Allium Medical expands stent distribution in Europe

14 July 2008

Allium Medical Group has signed exclusive distribution deals for both its ureteral and biliary stents with MenkeMed for the German and Austrian markets and Ecce Dutoit for the Belgian, Dutch and Luxemburgian (Benelux) markets. The values of the deals were not disclosed.

Founded in 2001, Allium develops site-specific stents for various uses with applications in the urinary and gastro-intestinal tract. Allium completed CE Marking for its biliary and ureteral stents, and commenced distribution of its biliary stents as of June 2007 and its ureteral stents as of December 2007 in various European markets including Italy and Scandinavia. Follow-on orders have been received and delivered.

“We are proud to be working with our new partners, MenkeMed and Ecce Dutoit, who are providing Allium Medical a platform to major European markets in order to realize our potential," said Prof (Em. Daniel Yachia, MD, President, CSO and Senior Consultant (Urology) for the Allium Group. "Their support of our technology is a testament to their commitment to offering the European healthcare community innovative solutions. Allium stents are truly revolutionary because they are dynamic, functional and easily removable giving doctors solutions to meet demand for minimally invasive solutions to increase patient comfort and convenience while not compromising on treatment efficacy."

The two different deployment devices of the Allium's biliary stents allow endoscopic (by gastroenterologists) or percutaneous trans-hepatic (by interventional radiologists) insertion. Allium's ureteral stents are also mounted on two different deployment devices allowing endoscopic retrograde (by urologists), or percutaneous antegrade, or combined antegrade and retrograde insertion (with or without an interventional radiologist).

"Menkemed is committed to the distribution of novel and innovative medical and surgical equipment in Germany, the largest medical market in Europe, and Austria," said Frank Menke, CEO of MenkeMed. "We are most impressed with Allium's site-specific, anatomically and functionally compatible stents and believe that they offer significant advantages over other products in the market. For example, Allium's stents are made out of metal and are self-expandable. It has been cited in many studies that large calibre metal stents are more acceptable to patients with longer survival rates as compared to plastic stents which have to be changed every two to four months."

Based in Belgium, Ecce Dutoit Medical, is a leader in the field of medical imaging, including radiology and nuclear medicine, as well as a prominent presence in the urological and gastro enterogical market in Benelux with innovative technologies for over 25 years. The company will distribute Allium's ureteral and billiary stents to the Benelux market.

"We are proud to be providing the Benelux market with the Allium ureteral and biliary stents which have a large caliber, and are thin walled. Both the biliary and ureteral stents stand out from the competition by being entirely covered stents that have the uniqueness of dynamism to fit to the function of the organ and the advantage of easy removability," said Philip Meyers, CEO of Ecce Dutoit Medical.

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