Endologix Comments On NEJM Study Highlighting Advantages Of Minimally Invasive Endovascular Repair

Main Category: Vascular
Article Date: 06 Feb 2008 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions

Endologix, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELGX), developer and manufacturer of the Powerlink(R) System endoluminal stent graft (ELG) for the minimally invasive treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), noted a study published in the January 31, 2008 New England Journal of Medicine comparing results of AAA repair following open surgery and endovascular repair. Based on a review of 45,660 Medicare discharges, the study authors found that significantly more patients were discharged to home following endovascular repair, and that the laparotomy necessary to perform open repair carried its own risk for re-hospitalizations due to serious medical problems, such as abdominal wall hernia and bowel resection.

The study, "Endovascular vs. Open Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in the Medicare Population," authored by Marc L. Schermerhorn, M.D.; A. James O'Malley, Ph.D.; Ami Jhaveri, M.D.; Philip Cotterill, Ph.D.; Frank Pomposelli, M.D., and Bruce E. Landon, M.D., M.B.A., tracked 22,830 matched-pair Medicare patients between 2001 and 2004 with follow-up in 2005. An abstract of study results can be found here.

"We applaud these researchers for undertaking a comparative study that points to important advantages of minimally invasive AAA repair over open surgery beyond the generally accepted benefits of reductions in perioperative mortality and morbidity," said Paul McCormick, president and chief executive officer of Endologix. "These differences confer significant clinical and economic benefits for the endovascular option and support our conviction that endovascular repair is on the way to becoming the standard of care for AAA repair."

"We are also convinced that our Powerlink System has design advantages over other marketed endoluminal devices, which is supported by our first-in-class long-term patient follow-up data," he added. "We are actively working to extend the benefits of endovascular repair to include patients with anatomies previously believed unfavorable for this treatment option."

About Endologix

Endologix, Inc. develops and manufactures minimally invasive treatments for vascular diseases. Endologix's Powerlink System is an endoluminal stent graft (ELG) for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). AAA is a weakening of the wall of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, resulting in a balloon-like enlargement. Once AAA develops, it continues to enlarge and, if left untreated, becomes increasingly susceptible to rupture. The overall patient mortality rate for ruptured AAA is approximately 75%, making it the thirteenth leading cause of death in the U.S. Additional information can be found on Endologix's Web site at http://www.endologix.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements, including our belief that endovascular repair is becoming the standard of care for AAA repair, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the control of Endologix. The Company undertakes no obligation to update its forward looking statements. Please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for more detailed information regarding these risks and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied.

Endologix, Inc.