ALACHUA, Fla., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tutogen Medical, Inc. , a leading manufacturer of sterile biological implant products made from human (allograft) and animal (xenograft) tissue, today announced a four-year exclusive worldwide distribution agreement with Davol Inc., a subsidiary of C. R. Bard Inc., to promote, market and distribute Tutogen Medical’s line of allograft biologic tissues for hernia repair and the reconstruction of the chest and abdominal wall.
Davol, in addition to purchasing the product from Tutogen, will pay Tutogen approximately $3.3 million in fees. Tutogen will recognize in earnings approximately $825,000 each year, for the four-year term of the agreement.
Guy Mayer, chief executive officer of Tutogen Medical, commented, “We are pleased to be working with Davol in this important market segment. Davol is widely recognized as the market leader for hernia repair products in the U.S. Our products are (allograft) human tissues and are the only hernia repair products on the market today that offer rapid rehydration and the safety profile offered by our Tutoplast process. We believe that these attributes provide surgeons with expanded options that can lead to improved patient outcomes.”
In 2002 Tutogen entered the European market with a sterile biological membrane for hernia and abdominal wall repair featuring the Company’s proprietary Tutoplast process. The tissues have been very well received in Europe and have been successfully used in abdominal wall surgery of neonates and children with hernia defects. It is estimated that, in the U.S., approximately 1 million hernia repair procedures are performed each year, creating an estimated $150 million market.
About Tutogen Medical, Inc.
Tutogen Medical, Inc. manufactures sterile biological implant products made from human (allograft) and animal (xenograft) tissue. Tutogen utilizes its Tutoplast Process(R) of tissue preservation and viral inactivation to manufacture and deliver sterile bio-implants used in spinal/trauma, urology, dental, ophthalmology, and general surgery procedures. The Company’s Tutoplast(R) products are sold and distributed worldwide by Zimmer Spine and Zimmer Dental, subsidiaries of Zimmer Holdings, Inc., the Mentor Corporation, IOP, Inc. and through independent distributors and subsidiaries in the U.S. and Germany. For more information, visit the Company’s Web site at http://www.tutogen.com.
Forward Looking Statement Disclaimer: Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may differ materially from those set forth in these statements. In addition, the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission could affect such results.
Contacts: George Lombardi, Chief Financial Officer Lytham Partners, LLC Tutogen Medical, Inc. Institutional: Joe Diaz 973-785-0004, ext. 101 Retail: Joe Dorame glombardi@tutogen.com 602-889-9700
Tutogen Medical, Inc.
CONTACT: George Lombardi, Chief Financial Officer of Tutogen Medical,Inc., +1-973-785-0004, ext. 101, glombardi@tutogen.com; or Institutional,Joe Diaz, or Retail, Joe Dorame, both of Lytham Partners, LLC,+1-602-889-9700, for Tutogen Medical, Inc.
Web site: http://www.tutogen.com/