RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- CLOSURE Medical Corporation
(Nasdaq: CLSR), a medical tissue adhesive products company, today announced
that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with
principal investigator Dr. Eric Mair, Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center ("WRAMC"), and with the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences to conduct animal research related to the
development of a novel, minimally invasive treatment for emphysema
("Endobronchial LVR").
Emphysema is a type of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ("COPD"), a
chronic lung condition estimated to affect at least 10 million people
globally. There is no known cure for emphysema. Instead emphysema patients
are treated primarily through pulmonary rehabilitation, drug therapy
(steroids), and the use of supplemental oxygen. The annual direct medical
costs in the U.S. associated with COPD are estimated at $2.8 billion.
As an alternative to these methods, surgeons perform lung volume reduction
surgery ("LVRS") through open chest surgery. LVRS involves removing the
diseased lung and allowing healthier lung tissue to expand into the vacated
space. The potential healthcare costs if all eligible emphysema patients
underwent the LVRS procedure, at an average cost of $30,000 per procedure,
would be approximately $12 billion in the U.S. alone.
Some thoracic surgeons believe LVRS improves the quality of life and
reduces annual medical costs in selected patients suffering from emphysema.
The Health Care Financing Administration and the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute are sponsoring the National Emphysema Treatment Trial, which
began in 1996, to evaluate the effectiveness of LVRS for the treatment of
emphysema.
CLOSURE researchers are developing a unique and proprietary medical
adhesive to be used in the Endobronchial LVR to achieve bronchial occlusion
without the need for open chest surgery. Once occluded, dysfunctional lung
tissue would collapse and make room for healthier lung tissue to expand. In a
recently completed feasibility study at WRAMC, the adhesive was placed in the
lungs of 10 goats using a bronchoscope and a small catheter. All 10 goats
achieved lung volume reduction. The next phase of animal research will focus
on optimizing the Endobronchial LVR procedure prior to entering human clinical
trials.
Dr. Mair stated, "The Endobronchial LVR approach using CLOSURE's adhesive
may result in greatly reduced patient mortality and morbidity, and result in
significantly reduced procedure costs when compared to open lung volume
reduction surgery."
CLOSURE Medical Corporation, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina,
develops, manufactures, and commercializes medical tissue adhesive products
based on its proprietary cyanoacrylate technology. CLOSURE's nonabsorbable
tissue adhesive products are used as an alternative to replace sutures and
staples for certain topical wound closure applications, while its internal
tissue adhesive products may potentially be used for internal wound closure
and management. Currently marketed nonabsorbable tissue adhesive products
include DERMABOND(R) Topical Skin Adhesive, which is used as an alternative to
replace sutures and staples for closure of certain lacerations and incisions;
OCTYLDENT(R) adhesive, which is used as an adjunct in the treatment of adult
periodontal disease; and the NEXABAND(R) line of topical adhesives, which are
used in veterinary wound closure and management.
To receive CLOSURE's latest news release and other corporate documents via
fax, at no cost, call 1-800-PRO-INFO, use the Company's symbol CLSR. Or visit
the Financial Relations Board's website at http://www.frbinc.com .
This release contains certain forward-looking statements which involve
known and unknown risks, delays, uncertainties or other factors not under the
Company's control which may cause actual results, performance or achievements
of the Company to be materially different from the results, performance, or
other expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors
include, but are not limited to the early stage of commercialization of the
Company products; the progress of its research and development programs for
future products; the need for regulatory approval and effects of governmental
regulation; technological uncertainties; the satisfactory conclusion of
negotiations with, and dependence on, marketing partners, and dependence on
patents and trade secrets, as well as those detailed in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE CLOSURE Medical Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.frbinc.com
CONTACT:
Robert V. Toni, President & CEO, or Benny
Ward, CFO, 919-876-7800, both of CLOSURE Medical; or General,
Stuart Levine, Analyst, Cecelia Heer, Media, Deanne Eagle,
212-661-8030, all of The Financial Relations Board
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