Angiotech Receives CE Mark Approval Of HemoStream Chronic Dialysis Catheter

Vancouver - Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a global specialty pharmaceutical and medical device company, recently announced that it has received CE Mark approval to begin marketing the HemoStream Chronic Dialysis Catheter in Europe.

This CE Mark approval follows Angiotech's announcement in August 2007 that it had received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) to begin marketing HemoStream in the United States. In April of the same year, Angiotech entered into an agreement with Rex Medical, LP that granted Angiotech an exclusive license to market and distribute HemoStream worldwide.

"This CE Mark approval is another example of the international acceptance of Angiotech's technologies. With Rex Medical as our worldwide licensing partner, we look forward to expanding HemoStream's availability in Europe as well as in the United States," said Dr. William Hunter, President and CEO of Angiotech.

About the HemoStream Chronic Dialysis Catheter
Incidences of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis are a rapidly growing challenge in healthcare worldwide. When kidneys fail, function of the kidneys can be partially replaced using a process called hemodialysis. This process involves drawing blood out of the body, filtering it through a large machine and then returning filtered blood back to the body. Chronic dialysis catheters, such as HemoStream, are used as long-term vascular access for hemodialysis. HemoStream may also be used as a temporary access while more permanent options mature or become ready for use, such as surgically created AV fistulas.

SOURCE: Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.