Live Demonstration of "Pleat" Sewn in Stomach Tissue as a Treatment for Acid Reflux
MURRAY HILL, NJ, -- May 22, 2000 --
Bard Interventional Products, a division of C. R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE-BCR), today officially launched the company’s new Endoscopic Suturing System for the treatment of chronic heartburn, known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), at the Digestive Disease Week 2000 Conference in San Diego. The Bard Endoscopic Suturing System received clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 20, 2000.
This new medical procedure performed on an outpatient basis, places sutures at the top of the stomach to create plications or pleats and significantly improves heartburn symptoms and regurgitation. The device is attached to the end of a flexible tube placed down the throat, and, like a tiny sewing machine, allows the physician to place stitches near the structure that connects the stomach to the esophagus.
"For gastroenterologists, our new Endoscopic Suturing System now provides an effective treatment option to treat chronic heartburn. This is a first in the treatment of GERD, reducing or eliminating the need for daily medications, invasive surgery and long-term suffering by patients," said Bard Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, William H. Longfield. "We have had the privilege to work with several leading gastroenterologists in the development of the Endoscopic Suturing System and thank each of them for their support and expertise. Bard is delighted to be the first to offer the answer for the effective treatment of GERD," he said. Following FDA clearance, the first Bard Endoscopic Suturing procedures were performed during the week of May 15, 2000, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City, Methodist Specialty & Transplant Hospital, San Antonio, and Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit.
"Our experience with the Endoscopic Suturing System has shown it to be safe and successful in the treatment of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease. It significantly reduces the incident of heartburn in the majority of patients," said Richard I. Rothstein, chief of gastroenterology at Dartmouth Medical Center, Hanover, NH. "In fact, most of the patients treated with the Endoscopic Suturing System have stopped taking daily medications for heartburn and are able to lead more normal lives again, not worried about what they eat or the need for ongoing medications."
The Bard Endoscopic Suturing System does not require an incision, allowing for faster recovery time than standard surgical procedures currently used to treat GERD, and an almost immediate improved quality of life for patients. Patients can return to normal activities the next day. In addition, this new procedure is more cost-effective than other treatment alternatives, costing significantly less than acid-controlling medications, which cost patients more than $2,000 per year for a lifetime of treatment, and invasive surgery, which costs more than $15,000.
"Bard is undertaking an extensive physician training program, working with gastroenterologists across the country," Longfield said. "We plan to have close to 100 medical centers fully trained and offering this procedure to patients by the end of this year."
During a live demonstration at the Digestive Disease Week conference, physicians will review the fast, simple and non-invasive Endoscopic Suturing System procedure. Prolonged exposure to stomach acid can result in esophagitis, ulcers, asthma and Barrett’s esophagus, a precursor to esophageal cancer. Sixty million Americans suffer from heartburn and 18 million Americans with chronic gastroesophageal reflux are currently taking medications to reduce acid production.
About C. R. Bard, Inc.
C. R. Bard, Inc., headquartered in Murray Hill, New Jersey, is a leading multinational developer, manufacturer and marketer of healthcare products. Bard Endoscopic Technologies, headquartered in Billerica, MA, is a division of C. R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE-BCR), specializing in the field of gastroenterology. For more than ten years, Bard Endoscopic Technologies (formerly Bard Interventional Products) has been developing minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic products used in conjunction with procedures requiring flexible endoscopy. Visit the company website at www.crbard.com.
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