YOQNEAM, ISRAEL, Feb 20, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Given Imaging (NASDAQ: GIVN), the global leader in capsule
endoscopy, today announced that Israel's Ministry of Health, Health
Technology and Infrastructure Administration has approved PillCam(R)
COLON, the first capsule endoscope to enable physicians to visualize
and evaluate diseases of the colon.
"We are pleased that the Israeli Health Ministry has approved PillCam
COLON. We will be working with gastroenterologists throughout the
country to educate them on this non-invasive alternative for imaging
the colon," said Homi Shamir, president and CEO of Given Imaging.
"Colon Cancer is preventable if detected early, but less than 25% of
individuals in Israel over the age of 50 are screened for colon
cancer. PillCam COLON offers a non-invasive alternative for
individuals who cannot or do not wish to undergo colonoscopy and
presents an opportunity to increase adherence to colorectal cancer
screening guidelines and save lives," said Dr. Rami Eliakim, Chair of
Medicine and Director of the Department of Gastroenterology at Rambam
Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
As reported in a recent meeting of the Israeli Gastroenterology
Society, it is estimated that approximately 75 percent of Israelis do
not undergo the recommended screening. Colorectal cancer accounts for
1,300 deaths in Israel annually.
About PillCam COLON
PillCam COLON enables the physician to directly see the colon mucosa
in its natural state while not requiring sedation, intubation,
insufflation, hospitalization or radiation. The PillCam COLON is a
smooth plastic capsule that measures 11mm by 31mm and can be
naturally ingested with a sip of water. It has tiny video cameras at
each end which capture 4 images per second for up to 10 hours.
PillCam COLON utilizes advanced optics technology, similar to the
technology found in the second generation PillCam SB and ESO
capsules, which produces enhanced resolution images and include
automatic light control and a wide field of view.
About Given Imaging Ltd.
Given Imaging is redefining gastrointestinal diagnosis by developing,
producing and marketing innovative, patient-friendly products for
detecting gastrointestinal disorders. The company's technology
platform is the PillCam(R) Platform, featuring the PillCam video
capsule, a disposable, miniature video camera contained in a capsule,
which is ingested by the patient, a sensor array, data recorder and
RAPID(R) software. Given Imaging has a number of available capsules:
the PillCam SB video capsule to visualize the entire small intestine
which is currently marketed in the United States and in more than 60
other countries; the PillCam ESO video capsule to visualize the
esophagus; the Agile(TM) patency capsule to determine the free
passage of the PillCam capsule in the GI tract and the PillCam COLON
video capsule to visualize the colon that has been cleared for
marketing in the European Union. More than 650,000 patients
worldwide have benefited from the PillCam capsule endoscopy procedure.
Given Imaging's headquarters, manufacturing and R&D facilities are
located in Yoqneam, Israel. It has operating subsidiary companies in
the United States, Germany, France, Japan and Australia. Given
Imaging's largest shareholders include Elron Electronic Industries
(NASDAQ & TASE: ELRN). For more information, visit
http://www.givenimaging.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, projections about our business and
our future revenues, expenses and profitability. Forward-looking
statements may be, but are not necessarily, identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "may," "anticipates,"
"estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," and words and
terms of similar substance. Forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
the actual events, results, performance, circumstances or
achievements of the Company to be materially different from any
future events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that
could cause actual events, results, performance, circumstances or
achievements to differ from such forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to, the following: (1) satisfactory results of
clinical trials with PillCam Colon (2) our ability to receive
regulatory clearance or approval to market our products or changes in
regulatory environment, (3) our success in implementing our sales,
marketing and manufacturing plans, (4) protection and validity of
patents and other intellectual property rights, (5) the impact of
currency exchange rates, (6) the effect of competition by other
companies, (7) the outcome of future litigation, including patent
litigation with Olympus Corporation, (8) our ability to obtain
reimbursement for our product from government and commercial payors,
(9) quarterly variations in operating results, (10) the possibility of
armed conflict or civil or military unrest in Israel, and (11) other
risks and factors disclosed in our filings with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, risks and
factors identified under such headings as "Risk Factors," "Cautionary
Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Operating Results
and Financial Review and Prospects" in the Company's Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006. You are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date of this press release. Except for the
Company's ongoing obligations to disclose material information under
the applicable securities laws, it undertakes no obligation to
release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to
report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events.
For further information contact:
Fern Lazar/David Carey
Lazar Partners Ltd.
1-866-GIVEN-IR
SOURCE: Given Imaging