Allergan And Covidien To Co-Promote LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System
Irvine, CA - Allergan, Inc. recently announced that it has entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of Covidien Ltd., a leading global provider of healthcare products, under which Covidien will co-promote Allergan's LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System to bariatric and other surgeons in the United States.
Under the multi-year agreement, which became effective on November 9, 2007, Covidien will leverage its expertise in bariatrics and utilize its Surgical Devices sales force to promote the LAP-BAND System. Allergan will continue to deploy its own bariatric sales force. Allergan will continue to recognize revenues from the sale of the LAP-BAND System, but other financial terms were not disclosed.
"The alliance with Covidien is an important step in the fight against obesity. With a strong investment in targeted consumer advertising, comprehensive surgeon and referring physician education, and robust reimbursement assistance, we are successfully broadening patient awareness of and access to the LAP-BAND System, as evidenced by the market leadership and rapid growth of the product," said Robert Grant, President of Allergan Medical, a division of Allergan, Inc. "The alliance with Covidien will enable us to bring even greater value to the market by marrying our expanded and experienced field sales force with the added reach provided by Covidien's sales representatives to further promote, educate and train surgeons on the LAP-BAND System."
"Covidien is committed to offering every surgical option to patients who can improve their health through bariatric surgery," said Scott Flora, President, Surgical Devices, Covidien. "Our world-class professional medical education group will train surgeons on the LAP-BAND® System, ensuring that the bariatric surgery community has a full arsenal of best-in-class products to offer to their patients," added Flora.
In the United States, approximately 56 million adults are obese, of whom 20 million are severely obese. Obesity is a chronic disease caused by a variety of factors, singly or in combination, including environmental (social and cultural), genetic, physiologic, metabolic, behavioral and psychological.
About the LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System
The LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in June 2001 for severely obese adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more or for adults with a BMI of at least 35 plus at least one severe obesity-related health condition, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension or asthma.
Used in more than 300,000 procedures worldwide, the LAP-BAND System was developed to facilitate long-term weight loss and reduce the health risks associated with severe and morbid obesity. Unlike gastric bypass surgery, the LAP-BAND System does not involve stomach cutting, stapling or intestinal re-routing. Using laparoscopic surgical techniques, the LAP-BAND System is placed around the top portion of the patient's stomach, creating a small pouch. By reducing stomach capacity, the LAP-BAND System can help achieve weight loss by creating an earlier feeling of satiety. The LAP-BAND System is adjustable, which means that the inflatable band can be tightened or loosened to help the patient achieve the desired level of satiety while maintaining a healthy diet. It is also reversible and can be removed at any time.
Important Information about the LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System
As with any surgery, there are possible risks and complications with the LAP-BAND System, including but not limited to infection, nausea, vomiting, band slippage and obstruction, and in rare cases, gastric perforation and reoperation. For more risk information visit www.lapband.com.
SOURCE: Allergan, Inc.