WARSAW, Ind., June 6, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SWX: ZMH) today announced that it has launched an innovative biological patch for the repair of rotator cuff injuries in the shoulder. The underlying technology was developed by Tissue Science Laboratories plc (TSL) of the United Kingdom and is being marketed by Zimmer as the Zimmer(R) Collagen Repair (ZCR) Patch. The two companies signed a multi-year, exclusive distribution agreement in 2003.
"With nearly 250,000 rotator cuff repairs annually in the United States alone, this is a substantial market segment that is growing in both primary and revision procedures," said Zimmer Chairman, President and CEO Ray Elliott. "With the ZCR Patch, we will be able to address the unique needs of orthopaedic surgeons who require a material to reinforce their rotator cuff surgical repairs but with several important new advantages."
Zimmer already participates in the shoulder repair market with products such as Bigliani/Flatow(R) The Complete Shoulder Solution, one of the world's leading total shoulder replacement systems, and the Anatomical Shoulder(TM) System.
Zimmer believes the ZCR Patch offers several potential advantages compared to current products or treatments. For example, the ZCR Patch's high resistance to collagenase activity and breakdown in the body promotes increased repair stability throughout the healing process. The ZCR Patch also offers reduced inflammatory response characteristics within the body due to TSL's proprietary processing technology. In addition, the ZCR Patch offers ease of use because the product is flexible and strong, can be stored at room temperature instead of requiring refrigeration and can be used without the need for rehydration by the surgeon.
The ZCR Patch is a chemically crosslinked, acellular sheet of collagen/elastin that is derived from porcine dermis. It is a durable implant, highly resistant to breakdown by enzymes in the body. In November 2002, the Food and Drug Administration cleared the technology for use in the United States for treatment of rotator cuff injuries of the shoulder. Marketed by TSL as Permacol(R), it also has been available in the United Kingdom for rotator cuff repairs and was previously cleared in the United States for urological treatments, hernia repairs and plastic and reconstructive surgery of the head and face (sold under various brand names). In all, the implant technology has been used in more than 100,000 procedures worldwide.
The first ZCR Patch procedure was performed in April 2005, by Dr. Greg Nicholson at the Rush University Medical Center at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago.
"I believe the implantation technique is reproducible and effective," Dr. Nicholson said. "It has only taken 12 to 15 minutes to trim and suture in the graft after rotator cuff repair, so it does not add any significant OR time."
Zimmer has begun marketing the ZCR Patch within the United States, and expects to make the product available on a global basis later this year.
About Zimmer
Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer is the worldwide #1 pure-play orthopaedic leader in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing reconstructive and spinal implants, trauma and related orthopaedic surgical products. Zimmer has operations in more than 24 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries. Zimmer's 2004 sales were approximately $3 billion. The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 6,500 employees worldwide.
About Tissue Science Laboratories
Founded in 1995, with headquarters in Aldershot, Hampshire, TSL is a medical technology company specialising in tissue repair and replacement with a proprietary sheet product, derived from porcine dermis, called Permacol(R). TSL has launched successfully different formulations of the product and built a development pipeline that addresses the large and fast growing surgical implant market. The Company floated in November 2001 and is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (LSE: TSL). For more information, please visit the web site at http://www.tissuescience.com .
Visit Zimmer on the worldwide web at http://www.zimmer.com
Zimmer Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the orthopaedics industry, management's beliefs and assumptions made by management. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "targets," "forecasts," and "seeks" or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully integrate Centerpulse AG and Implex Corp., the outcome of the Department of Justice investigation announced in March 2005 and the pending informal SEC investigation of Centerpulse accounting, price and product competition, rapid technological development, demographic changes, dependence on new product development, the mix of our products and services, supply and prices of raw materials and products, customer demand for our products and services, control of costs and expenses, our ability to form and implement alliances, international growth, governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including tax obligations and risks, product liability and intellectual property litigation losses, reimbursement levels from third-party payors, general industry and market conditions and growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the disclosure materials filed by Zimmer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Zimmer disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers of this document are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since, while we believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.
SOURCE Zimmer Holdings, Inc.
Media: Brad Bishop, +1-574-372-4291, [email protected] , Investors: Marc
Ostermann, +1-574-371-8515, [email protected] , or Sam Leno, +1-574-372-4790
[email protected] , all of Zimmer Holdings, Inc.
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