-- Brought PillCam endoscopy to more than 70 countries worldwide;
-- Installed PillCam platform at more than 5,000 centers worldwide;
-- Achieved reimbursement for PillCam SB for nearly 580 million lives
worldwide
-- Introduced technology for visualizing esophagus and colon, PillCam ESO
and PillCam COLON [PillCam COLON not available for sale in the US];
-- Offered continuous innovation and product advancements for superior
visualization and maximum workflow productivity.
-- Offered educational seminars to the majority of our customers annually
-- Built the third-largest US sales force in field of GI; and
-- Achieved profitability and maintained a strong cash position.
"PillCam endoscopy helped my physician to find a serious problem in my
small intestine. Previous tests had all been negative," said Michael
Polimeni, a 49-year-old patient of Dr. Lewis. "As a patient who has
undergone several GI procedures over the last several years, I was
pleasantly surprised when I found out how easy PillCam endoscopy was."
The PillCam SB video capsule measures 11 mm x 26 mm and weighs less than
four grams. It contains an imaging device and light source and transmits
images at a rate of two images per second generating more than 50,000
pictures over an eight-hour period.
"We are proud to have made a difference in the lives of so many patients
and we remain committed to providing physicians with innovative and
patient-friendly diagnostic and monitoring tools for the GI tract," said
Homi Shamir, President and Chief Executive Officer, Given Imaging. "Our
vision for the future is to employ our leadership in state-of-the-art
software and imaging technology to create products that enable earlier
detection of GI disorders in order to ultimately save lives and improve
patient care."
The company continues to innovate and improve the diagnostic experience for
health care providers and patients alike, and plans to introduce several
procedural improvements at upcoming annual meetings for the Society for
Gastroenterological Nurses Association and at Digestive Disease Week, which
take place from May 15 - 20 and May 31 - June 3, respectively.
About Given Imaging
Since 2001 Given Imaging has advanced gastrointestinal diagnosis by
developing innovative, patient-friendly tools based on its PillCam®
Platform. PillCam capsule endoscopy provides physicians with natural images
of the small intestine via PillCam SB, the esophagus through PillCam ESO
and the colon with PillCam COLON [not cleared for use in the USA]. The
PillCam capsules are miniature video cameras that patients ingest. Given
Imaging's other capsule products include Agile™ patency capsule, to
verify intestinal patency, and Bravo®, the only wireless, catheter-free,
48-hour pH test commercially available for pH testing to assess
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Given Imaging's products use
cutting-edge wireless technology and advanced software to enable
gastroenterologists to better diagnose and more accurately treat patients.
All Given Imaging products allow patients to maintain normal activities.
Given Imaging's headquarters, manufacturing and R&D facilities are located
in Yoqneam, Israel, with operating subsidiaries in the United States,
Germany, France, Japan, Australia and Singapore. For more information,
please visit http://www.givenimaging.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, projections about our business and our future revenues,
expenses and profitability. Forward-looking statements may be, but are not
necessarily, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as
"may," "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans,"
"believes," and words and terms of similar substance. Forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
which may cause the actual events, results, performance, circumstances or
achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future
events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual
events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements to differ from
such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the
following: (1) our ability to develop and bring to market new products, (2)
our ability to receive regulatory clearance or approval to market our
products or changes in regulatory environment, (3) our success in
implementing our sales, marketing and manufacturing plans, (4) protection
and validity of patents and other intellectual property rights, (5) the
impact of currency exchange rates, (6) the effect of competition by other
companies, (7) the outcome of significant litigation, (8) our ability to
obtain reimbursement for our product from government and commercial payors,
(9) quarterly variations in operating results, (10) the possibility of
armed conflict or civil or military unrest in Israel, (11) the impact of
global economic conditions, and (12) other risks and factors disclosed in
our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including,
but not limited to, risks and factors identified under such headings as
"Risk Factors," "Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements"
and "Operating Results and Financial Review and Prospects" in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008. You are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except for the
Company's ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the
applicable securities laws, it undertakes no obligation to release publicly
any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to
report the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contact Information: For further information contact: Fern Lazar/David Carey Lazar Partners Ltd. 1-866-GIVEN-IR /
