Micrus to sell endovascular products for cerebral aneurysms in Japan

By E. Janene Geiss

Philadelphia, March 6 - Micrus Endovascular Corp. said Monday that it has received Shonin approval from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to market in Japan its system for the endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms, including the MicruSphere, HeliPaq and InterPaq embolic coils.

The company said it believes that Japan represents a significant portion of the total Asian market that is estimated to produce about one-third of interventional cerebral vascular disease procedure revenues worldwide, according to a company news release.

"Entry into the Japanese coiling market represents a significant revenue opportunity for Micrus," John Kilcoyne, president and chief executive officer, said in the release. "We expect to benefit from the continued growth in conversions from the highly invasive craniotomy and clipping procedure, which is currently performed on greater than 75% of aneurysms treated in Japan, to the minimally invasive coiling procedure.

"Additionally, as previously stated, we are confident that our respected and experienced distribution and service partner Goodman Co., Ltd. will do an exceptional job for us in the Japanese market. Expansion into this market is another example of our ability to execute on our strategic plan."

The company said it also is working with Goodman to obtain approval in Japan for the rest of its products, including its bioactive Cerecyte products and UltiPaq coils, catheters and guidewires.

The company said it also is seeking approval in the first half of this year to enter the fast-growing Chinese market with the majority of its product line.

Micrus, based in Sunnyvale, Calif., develops, manufactures and markets both implantable and disposable medical devices used in the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases.

© 2015 Prospect News.
All content on this website is protected by copyright law in the U.S. and elsewhere. For the use of the person downloading only.
Redistribution and copying are prohibited by law without written permission in advance from Prospect News.
Redistribution or copying includes e-mailing, printing multiple copies or any other form of reproduction.