Merit Medical Systems, Catheter Connections enter DualCap distribution agreement

Catheter Connections, Inc., a leading developer of disposable devices for preventing blood stream infections caused by vascular access devices, today announced that it entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: MMSI), a leading manufacturer and marketer of proprietary disposable devices used primarily in cardiology and radiology.    

Under the agreement, Catheter Connections can receive up to $1M in up-front payments and additional revenue from product sales for providing Merit with rights to exclusively distribute Catheter Connection's proprietary disinfection technology in the fields of interventional radiology and interventional cardiology. The products provided under the agreement include Catheter Connections' DualCap® technology for IV connector disinfection and protection. Merit has exercised its option under the agreement to secure the exclusive right to distribute Catheter Connections' proprietary male luer disinfection technology.

The distribution agreement follows the most recent patent issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, titled "Disinfecting Caps For Medical Male Luer Connectors," which broadly covers Catheter Connections' male luer disinfection technology. Only Catheter Connections has patent protection, as well as FDA clearance, to market a device to disinfect and protect male luer connectors attached to the end of IV tubing lines.

Vicki Farrar, Chief Executive Officer of Catheter Connections, said, "We look forward to the association with Merit. Merit's impressive track record of innovation and growth, in addition to its global marketing resources, will expedite the commercialization of our DualCap® technology and increase patient safety. This agreement validates our superior position in the IV disinfection market in terms of both our intellectual property and our ability to help hospitals reduce bloodstream infections."