Angiotech Pharmaceuticals plans US launch of Option Inferior Vena Cava Filter

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced the commercial launch of the Option(TM) Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter in the United States, following FDA 510(k) clearance in June and a limited pre-launch in July. Angiotech holds exclusive worldwide rights to market and distribute the Option IVC Filter, which it obtained in a license agreement with privately held Rex Medical, LP (Rex Medical), as announced in March 2008.

"The pre-launch of the Option IVC Filter last month was overwhelmingly successful, demonstrating its potential to be a market leading product in pulmonary embolism prevention," said Dr. William Hunter, President and CEO of Angiotech. "We are excited to announce that the Option IVC Filter is now available throughout the U.S. through our dedicated Interventional Sales team."

The Option IVC Filter is used for the prevention of recurrent pulmonary embolism (PE). The device is implanted, typically by Interventional Radiologists in a minimally invasive procedure, into the body's inferior vena cava to prevent PE. The Option IVC Filter is specifically designed for use as both a permanent or temporary implant (in temporary, or retrievable, indications, a physician may later perform a second surgical procedure to remove the Option IVC Filter if necessary or where mandated clinically).