Toronto, Ontario – January 31, 2007 – Novadaq® Technologies Inc.
(TSX: NDQ), a developer of medical imaging systems for the operating
room, announced today that the results of an independent study from
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada, were presented at
the 43rd Annual Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting in San
Diego. These results confirm that the use of the SPY® System during
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG) can lead to significantly
improved clinical outcomes.
“These results confirm that the use of SPY can improve the outcome of
heart bypass surgery and that identifying problems in the operating
room with the SPY System can lead to significantly improved clinical
results,” said Dr. Arun Menawat, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Novadaq Technologies Inc. “Complications after surgery can lead to
poor recovery, high risk repeat surgeries and higher costs of care.
These results are very important and the STS scientific meeting is the
leading forum for presentation and discussion of important advancements
in care among cardiac surgeons.”
The primary objective of this comparative study which included a total
of 2738 patients of which 384 (192 matched pairs) CABG patients were
evaluated to determine if perioperatvie (during surgery) patency
assessment with SPY fluorescence angiography decreased the amount of
myocardial injury during or after CABG surgery.
“Up to half of all significant perioperative myocardial infarctions are
related to graft failure. The immediate and long term success of
coronary surgery is dependent on the construction of a technically
perfect anastomosis with a high quality conduit to an appropriate
target coronary vessel, yet despite systematic improvements in the
outcomes of coronary surgery, modern coronary bypass series continue to
report perioperative graft occlusions rates as high as 3-10%,” said
Nimesh Desai, MD, PhD., lead author and cardiac surgeon at Sunnybrook
Health Sciences Centre. “A reliable and well-validated method to assess
graft patency in coronary surgery represents an important opportunity
for improving quality assurance in coronary bypass. The results of the
study demonstrate that intra-operative angiography with graft revision
led to significantly fewer perioperative myocardial injuries by
enzymatic criteria. This data supports the increasing use of the
intra-operative graft assessment to verify graft patency. These very
early graft failures are usually related to technical problems at graft
anastomosis sites and may be correctable if recognized
intra-operatively.”
About Novadaq Technologies
Novadaq Technologies Inc. (TSX: NDQ) develops and commercializes
medical imaging devices for use in the operating room. Novadaq’s
proprietary imaging platform can be used to visualize blood vessels,
nerves and the lymphatic system during surgical procedures. Novadaq’s
SPY Intra-operative Imaging System, commercially available worldwide,
enables cardiac surgeons to visually assess coronary vasculature and
bypass graft functionality during the course of open-heart surgery.
Novadaq’s OPTTX® System which received CE Mark approval in November
2006, is aimed at the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of wet
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) by using the same core imaging
technology that is used in the SPY System. The HELIOS™ System, which
received FDA clearance in January 2007, is the first fluorescent
imaging system available for use during plastic reconstructive surgery
allowing surgeons to evaluate pre- and intra-operative blood flow, as
well as post-surgery perfusion. Novadaq’s LUNA™ system is designed to
enable surgeons to visualize nerve bundles during the course of
urological and neurological procedures. LUNA has been granted a license
for use by Health Canada. For more information, please visit the
company's website at www.novadaq.com.
Certain statements included in this press release may be considered
forward-looking. Such statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from those
implied by such statements, and therefore these statements should not
be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All
forward-looking statements are based on Novadaq's current beliefs as
well as assumptions made by and information currently available to
Novadaq and relate to, among other things, anticipated financial
performance, business prospects, strategies, regulatory developments,
market acceptance and future commitments. Readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and
uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by
Novadaq in its public securities filings; actual events may differ
materially from current expectations. Novadaq disclaims any intention
or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
This press release was prepared by management from information available to January 31, 2007.
For further information visit our website at www.novadaq.com, or contact:
Arun Menawat, PhD, MBA
President & CEO
Novadaq Technologies Inc.
Phone: 905-629-3822 x 202
amenawat@novadaq.com
Investor Relations:
Michael Moore
The Equicom Group
Phone: 416-815-0700 x 241
mmoore@equicomgroup.com
