| Danvers,
MA and Atlanta, March 8, 2006—ABIOMED, Inc. (NASDAQ:
ABMD), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical products
designed to assist or replace the pumping function of the failing
heart, today announced the showcase of its AB5000™ Circulatory
Support System at the American College of Cardiology's (ACC) 55th
Annual Scientific Session. ACC is the premier cardiovascular medical
meeting, bringing together more than 30,000 cardiologists to further
breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine. ABIOMED will occupy booth
#3870 at the ACC Conference which is being held at the Georgia World
Congress Center in Atlanta from March 11-14.
ABIOMED is a sponsor of the Texas Heart Institute's educational
session on March 11 at 8:30 a.m. in the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.
This session entitled, "The Cardiologist's New Frontier:
Mechanical Support For Heart Failure," will include in-depth
presentations on ABIOMED's AB5000™ Circulatory Support
System, BVS® 5000 Biventricular Support System, as well as the
IMPELLA® RECOVER® minimally invasive cardiovascular support
systems which are available in Europe under CE Mark approval but
are not yet available in the United States.
"ABIOMED's advanced medical technologies provide patients
in acute heart failure with FDA-approved circulatory support for
all potentially recoverable indications. For cardiac surgeons and
cardiologists alike, this temporary support can potentially help
their patients avoid a heart transplant," said Michael R.
Minogue, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ABIOMED.
To date, more than 8,000 patients worldwide have been supported
with these devices. Patients who have recovered included those suffering
from cardiogenic shock resulting from myocardial infarction, myocarditis,
postpartum cardiomyopathy, ventricular septal defect, refractory
arrhythmias, failed heart transplants, right ventricular assistance
with implantable LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device), and post
cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS). ABIOMED's devices encourage
recovery and are easier to implant, utilizing cannulae inserted
through a small incision, rather than more traumatic bridge-to-transplant
devices that core the ventricles and require heart-lung machines
for implantation. The ABIOMED® AB5000™ System also allows
patients to walk with the support of the console, which helps recovery.
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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