Cappella introduces new Sideguard stent; expands commercial operations

Cappella, Inc. (Cappella), a medical device company developing dynamic solutions for the treatment of coronary bifurcation disease, announces that an additional diameter has been added to the Sideguard® platform.

The current portfolio of Sideguard 2.5 and Sideguard 2.75 are now complemented with Sideguard 3.25. This additional size is intended to treat vessel lumen diameters of 2.75-3.25mm. According to Giuseppe M. Sangiorgi, MD, Director of the Interventional Cardiology Unit at the University Hospital Policlinico of Modena in Modena, Italy, “We are pleased with the Sideguard stent, which has demonstrated optimal wall apposition at the ostium and in the sidebranch. We believe that with this additional size we will be able to treat a majority of our coronary bifurcation cases.”

In addition to the new diameter, the product line will be further expanded in 2010 with longer stents. Dr. Art Rosenthal, CEO of Cappella stated, “This product line expansion will enable the physician to treat virtually all bifurcation disease according to the Medina classifications 1,1,1; 0,1,1; 1,0,1 and 0,0,1 lesions ≤ 7 mm. Moreover, we will make longer-length stents available in 2010, enhancing our broad product line and Cappella’s position as the leading company in the treatment of bifurcations.”

Cappella continues to expand its commercial operations in Europe with the addition of a direct sales force this month for the UK &Ireland. Cappella first received the CE mark for the Sideguard^® Coronary Sidebranch Stent & Delivery System in April 2009. Since that time, it has pursued the expansion of the European sales activities through a direct & distributor-based sales organization. Cappella is currently active in Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK, with Austria & Switzerland to follow shortly. Commercial activities are also planned for France & Spain.