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Product Revenue Growth Driven By AB5000 Bridge to Recovery Platform
ABIOMED to issue full earning release and host conference call
on Monday, November 1st at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
DANVERS, Mass. (October 26, 2004) – ABIOMED,
Inc. (NASDAQ: ABMD) today released highlights of its financial results
for the second quarter of fiscal year 2005 ended September 30, 2004.
ABIOMED reported a net profit of $0.5 million on $10.4 million in
product revenues, or $0.02 per share, as compared to a net loss
of $2.8 million or $0.13 per share for the second quarter in fiscal
year 2004. The Company's higher product revenues were driven
by sales of ABIOMED's AB5000 platform with 129% growth versus
the prior quarter. In combination with the steady growth of BVS
5000 sales, the Company achieved the first profitable quarter in
the past eight fiscal years and the first profitable quarter based
on product revenues in company history.
"ABIOMED has achieved profitability based upon product sales
and has now set a goal for the Company to achieve full-year profitability
from ongoing business operations. We attribute this milestone to
the rapid acceptance of our AB5000 heart assist device by surgeons,
addressing a tremendous need for a reliable device to help patients
whose hearts might recover if given adequate time.
Our team is pleased with our momentum, but clearly recognize that
we have realized only a fraction of the overall potential for our
products. We remain committed to making this technology available
globally, and working with surgeons to develop practices that help
ensure the best possible outcomes for their patients," stated
Michael R. Minogue, CEO and President of ABIOMED.
The potential US caseload for Bridge to Recovery patients, those
who suffer from an acute cardiac event and whose hearts have the
potential to recover if given support, is 60,000 patients per year*.
Currently, less than 1,000 patients per year actually receive temporary
support from a ventricular assist device with the goal of recovery,
even though the alternative is usually death. The survival rate
for patients implanted with the BVS 5000 and AB5000 systems is greater
than 50% at the top 20% of centers in ABIOMED's installed
base**.
ABIOMED will be issuing its full financial release and hosting
a conference call to discuss fiscal 2005 second quarter results
on Monday, November 1st at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. This call may
be heard live via our web site at www.abiomed.com.
ABOUT ABIOMED
Based in Danvers, Massachusetts, ABIOMED, Inc. (pronounced "AB'-EE-O-MED")
is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical products
designed to assist or replace the pumping function of the failing
heart. ABIOMED currently manufactures and sells the AB5000™
Circulatory Support System and the BVS® 5000 Biventricular Support
System for the temporary support of all patients with failing but
potentially recoverable hearts. In Europe, ABIOMED offers the IMPELLA®
RECOVER® minimally invasive cardiovascular support systems under
CE Mark approval. The IMPELLA products are not yet available for
sale in the United States. The Company's AbioCor® Implantable
Replacement Heart was the subject of an initial clinical trial under
an Investigational Device Exemption from the United States Food
and Drug Administration. The AbioCor has not been approved for commercial
distribution, and is not available for use or sale outside of the
initial clinical trial. For additional information please visit:
www.abiomed.com.
Contacts:
Liza Heapes
ABIOMED, INC.
Media Relations
(978) 646-1668
mediarelations@abiomed.com
Daniel Sutherby
ABIOMED, INC.
Chief Financial Officer
(978) 646-1812
ir@abiomed.com
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Release contains forward-looking statements, including statements
regarding development of ABIOMED's existing and new products, the
Company's progress toward commercial growth, and future opportunities.
The Company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated
in these forward-looking statements based upon a number of factors,
including uncertainties associated with development, testing and
related regulatory approvals, anticipated future losses, complex
manufacturing, high quality requirements, dependence on limited
sources of supply, competition, technological change, government
regulation, future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing
and other risks and challenges detailed in the Company's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual
Report filed on Form 10-K. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date of this Release. The Company 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 that
occur after the date of this Release or to reflect the occurrence
of unanticipated events.
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