Abiomed to Acquire Impella Cardiosystems

To complement its own cardiac products and systems, Abiomed (Danvers, MA, USA) has agreed to acquire Impella CardioSystems AG (Aachen, Germany) for about four million shares of Abiomed stock and U.S.$1.8 million in cash. Contingent payments range from zero to $29 million.

Impella manufactures and sells the world's smallest, minimally invasive, high performance micro blood pumps with integrated motors and sensors for use in interventional cardiology and heart surgery. These circulatory assist devices are inserted percutaneously into patients in a procedure similar to a standard balloon pump procedure in order to help restore blood flow. All of the devices have received the CE Mark. These Recover system pumps are designed to provide left ventricular support for patients suffering from reduced cardiac output and to aid in the recovery of hearts in patients suffering an acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

"Impella's pumps provide cardiologists with a simplified minimally invasive option for left ventricular support in the cath lab, enabling earlier initiation of the healing process, thereby lessening the need for subsequently more invasive procedures in many patients,” observed Dr. Martin Leon, professor of medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center (NY, USA; www.nyp.org).

Dr. Leon also noted that the Impella systems have the potential to become a standard part of any high-risk cardiovascular procedure being performed in the cath lab, including angioplasty, by providing needed hemodynamic support.

"The acquisition of Impella fits perfectly with our strategy of providing cardiac support and circulatory assist to patients throughout all areas of the hospital,” stated Michael R. Minogue, CEO and president of Abiomed.





Related Links:
Abiomed
Impella