from any Thoratec competitors and the effects any merger and acquisition-related activities. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release should be considered in light of these factors and those factors discussed from time to time in Thoratec's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as those discussed under the heading, "Factors That May Affect Future Results," in Thoratec's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Thoratec undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
CONTACT: investors, Cynthia Lucchese, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Thoratec Corporation, +1-925-846-8600; or Neal Rosen of Kalt Rosen & Company, +1-415-397-2686, for Thoratec Corporation; or media, Jessica Volchok of FischerHealth, Inc., +1-310-577-7870, ext. 140, jvolchok@fischerhealth.com, for Thoratec Corporation
Thoratec CorporationCONTACT: investors, Cynthia Lucchese, Senior Vice President, ChiefFinancial Officer of Thoratec Corporation, +1-925-846-8600; or Neal Rosenof Kalt Rosen & Company, +1-415-397-2686, for Thoratec Corporation; ormedia, Jessica Volchok of FischerHealth, Inc., +1-310-577-7870, ext. 140,jvolchok@fischerhealth.com, for Thoratec Corporation
