ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI®) (NASDAQ: CSII), a medical device company developing and commercializing innovative interventional treatment systems for patients with peripheral and coronary artery disease, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Aerolase Corp. (Aerolase®) to co-develop a new laser atherectomy device for physicians to use in more effectively treating multiple forms of arterial disease.
Scott Ward, CSI’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We believe there is an opportunity to leverage Aerolase’s innovative proprietary laser technology, which is FDA-cleared for dermatology and medical aesthetic uses, and supported by leading physicians in those fields. The collaboration project aims to create a significant improvement in the quality of care for patients suffering from peripheral arterial disease and in-stent restenosis.”
Said Pavel Efremkin, Ph.D., Aerolase’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, “We are excited to pursue the development of an atherectomy laser device with an industry-leading company like CSI. Our dermatology and aesthetic medicine customers appreciate the portability, reliability, ease-of-use and minimal set up time that our lasers offer in addition to high clinical efficacies. We look forward to demonstrating that our solid-state, patented, air-cooled laser technology can transfer to atherectomy and provide similar benefits to interventional cardiologists.”
Under the terms of the agreement, CSI made an undisclosed equity investment in Aerolase and will make additional equity investments as development milestones are met.
Concluded Ward, “The successful development and commercialization of this laser atherectomy technology will expand the number of patients CSI serves. We are committed to transforming CSI into an innovative and global leader in the treatment of peripheral and coronary artery disease.”
About Aerolase Corp.
Aerolase Corp., based in Tarrytown, NY,
invented, manufactures, markets and sells its LightPod®
dermatology lasers, with systems sold in 42 countries. The company has
won many industry awards and accolades recognizing the innovative
quality of its lasers, which are based on important clinical advances
and patented design. For more information, visit the company’s website
at www.aerolase.com
About Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
Cardiovascular Systems,
Inc., based in St. Paul, Minn., is a medical device company focused on
developing and commercializing innovative solutions for treating
vascular and coronary disease. The company’s Orbital Atherectomy Systems
treat calcified and fibrotic plaque in arterial vessels throughout the
leg and heart in a few minutes of treatment time, and address many of
the limitations associated with existing surgical, catheter and
pharmacological treatment alternatives. The U.S. FDA granted the first
510(k) clearance for the use of the Orbital Atherectomy System in
peripheral arteries in August 2007. In October 2013, the company
received FDA approval for the Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System. To
date, over 392,000 of CSI’s devices have been sold to leading
institutions across the United States. For more information, visit the
company’s website at www.csi360.com
Safe Harbor
Certain statements in this news release are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are provided under the protection of
the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by that Act. For
example, statements in this press release regarding (i) the development
of a new laser atherectomy device; (ii) the opportunity to leverage
Aerolase’s technology; (iii) the benefits of a new laser atherectomy
device; (iv) future equity investments; and (v) the future impact of
adding laser atherectomy to CSI’s portfolio, are forward-looking
statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause results to differ materially from those projected, including, but
not limited to, the ability of CSI and Aerolase to collaborate on the
development of a new laser atherectomy device; the ability of the
parties to meet development milestones; satisfaction of the conditions
to CSI’s additional equity investments; technical challenges; regulatory
developments; clinical trial requirements and results; FDA clearances
and approvals; the experience of physicians regarding the effectiveness
and reliability of products sold by CSI; the reluctance of physicians,
hospitals and other organizations to accept new products; the impact of
competitive products and pricing; general economic conditions; and other
factors detailed from time to time in CSI’s SEC reports, including its
most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports
on Form 10-Q. CSI encourages you to consider all of these risks,
uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating the
forward-looking statements contained in this release. As a result of
these matters, changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other
circumstances, CSI's actual results may differ materially from the
expected results discussed in the forward-looking statements contained
in this release. The forward-looking statements made in this release are
made only as of the date of this release, and CSI undertakes no
obligation to update them to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.