Noticias

Noticias

  • Título: Edwards Lifesciences Outlines Sharpened Growth Strategy at Investor Conference
  • Fecha: 09-12-2015

  • IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 9-- Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), a global leader in products and technologies to treat advanced cardiovascular disease, today is hosting its 2003 Investor Conference at its corporate headquarters in Irvine, Calif., during which management will provide greater visibility into the initiatives expected to drive sales growth and profitability in 2004 and beyond.

    "Edwards Lifesciences has a long and successful history of developing innovative products to treat advanced cardiovascular disease, which has resulted in market-leading Heart Valve and Critical Care product lines," said Michael A. Mussallem, chairman and CEO. "At today's meeting, we will discuss several strategies designed to further strengthen our key Heart Valve Therapy product line, and provide an update on our recent entry into the growing peripheral stent market. Additionally, we will unveil details about investments in two exciting and potentially market-expanding new areas: endovascular heart valve therapy and minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring."

    During the conference, Edwards' management also will communicate the Company's outlook for financial performance in 2004, which includes projected sales of $915 to $940 million and net income growth of 13 to 15 percent. Additionally, the Company expects to generate free cash flow of $90 to $95 million.

    Among the specific topics to be discussed at today's event are:

    * Heart Valve Therapy -- The conference will highlight the Company's
    market-leading replacement heart valves and repair products. "Edwards
    offers a superior line of products to treat heart valve disease," said
    Mussallem. "This year, we have introduced an unprecedented series of
    new products, including PERIMOUNT Magna, Tricentrix and IMR ETlogix.
    These, together with our robust pipeline, are evidence of our
    intention to maintain our leadership position. Edwards clearly
    invests more than any other company to advance the treatment of
    valvular disease.

    "In addition, we are taking aggressive steps to improve our U.S. heart
    valve sales growth rate, which for the past two quarters has been
    lower than our historical double-digit rate," he continued. "An
    increase in sales and marketing resources, combined with our new
    products and an already strong offering, are expected to positively
    impact our growth rate in 2004."

    The Company also announced that J. Randall Nelson, corporate vice
    president, North America, resigned his position effective December 1.
    A search for his replacement has been initiated.

    * Endovascular Heart Valve Initiatives -- In addition to continued
    development of additional heart valve products with even greater
    durability and performance than those available today, Edwards is
    investing in several new interventional platforms that could
    substantially expand the heart valve therapy market. The Company is
    pursuing two novel approaches for repairing diseased mitral valves
    using catheter-based systems, and is also developing a catheter system
    for replacing a diseased aortic valve. "These programs leverage our
    deep knowledge of heart valve disease, and our expertise in
    pericardial tissue and catheter technology," said Mussallem. "We look
    forward to beginning clinical studies in these programs in 2004."

    * Peripheral Interventions Platform -- "The peripheral stent market
    represents a significant growth opportunity for Edwards," Mussallem
    said, adding that the September introduction of its balloon-expandable
    LifeStent System represents the first in a series of new non-coronary
    stent offerings that the Company expects to introduce over the next
    several months, including its uniquely flexible self-expanding stent.
    "Early feedback from clinicians who have used LifeStent has been very
    positive and we are optimistic that our differentiated product will
    contribute meaningful growth in 2004 and beyond."

    At today's event, Edwards also will announce that it intends to
    explore strategic alternatives for its Lifepath AAA Endovascular Graft
    System for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms. The Lifepath System,
    with its unique balloon-expandable design, is currently sold outside
    the U.S. and is in clinical trials in the U.S. "The favorable
    clinical results we have experienced to date and the growing adoption
    of the device in Europe continue to support our belief that the
    Lifepath System can greatly benefit patients with AAA disease.
    Despite Lifepath's encouraging results and the clinical need for AAA
    products, additional investment is necessary in order for it to attain
    a leading global position. By focusing our resources on fewer, high
    potential initiatives, we believe we can improve their probability of
    success," Mussallem stated.

    * Minimally Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring -- Building upon its
    decades-long global leadership position in Swan-Ganz hemodynamic
    monitoring systems, Edwards is actively working to develop potentially
    market-expanding minimally invasive approaches. The Company recently
    completed a transaction to acquire proprietary technology to
    facilitate minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring, representing a
    key strategic element in this effort. "We think recent technology
    advancements make it possible to develop a minimally invasive product
    with the accuracy and reliability of a traditional pulmonary artery
    catheter," Mussallem reported. "If successful, such a product could
    significantly expand the group of patients that benefit from the use
    of hemodynamic monitoring technologies."

    * Financial Outlook -- In addition to discussing financial goals for
    2004, management will reiterate its previously stated goal of 14 to 16
    percent net income growth, and its comfort with the First Call
    consensus earnings estimate, for 2003. In 2004, the Company also will
    begin reporting sales of its market-leading Heart Valve Therapy
    products separately from its other Cardiac Surgery products.
    "Providing greater visibility to heart valve sales should enable our
    shareholders to more easily value this key part of our business," said
    Mussallem.

    Other members of Edwards' management team presenting at the conference include Anita B. Bessler, corporate vice president, Global Franchise Management, and Larry L. Wood, vice president, Endovascular Heart Valve Therapy & Clinical Marketing, who will discuss the Company's Cardiac Surgery platform and Endovascular Heart Valve initiatives, respectively. Stuart L. Foster, corporate vice president, Technology & Discovery, will discuss Edwards' Peripheral Interventions platform, including the recently introduced line of peripheral stents. Presentations by Pawan K. Tomkoria, vice president, Cardiac Surgery Systems, and Mark S. Harty, vice president, Critical Care, will focus on other of the Company's key product lines and growth initiatives, including minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring. Corinne H. Lyle, Edwards' chief financial officer, will discuss expectations for the fourth quarter of 2003 and present the Company's guidance for full year 2004.

    Guest Speakers Provide Clinical Perspective

    Opening the conference yesterday evening was Delos M. Cosgrove, MD, chairman of the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio, who provided his vision of future trends in heart valve therapy. Today's portion of the conference will feature a presentation by Maurice Buchbinder, MD, Medical Director, Foundation for Cardiovascular Medicine, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, Calif., who will provide a cardiologist's perspective on the latest therapies to treat peripheral vascular and heart valve disease.

    Webcast Information

    The Edwards Lifesciences 2003 Investor Conference can be accessed via live webcast at www.edwards.com/investorconferencebeginning at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on December 9. The webcast also will be archived on the same web page after the conference concludes.

    About Edwards Lifesciences

    Edwards Lifesciences, a leader in advanced cardiovascular disease treatments, is the number-one heart valve company in the world, and the global leader in acute hemodynamic monitoring. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Edwards focuses on four main cardiovascular disease states: heart valve disease, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and congestive heart failure. The company's global brands, which are sold in approximately 100 countries, include Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards, Swan-Ganz, Lifepath AAA and Fogarty. Additional company information can be found at http://www.edwards.com/ .

    This news release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including those related to sales growth, net income growth and cash flows for 2004 and beyond; endovascular heart valve initiatives designed to extend the company's leadership position in heart valve therapy; growth opportunities in minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring; strategies designed to further strengthen the Cardiac Surgery product line; the continued introduction of LifeStent products and the expected contribution of LifeStent to sales growth in 2004; and more generally, the ability to generate growth through product development and/or acquisition; the ability to generate and maintain sufficient cash resources to increase investment in growth opportunities, repay debt or repurchase shares; the impact of foreign exchange; timing or results of pending or future clinical trials; actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies; technological advances in the medical field; product demand and market acceptance; the effect of changing economic conditions; and other risks detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the company and are believed to be reasonable, though they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Actual results or experience could differ materially from that expressed or implied by forward- looking statements.

    Edwards Lifesciences, Edwards, PERIMOUNT Magna, Tricentrix and IMR ETlogix are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards, Fogarty, Lifepath AAA, PERIMOUNT and Swan-Ganz are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. LifeStent is a trademark of Edwards Lifesciences AG.

    Contact Information:

    Media, Barry R. Liden, +1-949-250-5070, or Investors, David K. Erickson, +1-949-250-6826, both of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation




  • Fuente: endovascular.es