InspireMD Expands Global Presence: Announces First MGuard(TM) Deployment in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, February 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Procedure Performed at Netcare Milpark Hospital by South Africa's Renowned Cardiologist Dr. Graham Cassel, President of SASCI

InspireMD, developer of the MGuard(TM) net protective stent system, and Tau Medical Inc, InspireMD's exclusive South African distributor, today announced that MGuard is now available in South Africa.

The first deployment of the MGuard(TM), mesh-based coronary stent system was successfully performed by Dr. Graham Cassel, at Netcare Milpark Hospital. Dr. Cassel is a renowned cardiologist and President of the South African Society of Cardiovascular Intervention (SASCI). The patient had suffered an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and the PCI procedure was completed with optimal results and absence of any complications.

When asked about the case, Dr. Cassel stated, "I had high hopes for this innovative system and my initial experience with MGuard was superb. The device is easy to maneuver and I was done with the procedure in less than 10 minutes. This method could become a major breakthrough in the standard care of STEMI (heart attack) patients."

Dr. Graham Cassel will lead the South African arm of the MGuard MASTER Randomized Trial (MGUARD for Acute ST Elevation Reperfusion), a multinational randomized controlled trial designed to demonstrate MGuard Coronary Stent's superiority over standard care for STEMI (heart attack) patients.

The MASTER Randomized Trial will enroll 432 patients. The study's primary endpoint is complete ST segment resolution post procedure. Clinical follow-up will continue for 1 year and other important secondary endpoints will be measured. Dr. Gregg Stone, Director of Cardiovascular Research and Education from the Columbia University in New York will serve as a study chairman. The trial will be conducted in 10 countries in Europe, South America and South Africa with principal investigators, Dr. Alexandre Abizaid, Dr. Dariusz Dudek and Prof. Sigmund Silber.

"We are very excited about the launch of MGuard in South Africa," commented Ofir Paz, CEO of InspireMD. "This is a country with top cardiologists and a great market potential. I am confident that Tau Medical is the right partner for us to optimize MGuard's success in this lucrative market and to further pursue our clinical program to demonstrate MGuard advantage over standard care in STEMI Patients. MGuard continues to win supporters around the world, due in large part to its ease of use, unique thrombus management ability, and the optimal results patients have experienced."

About MGuard(TM) Coronary

MGuard(TM) presents a novel combination of a coronary stent merged with an embolic protection specifically designed for Acute MI patients. The embolic protection is comprised of an ultra-thin polymer mesh sleeve that wraps the stent. The MGuard(TM) coronary stent provides permanent embolic protection, without affecting deliverability. MGuard(TM) is CE Mark approved. Mesh-based protection is now recommended for use in the recent Guidelines of the Task force of Myocardial Revascularization of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The MGuard(TM) innovative concept has enjoyed an enthusiastic welcome from leading interventional cardiologists around the world.

About InspireMD Ltd.

InspireMD is an innovative medical device company focusing on the development and commercialization of its proprietary stent system technology, MGuard(TM). InspireMD intends to pursue applications of this technology in coronary, carotid and peripheral artery procedures.

    
    Contact details:

    Jonina Ohayon
    Marketing Director
    TEL : +972-52-5791120
    jonina@inspire-md.com
    http://www.inspire-md.com