MUNDELEIN, Ill., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Bio-logic Systems Corp.
(Nasdaq: BLSC), a designer and marketer of computerized medical
electro-diagnostic equipment, today reported that it has entered into an
agreement with McKesson General Medical, the largest multimarket distributor
of medical-surgical supplies, for the distribution of Bio-logic's AuDX(R)
system. AuDX performs an objective diagnostic test for hearing impairment.
Its basic model is targeted at general practitioners and pediatricians for
routine screening of children and adults.
Under the terms of the agreement, McKesson General Medical (MGM), a
division of McKesson Corp. (NYSE: MCK), will begin offering AuDX to the U.S.
physicians market through its 750 field representatives. As a preferred
vendor in MGM's Prime Alliance Plus program, AuDX also benefits from a variety
of exclusive privileges including being showcased at customer seminars, and
being featured in sales force mailings, customer direct mailings and invoice
stuffers.
"As one of North America's largest distributors of healthcare products to
office-based physicians, MGM's marketing strength and solid reputation among
its customers will create increased awareness and expanded market penetration
for AuDX in two sizable target markets -- general practitioners and
pediatricians," said Bio-logic Systems Corp. President and Chief Executive
Officer, Dr. Gabriel Raviv.
"The agreement with MGM establishes a significant step forward in
accomplishing our goal to partner with key distributors in the office-based
physician market. Our other product lines have traditionally focused on niche
segments targeted at the hospital market, in areas such as diagnosis of sleep
disorders and epilepsy monitoring," said Raviv. "The AuDX technology, which
was introduced in 1997 to the American Academy of Audiology, is unique in that
it creates an innovative breakthrough in the quest for early detection of
hearing impairment. On average, most children go undetected for hearing
disorders until they are almost three years old, according to a recent study
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At this late stage, these
problems can be irreversible. With AuDX, hearing loss can be detected at
birth, improving patients' chances for normal speech and learning function."
Massachusetts, California, Virginia and West Virginia have recently
adopted legislation requiring universal hearing testing for newborns. Utah,
Colorado, Mississippi, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Rhode Island have mandatory
newborn screening in place. Similar legislation is pending in 17 other states
and the trend is gaining momentum. Education for increased awareness, and the
technology to support early detection together will go a long way in reducing
the number of children with permanent hearing loss. Bio-logic and MGM's
partnership is supporting this effort.
McKesson Corp., headquartered in San Francisco, provides health care
products and services to retail pharmacies, hospitals and health care
networks. McKesson is the largest health care supply management company in
North America through its U.S. Health Care businesses, its Canadian
subsidiary, Medis Health and Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., and its minority
interest in Mexico's Nadro, S.A. With its acquisition of General Medical
Corporation, the largest multimarket distributor of medical-surgical supplies,
McKesson has further extended its leadership in health care supply management.
The company also owns McKesson Water Products Company, one of the nation's
largest distributors of bottled drinking water.
Bio-logic Systems Corp., headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., designs,
develops, assembles and markets computer-based electro-diagnostic systems for
use by hospitals, clinics, universities and physicians. The systems conduct
tests that are typically used by medical practitioners to aid in the diagnosis
of certain neurological, psychiatric and sensory disorders, psychological and
learning disorders, brain disorders and tumors.
Except for descriptions of historical facts, this release contains
forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks, which may
cause the company's actual results in the future to differ materially from
those currently anticipated. These risks include, among others, the ability
of the company's distributors and representatives to successfully market and
sell AuDX; regulatory, competitive, and contractual risks; the effects of
economic conditions; any delays or additional costs associated with the roll
out of the AuDX product; and the availability of capital to finance planned
growth, as well as other risks detailed from time to time in the company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Bio-logic Systems Corp.
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CONTACT: Gabriel Raviv, President & CEO of Bio-logic Systems, 847-949-5200; or General Info., Leslie Hunziker, 312-640-6760, Analyst Info., Leslie Loyet, 312-266-7800, or Media Info., Darcy Bretz, 312-640-6756, all of The Financial Relations Board
NOTE TO EDITORS: To receive Bio-logic's latest news release and other corporate documents, free of charge via fax, simply dial 1-800-PRO-INFO. Use company ticker BLSC.
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