Accumetrics Forges New Partnership With Medico's Hirata for VerifyNow(R) System in Japan

SAN DIEGO, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Accumetrics, Inc., a privately-held developer and marketer of the VerifyNow System, the first rapid and easy-to-use diagnostic system for measuring platelet reactivity to multiple antiplatelet agents, announced today that the company has signed a new agreement with Medico's Hirata for distribution of its VerifyNow System in Japan.

The VerifyNow System helps physicians assess patients' response to all major antiplatelet therapies such as aspirin, Ticlid®, Plavix®, Effient®  and GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors. As response to these drugs varies, the tests help physicians ensure their patients on antiplatelet therapies are receiving the optimal benefit.

"Partnering with Medico's Hirata, one of the largest medical device distributors in Japan, is an integral element of our international expansion strategy," said Timothy I. Still, President and CEO of Accumetrics.

"With our 90-strong direct sales organization, coupled with a large distribution network and experienced marketing and regulatory teams, we are well-positioned to bring personalized antiplatelet testing to Japan's physicians," said Masataka Hirata, President of Medico's Hirata.

About Accumetrics

Accumetrics is committed to advancing medical understanding of platelet function and enhancing quality of care for patients receiving antiplatelet therapies by providing industry-leading and widely accessible diagnostic tests for rapid platelet function assessment.

Accumetrics' VerifyNow System is the first rapid and easy-to-use platform to help physicians determine an individual's response to multiple antiplatelet agents. Addressing every major antiplatelet drug, including FDA-cleared products for aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitors (e.g. prasugrel (Effient) and clopidogrel (Plavix)), and GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors (e.g. ReoPro® and Integrilin®), the VerifyNow System provides a valuable tool to help physicians make informed treatment decisions. For more information about the Company and its products, visit www.accumetrics.com.

The Accumetrics logo and VerifyNow are registered trademarks of Accumetrics, Inc. ReoPro is a registered trademark of Centocor, Inc. Integrilin is a registered trademark of Millennium Pharmaceuticals. Plavix is a registered trademark of Sanofi-Aventis. Effient is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company.

About Medico's Hirata

Founded in 1918 and headquartered in Osaka, Medico's Hirata Inc. has supplied numerous outstanding products and technologies to the field of medical care, and will continue to pursue our social mission of contributing to medical progress, based on our corporate philosophy "Learning and Dealing in Medical Care." In Japan, Medico's Hirata was one of the first companies to focus on catheter interventions and prioritize the development of minimally invasive devices for use in a wide range of fields such as tracheobronchial stents. The company has continued to grow in step with the evolution of new medical technologies, and is looking forward to expanding its minimally invasive treatment business in the PCI and Stroke field.

SOURCE Accumetrics, Inc.