Biotronik

[Muralidhar R]

BIOTRONIK Forges Ahead Toward Medtech Leadership Position
Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure Major Focus Areas

With a company philosophy based on "excellence for life", it is no surprise that recent years have seen BIOTRONIK achieve several best-in-class accolades. Attaining the highest quality via engineering excellence lay at the foundation of its success, as demonstrated by its new product developments, landmark clinical trial initiatives, comprehensive offering for training & education, double-digit employee growth and consistent achievement of financial targets. BIOTRONIK will now take its strong, enduring commitment into the future by focusing its efforts on creating the most advanced patient management solutions in the areas of heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
BIOTRONIK provides advanced patient management and therapy solutions for cardiac rhythm management, including electrophysiology, and vascular intervention.

In Cardiac Rhythm Management, the upcoming release of the newest generation of BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring(R) further reinforces the company's pioneering position in telecardiology. The high quality cutting-edge bradycardia portfolio includes the unique Closed Loop Stimulation(R) (CLS), which closely emulates the body's natural function, assuring proven physiologic pacing for patients with slow heart rates. The revolutionary tachyarrhythmia therapies demonstrate premium quality with industry-leading ICD battery longevity. The various devices for cardiac resynchronization therapy include the recently launched Lumax 540 HF-T, with the innovative Heart Failure Monitor(R) to predict potentially worsening heart failure status ahead of time. The implantable devices are complemented by a broad range of leads that are designed to provide best-in-class performance -- despite industry-wide challenges with lead integrity in recent years -- BIOTRONIK's leads have consistently demonstrated unsurpassed quality and long-lasting performance.

In Electrophysiology, BIOTRONIK offers ablation therapy technology that uniquely incorporates a golden electrode and auto cool that has a significantly higher acute procedural success rate in bidirectional block induction. BIOTRONIK also recently acquired VascoMed, further supplementing the product portfolio of ablation devices and beyond.

The Vascular Intervention (VI) business markets one of the safest therapies for coronary and peripheral intervention due to its unique PROBIO(R) silicon carbide coating that has demonstrated 0% stent thrombosis in clinical trials. The coronary product range continues to be augmented with the recent launch of the much anticipated Pantera(R) balloon. BIOTRONIK also offers a full portfolio of premium peripheral vascular products, which was recently supplemented with the addition of a new, smaller, longer balloon family called Passeo(R). The VI business also continues to develop state-of-the art drug-elution devices, as well as leading the industry with its absorbable metal stent program, which was recently given the first annual EuroPCR Novelty Award.

After more than 45 successful years in the medical device industry, BIOTRONIK has now achieved a substantial position as the European leader in these business segments. It has also significantly expanded the clinical research program with four major landmark trials, of which CASTLE-AF and EchoCRT, are particularly noteworthy. These two studies, collectively enrolling more than 1600 patients and with mortality and morbidity endpoints that aim to appreciably expand treatment indications, could significantly change the therapy paradigm for both atrial fibrillation and heart failure respectively. CASTLE-AF has been enrolling since early this year, and the EchoCRT study celebrated its first patient enrolment last month. This significant investment into bringing more and better therapies to physicians and patients represents BIOTRONIK's steadfast belief in "excellence for life."

Furthermore, BIOTRONIK will soon launch the BIOTRONIK International Fellows Program focused on electrophysiology and dedicated to providing a developmental forum for fellows. It represents an opportunity for BIOTRONIK to partner with globally renowned clinicians and prestigious academic centers to support 50 physicians from all continents with their continuing education over an 18-month period.
BIOTRONIK is definitely on the move and has outpaced all competitors, being the fastest growing medical device company globally. In line with this, BIOTRONIK is significantly expanding its global workforce. Strong growth for the company is planned to continue in the years ahead as the heart failure and atrial fibrillation businesses develop. While continuing to focus on the coronary vascular business, BIOTRONIK will enhance its activities on therapy-based indications for the peripheral vascular business.

"We have developed a best-in-class, high quality product portfolio, and we have reinforced solid organizational foundations for business growth in more than 100 countries," commented Werner Braun, Managing Director. "We are a company founded on utilizing engineering excellence to find innovative solutions for our customers and their patients. In Cardiac Rhythm Management and Electrophysiology, we will expand on that by increasing our focus to achieve the next levels of advanced patient management in the areas of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. In Vascular Intervention, we will continue to pursue our development of drug eluting and bioabsorbable technology solutions."
About BIOTRONIK GmbH & Co. KG
As one of the worlds leading cardiovascular medical device companies, with several million implanted devices, BIOTRONIK is present in all world markets. Known for having its finger on the pulse of the medical community, BIOTRONIK helps to assess the challenges physicians face, and provides the best solutions, be they cardiac implants, minimal invasive devices or other products and services ranging from diagnosis to electrotherapy and vascular intervention or therapy management. Quality, innovation, and reliability define BIOTRONIK and its growing success, and deliver confidence and peace of mind to physicians and their patients worldwide.

Thanks & regards,

Muralidhar Rejeti.
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