LSCP Laserscope (MM)

UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Approves PVP Procedure at National Health Service Hospitals Organization Cites Safety, Effectiveness and Efficiency of PVP Procedure for the Treatment of BPH SAN JOSE, Calif., July 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Laserscope (NASDAQ:LSCP), a pioneer in the development and commercialization of medical lasers and advanced fiber-optic delivery devices, announced today that the United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has approved the Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP) procedure for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, at National Health Service (NHS) hospitals in England and Wales. The PVP procedure is performed using the GreenLight PV(R) laser system. NICE approved the PVP procedure after a thorough review of recent clinical studies that showed excellent BPH treatment results using Laserscope's GreenLight PV(R) laser system. In its review, NICE determined that the PVP procedure is satisfactorily safe, efficient and effective for the treatment of BPH within the NHS system. NICE is an independent organization formed in April 1999 to create a single excellence-in-practice body responsible for providing national guidance in the United Kingdom on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of illness. NICE provides guidance to the National Health Service on public health issues, health technologies, including direction about the use of new and existing medicines, treatments and procedures within the NHS, and clinical practice, including recommendations on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions within the NHS. "We are gratified by NICE's approval of the PVP procedure for the treatment of BPH," said Eric Reuter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Laserscope. "Importantly, this approval removes a prior barrier faced by every NHS hospital for each patient treated with PVP, including an ethical board review and patient consent for a so-called 'experimental treatment.' Based on NICE's review of recent clinical studies, the solicitation of expert opinions and the views of organizations representing both healthcare professionals and patients and caretakers, it was determined that Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate is a safe and effective procedure to help the many men who are suffering with the symptoms of enlarged prostate. "Late last year, Kings College in London was granted a prestigious award by the NHS for demonstrating the success of the PVP procedure on an outpatient basis, versus the more invasive trans-urethral resection of the prostate, or TURP, procedure. The award cited the hospital's ability to reduce costs and waiting times, while increasing patient satisfaction and experience through utilization of the PVP procedure. The combination of this award and NICE's recent recommendations should help continue to improve the visibility and credibility of the positive attributes of PVP, not only within the UK's public healthcare system, but in other two-tiered healthcare systems around the world," continued Mr. Reuter. "Our number one priority has been to ensure that PVP using Laserscope's GreenLight PV(R) laser system technology is recognized as the worldwide standard of care for treating BPH, and we believe we are getting closer and closer to achieving that goal every day." About Laserscope Laserscope designs, manufactures, sells and services on a worldwide basis an advanced line of medical laser systems and related energy delivery devices for the office, outpatient surgical center, and hospital markets. More information about Laserscope can be found on the Company's web site at http://www.laserscope.com/. Safe Harbor Statement Except for historical information presented, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These forward-looking statements include statements about Laserscope's competition, expected continued momentum of Laserscope's business and growth, and worldwide adoption rates of the PVP procedure using our GreenLight(TM) laser system. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including uncertainties regarding the introduction of new technologies competitive to our products, and the degree to which our current and new products are accepted by customers, which could affect the level of demand for our products, risk of reductions in government and private insurance reimbursement of hospitals and physicians for health care costs, which may negatively impact hospitals' and physicians' decisions to purchase our products reducing adoption rates, and uncertainties that new products will receive regulatory approval in applicable jurisdictions. These and other risks are detailed from time to time in the Company's public disclosure filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies of Laserscope's public disclosure filings with the SEC, including the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the most recent Forms 10-Q are available upon request from its Investor Relations Department, at the Company's web site at http://www.laserscope.com/ or at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/. Laserscope assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release. For further information please contact Eric Reuter, President & CEO, or Derek Bertocci, CFO, both of Laserscope, +1-408-943-0636; or Tricia Ross, Analyst and Investor, +1-212-827-3774, or Laurie Berman, General Inquiries, +1-310-854-8315, both of Financial Relations Board, for Laserscope. DATASOURCE: Laserscope CONTACT: Eric Reuter, President & CEO, or Derek Bertocci, CFO, both of Laserscope, +1-408-943-0636; or Tricia Ross, Analyst and Investor, +1-212-827- 3774, or Laurie Berman, General Inquiries, +1-310-854-8315, both of Financial Relations Board, for Laserscope Web site: http://www.laserscope.com/

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