LMAT LeMaitre Vascular Inc

BURLINGTON, Mass., May 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) today announced that it has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an investigational device exemption (IDE) supplement to conduct its UNITE Aorto-Uni-Iliac Stent Graft Clinical Trial. This pivotal study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the company's UniFit Abdominal Stent Graft in the treatment of aorto, aorto-iliac, and/or iliac aneurysms. LeMaitre Vascular had previously received conditional FDA approval for its IDE supplement. "Although we had initiated two study sites based upon conditional approval, many other hospitals, though eager to participate, have been waiting for the FDA to remove conditions. We expect that this new approval will help us drive enrollment through a broad range of study sites," said George W. LeMaitre, the company's Chairman, President and CEO. "We believe surgeons need a singled-body aorto-uni-iliac stent graft to help combat aneurysmal disease and we are excited to begin implanting devices in our pivotal study." LeMaitre Vascular intends to enroll 90 patients in up to 14 centers. These patients must be followed for at least one year prior to LeMaitre Vascular's submission to the FDA of an application for PMA approval. The primary effectiveness endpoint of the study is based on aneurysm exclusion as evaluated through one-year follow-up. The UNITE study compares the safety and efficacy of the UniFit Abdominal Stent Graft against open surgical abdominal aorta repair, because there are currently no aorto-uni-iliac endovascular stent grafts indicated for the primary treatment of aorto, aorto-iliac, and/or iliac aneurysms. The UniFit Abdominal Stent Graft is a single-bodied aorto-uni-iliac stent graft used to treat an aortic aneurysm, a weakening and ballooning of the aorta, through a minimally invasive endovascular procedure. The device's encapsulated design prevents its stents from contacting the blood stream or the vessel wall. This design allows a wider range of stent graft sizes, including tapered and custom grafts, to fit a wider range of patient anatomies than many competing products. The UniFit Abdominal Stent Graft is currently sold in the European Union and a small number of other foreign jurisdictions and is not available for sale in the United States. The FDA's IDE approval applies only to the investigational use of UniFit Abdominal Stent Grafts that have been sterilized with ethylene oxide gas, a relatively common means of sterilizing medical devices. LeMaitre Vascular also sterilizes its UniFit Abdominal Stent Grafts sold outside the United States with hydrogen peroxide, a newer and generally faster means of sterilizing medical devices. Hydrogen peroxide sterilization enables the more rapid production of customized stent grafts. LeMaitre Vascular intends to continue to work with the FDA to resolve their questions regarding this method of sterilization with the intent of ultimately seeking PMA approval of the hydrogen peroxide-sterilized UniFit Abdominal Stent Graft. About LeMaitre Vascular LeMaitre Vascular develops, manufactures and markets medical devices for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. The company's principal executive offices are located at 63 Second Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803. Certain statements set forth above that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to the likelihood and timing of enrollment in the UNITE study, the likelihood that the UNITE study will successfully meet its endpoints, the possibility of receiving approval for the sale of the UniFit Abdominal Stent Graft in the Unites States, and the potential market demand in the United States for the UniFit Abdominal Stent Graft. Although LeMaitre Vascular believes that such statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees. LeMaitre Vascular's business is subject to significant risks and uncertainties and there can be no assurance that its actual results will not differ materially from its expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the risk that the results of LeMaitre Vascular's UNITE study will be unfavorable; the risk that these results, even if favorable, will not be accepted by the FDA or other relevant agencies and the device will not be approved for sale in the relevant timeframe, if at all; risks associated with LeMaitre Vascular's ability to successfully commercialize its UniFit Abdominal Stent Graft in the United States if the device is approved for use in the United States; and other risk factors that are discussed in LeMaitre Vascular's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements made in this release are made only as of the date hereof and LeMaitre Vascular disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating predictions or expectations contained in this release. DATASOURCE: LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. CONTACT: Aaron Grossman, Investor Relations of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc., Office: +1-781-221-2266 Web site: http://www.lemaitre.com/

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