Published: May 25, 2006
Cardima Receives FDA Market Clearance for New Surgical Ablation System
REVELATION(R) Tx PMA Application Still Pending Before FDA
Cardima, Inc. (OTCBB: CRDM) today announced
that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k)
marketing clearance for the new Cardima Ablation System, which ablates
cardiac tissue during heart surgery using radio frequency (RF) energy. This
system is expected to be used primarily by surgeons performing cardiac
surgery using standard hospital laparoscopic as well as thorascopic
techniques.
The Cardima Ablation System uses three components: commercially available
surgical radio frequency generators; the new Cardima Surgical Ablation
Probe with a linear array of multi-electrodes and adjacent thermocouples
using the core technology similar to the Company's REVELATION® series
ablation micro-catheters; and a novel energy management device called the
INTELLITEMP®, which uses a temperature feedback feature to apply RF
energy to single or multiple electrodes on the probe simultaneously. The
new surgical ablation probe includes a specially designed stabilizer
suction device with an illuminated tip for better visibility, which is
clipped to the electrode array to maintain electrode-tissue contact during
hands free ablation.
"I am pleased to see the long development for the Cardima Ablation System
come to a successful completion," stated Gabriel Vegh, chief executive
officer of Cardima. "The new Cardima Surgical Ablation Probe has the
potential to effectively compete with devices on the market designed to
replicate the highly successful surgical Maze procedure. We are evaluating
potential marketing and distribution strategies for the Cardima Ablation
System."
Status of REVELATION® Tx
Cardima, Inc. developed the REVELATION® Tx linear ablation micro-catheter
system as a minimally invasive, single-use product designed to treat Atrial
Fibrillation (AF). Cardima submitted the Pre-Market Approval (PMA)
application to the FDA on September 30, 2002. On June 26, 2003, we received
a non-approval letter from the FDA, stating that the efficacy data was not
sufficiently clear and supportive for the approval. On January 20, 2004,
we submitted an amendment to our PMA filing, in which we provided new
analysis and an expanded patient base. On May 28, 2004, we received a
letter from the FDA, stating that our PMA application was not approvable
based on the requirements of applicable regulations. On June 10, 2005, we
met with the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health to continue
the process towards seeking approval for the REVELATION® Tx ablation
micro-catheter for treatment of AF. No conclusions were reached at the end
of the meeting, but both sides agreed to continue the dialog. We believe
that the data submitted in January 2004 in an amended PMA for the
REVELATION® Tx provides sufficient support for safety and effectiveness
to reduce symptomatic AF burden and improve the quality of life of patients
suffering from self-terminating but very uncomfortable AF within the least
burdensome guidelines of the FDA.
About Cardima, Inc.
Since our incorporation in November 1992, we have developed, produced and
sold a variety of micro-catheters designed for the diagnosis and treatment
of the two most common forms of cardiac arrhythmias: atrial fibrillation
(AF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Since 2001 our efforts have
primarily focused on developing differentiated products that diagnose and
treat AF, including our REVELATION® Tx micro-catheter for use in the
Electrophysiology (EP) market, and our Surgical Ablation System (SAS) for
use in the surgical market.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include: the uncertainties
associated with the prospects for FDA approval of our pre-market approval
application for the REVELATION® Tx; the prospect for any future clinical
trials or regulatory activities; the risks associated with the Apix loan
facility's restrictive covenants, security interest, fee provisions and
other terms and conditions; the risk that the Company will not be able to
raise additional capital in the immediate term as needed to continue
operations and the risk that we will be unable to secure a strategic
transaction involving the Surgical Ablation System. Additional risks and
uncertainties are set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
10-QSB for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006, and in the Company's
subsequent SEC filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly
release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements
that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof,
or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in the
Company's plans or expectations.
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