Full Press Release Details
Announces Opening of First Two CGuard EPS Centers of Excellence
Aviv, Israel- July 23, 2018 - InspireMD,
Inc. (NYSE AMER: NSPR), developer of the CGuard Embolic Prevention System (EPS) for the prevention
of stroke caused by the treatment of carotid artery disease, today announced that it has established its first two Centers of
Excellence (COE) at leading hospitals in Europe.
first COE is at the Augusta Hospital Clinic for Vascular Surgery in D sseldorf, Germany and is led by Prof. Ralf Kolvenbach,
Head of the Cardiovascular Diseases Department and Medical Director of the Catholic Hospitals. Prof. Kolvenbach is one of the
leading vascular surgeons in Germany and treats a significant number of patients suffering form carotid artery disease. The second
COE is at the Maria Cecilia Hospital, in Cotignola, Italy and is led by Dr. Alberto Cremonesi, Chief of the Cardiovascular Department
and a leading interventional cardiologist in Italy, also treating a large number of patients suffering from carotid artery disease.
Augusta Hospital Clinic for Vascular Surgery and Maria Cecilia Hospital recently held their first workshop, which covered the
indications and strategies for the use of CGuard EPS. This included lectures and proctoring of live cases to illustrate
the advantages of the minimally invasive carotid artery revascularization procedures using CGuard EPS versus endarterectomy,
which is the more commonly utilized surgical approach.
are privileged to have established these first two CGuard EPS Centers of Excellence at two of the leading hospitals in
Germany and Italy, which are key markets for CGuard," commented James Barry, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of InspireMD.
"COEs are a key element in our broader strategy to educate and convert vascular surgeons and interventionalist away from
the more invasive surgical carotid endarterectomy procedure and towards CGuardTM EPS in the treatment of patients with
carotid artery disease given the sustained safety and embolic and stroke prevention benefits clinically seen with the CGuard
EPS. Converting physicians away from treating carotid artery disease with surgery will result in a significant increase in the
addressable market for our product, which we believe is a billion-dollar product category in carotid artery procedures alone.
The goal of these COEs is to train, educate and share experiences among both surgeons and interventionalists to incorporate CGuard
EPS into their daily practice as the system of choice for carotid revascularization and stroke prevention. We look forward to
announcing additional COEs as we continue to execute on our strategy."
Gago, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer of InspireMD, noted, "The initial workshops held at both the Augusta Hospital Clinic
for Vascular Surgery and at the Maria Cecilia Hospital were well attended and illustrate the growing interest among vascular surgeons
as well as interventionalists in CGuard EPS, which utilizes our patented MicroNet technology."
has developed the CGuardTM Embolic Protection System to aid vascular surgeons and other medical specialists to guard
against the debilitating effects of stroke caused by carotid artery disease, one of the highest risk factors of this condition.
CGuardTM EPS, with its patented MicroNet and SMARTFITTM technologies, provides a minimally invasive,
safe and effective alternative to surgery and other interventions with their associated risk factors. InspireMD intends to pursue
further applications of its platform MicroNet technology in neurovascular, coronary and peripheral artery procedures.
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