Heritage Worldwide To Introduce Hydrogel-Filled Breast Implants

Main Category: Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 16 Jun 2006 - 0:00 PDT


Heritage Worldwide Inc (OTC Bulletin Board: HWWI) announced that it believes it will be able to introduce this year a new type of breast implant that is pre-filled with a proprietary formulation of hydrogel, a substance of which the largest component is distilled water. The pre-filled hydrogel implants are anticipated to be permitted first in the European Community, and would be manufactured in the Company's ISO-certified clean-room facilities, for distribution around the world.

Founder and Chairman Jean-Claude Mas commented, "Our R&D has been successful in working with our form of hydrogel to attain the same feel inside the body as silicone gel implants, but of course hydrogel does not have the same characteristics as silicone gel because it is largely compounded of water and some naturally occurring sugars. Although we cannot predict when we will be awarded CE Mark clearance, we believe it will be later this year, and, after clearance, we would be able to start shipping the hydrogel implants very quickly."

Mr. Mas said that Heritage believes that the hydrogel implants will be easily accepted by surgeons and patients, who currently prefer silicone-gel-filled implants outside the United States, and saline-filled implants in the United States.

He said, "Hydrogel offers an elegant solution with the advantages of a gel, and the simplicity of being a water-based substance." This hydrogel is highly cohesive thanks to a patented reticulation process.

The Company sold an earlier generation pre-filled hydrogel implant beginning in 1992; that product was discontinued in 2001. The new hydrogel implant has been completely redesigned, retextured, and has numerous new attributes and clinical advantages.

Mr. Mas pointed out that Heritage Worldwide, which sells its implants direct in France and Spain, sells through distributors in other countries around the world. It does not currently supply implants to the United States. Heritage products are sold in 65 countries, primarily in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Australia.

About Heritage Worldwide, Inc.

The Company is incorporated in the State of Delaware. The Company's subsidiaries develop, manufacture, and market breast and other body implants and body support products worldwide. One of the Company's subsidiaries, PIP France, maintains its production facility in the Toulon metropolitan area in Southern France, with a distribution facility in Spain.

Safe-harbor Statement

All statements included in this release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections about our industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by us. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions and variations, or negatives of these words. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. These forward looking-statements speak only as of the date hereof and are based upon the information available to us at this time. Such information is subject to change, and we will not necessarily inform you of such changes. These statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors.

Important factors that may cause such a difference for Heritage Worldwide include, but are not limited to competitive pressures and other factors such as the introduction or regulatory approval of new products by our competitors and pricing of competing products and the resulting effects on sales and pricing of our products, disruptions or other problems with our sources of supply, significant product liability or other claims, difficulties with new product development and market acceptance, patent conflicts, product recalls, United States Food and Drug Administration delay in approval or rejection of new and existing products, changes in governmental regulations, use of hazardous or environmentally sensitive materials, our inability to implement new information technology systems, and other events.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss the foregoing risks as well as other important risk factors that could contribute to such differences or otherwise affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason.

Heritage Worldwide Inc
http://heritageworldwide com/

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