Quebec City, Quebec, September 20, 2018 – Opsens Inc. (“Opsens” or the “Company”) (TSX:OPS) (OTCQX:OPSSF) announces it has developed a product that will allow the diagnosis of coronary heart blockages with the heart at rest. Filing for regulatory approvals has been completed in targeted territories. Opsens plans to begin commercialization by the end of calendar year 2018.
In recent years, the measurement of Fractional Flow Reserve (“FFR”) as a method of assessing intracoronary pressure, has gained credibility and popularity following the publication of clinical studies demonstrating its benefits for patients’ health. FFR is used to assess the incidence of coronary artery stenosis before selecting a treatment. This measurement is done in the context where the heart is stimulated with the injection of medication. In addition to this interest in FFR, cardiologists have also shown interest in measuring intracoronary pressure to make a diagnosis with the heart at rest, without injection of medication.
Medical publications have highlighted the equivalence of several algorithms using the measurement of pressure at rest. These publications are expected to accelerate the adoption of resting pressure measurement methods in the interventional cardiology community.
This new product, named dPR, will be Opsens’ resting pressure measurement method. It will be available through the OptoMonitor and will work in combination with the OptoWire.
With strong intellectual property, Opsens has the potential for significant market share capture through product innovation and differentiation from current electric wires. The FFR market currently stands at approximately US$500M.
About Opsens Inc. (www.opsens.com or www.opsensmedical.com)
Opsens focuses mainly on the measure of FFR and dPR in interventional cardiology. Opsens offers an advanced optical-based pressure guidewire that aims at improving the clinical outcome of patients with coronary artery disease. Its flagship product, the OptoWire, is a 2nd-generation fiber optic pressure guidewire designed to provide the lowest drift in the industry and excellent lesions access. The OptoWire has been used in the diagnosis and treatment of over 40,000 patients in more than 30 countries. It is approved for sale in the United States, European Union, Japan, and Canada.
Opsens is also involved in industrial activities in developing, manufacturing and installing innovative fibre optic sensing solutions for critical applications.
Forward-looking statements contained in this press release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance and achievements of Opsens to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the said forward-looking statements.
Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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For further information, please contact:
Louis Laflamme, CPA, CA, Chief Executive Officer, 418.781.0333
Robin Villeneuve, CPA, CA, Chief Financial Officer, 418.781.0333
