FLAGSTAFF, AZ (October 05, 2005) - W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (Gore) announced today that it has acquired Carmeda AB, a Sweden-based manufacturer of the most clinically proven, hemocompatible surface coating for medical devices. Carmeda has been a strategic supplier to Gore of heparin and heparin-related technologies for nearly ten years. Financial details and other terms of the agreement are confidential. The Carmeda AB leadership team and workforce will remain in its existing facility in Upplands Väsby, Sweden.
The Carmeda® BioActive Surface (CBAS®) mimics the non-thrombogenic properties of the endothelial lining of blood vessels using a patented “end-point attachment” covalent bonding of heparin. No other biologically active coating demonstrates the well-documented long-term bioactivity of CBAS. The unique CBAS chemistry enables the immobilized heparin on the device surface to reduce thrombogenicity. Thus, CBAS expresses stable, antithrombotic activity and avoids the “dosing” resulting from the leaching heparin technologies.
Gore utilizes the CBAS coating in its GORE-TEX® PROPATEN Vascular Graft. The CBAS coating provides unique hemocompatibility by minimizing clot formation on the inside surface of GORE-TEX PROPATEN Vascular Grafts. Such clots can result in blockages that can reduce blood flow through the grafts and may require clinical intervention. The GORE-TEX PROPATEN Vascular Graft is commercially available to physicians in Europe and elsewhere outside the United States. It is an investigational device in the United States, limited by U.S. law to investigational use only. A U.S. clinical study under a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) IDE is currently in progress.
John Sininger, leader of the Gore Medical Products Division, stated, “At the heart of Gore’s interest in Carmeda is our comprehensive strategy for growing our business and expanding offerings in the medical products marketplace. Part of that strategy involves strategic acquisitions of companies that share our commitment to applying product technologies that make a difference in the lives of patients. Carmeda is just such a company.”
“We are very excited at the prospects for the winning combination of two premier biomedical technologies, bioactive heparin and ePTFE, for improving medical device performance and positively impacting patients’ lives,” said Paul Begovac, Ph.D., Technology Leader at Gore. “We are confident that, together with Carmeda, we can continue to offer our customers the finest and most innovative cardiovascular products.”
ABOUT W.L. GORE & ASSOCIATES
The Gore Medical Products Division has provided creative therapeutic solutions to complex medical problems for three decades. During that time, more than 13 million innovative Gore Medical Devices have been implanted, saving and improving the quality of lives worldwide. The extensive Gore Medical family of products includes vascular grafts, endovascular and interventional devices, surgical meshes for hernia repair and sutures for use in vascular, cardiac, general surgery and orthopedic procedures. Gore was recently named the second best company to work for by Fortune Magazine. The company’s Medical Products Division is celebrating its 30-year anniversary worldwide throughout 2005.
Products listed may not be available in all markets pending regulatory clearance. GORE, GORE-TEX® and PROPATEN are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Carmeda® BioActive Surface and CBAS® are trademarks of Carmeda AB.
CONTACT
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Medical Products Division
Attn: Customer Service
P.O. Box 2400
Flagstaff, Arizona 86003-2400
USA
Tel.: 928 / 779-2771
Tel.: 800 / 437-8181
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