| Danvers,
Mass., January 16, 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, is pleased to announce that Ronald W. Dollens, retired President
and Chief Executive Officer of Guidant Corporation ("Guidant"),
has been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors.
Mr. Dollens served as President and CEO of Guidant, a $3.7 billion
company, since its initial public offering in 1994 and oversaw its
split-off from parent Eli Lilly and Company in 1995. Prior to forming
Guidant, Mr. Dollens was President of Eli Lilly's Medical
Devices and Diagnostics Division (MDD).
"We are extremely excited to welcome Ron to ABIOMED's
Board of Directors and feel that his experience leading Guidant
during its rapid growth and product development aligns well with
ABIOMED," said Michael R. Minogue, Chairman, CEO and President
of ABIOMED. "His leadership experience in the medical device
industry should provide us with a wealth of additional knowledge,
expertise and opportunities to fuel our growth strategy."
Mr. Dollens' industry leadership includes the position as
past Director and Chairman of the Board of the Advanced Medical
Technology Association (AdvaMed), the world's largest medical
technology association; as well as past Chairman of the Healthcare
Leadership Counsel. He has served on the Advisory Committee on Regulatory
Reform, a group appointed by former U.S. Health and Human Services
Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. Mr Dollens' community involvement
includes past Chairman of the United Way of Central Indiana, director
positions for the Eiteljorg Museum, the Regenstrief Institute, the
Alliance for Aging Research, and Butler University. He offers an
advisory role for Purdue University, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology,
Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering and holds the
Harold A. "Red" Poling Chair for Business and Government
at Indiana University. Mr. Dollens was a founding board member of
Guidant Corporation and is currently the non-executive Chairman
of the Board of Kenetic Concepts, Inc.
"ABIOMED has tremendous opportunity to provide patients with
technology to recover their hearts," said Mr. Dollens. "The
Company has made excellent strides building an exceptional leadership
team and product pipeline with in-house developments. The recent
acquisition of Impella positions the Company well in growing markets.
I am excited to contribute towards its continued success."
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 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.
Cheif 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.
###
|