CareFusion, Terumo Sign Distribution Agreement For IV Catheters

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CareFusion (NYSE: CFN), a leading global medical technology company, and Terumo Corporation, the largest medical technology company in Japan, today announced an exclusive, eight-year agreement for CareFusion to co-brand, market and distribute Terumo's SurFlash^® line of safety peripheral IV catheters for the acute care segment across the United States.

The agreement includes both SurFlash and SurFlash Plus Safety IV Catheters, which are proven to improve the success of catheter placement on the first attempt by an average of 20 percent. The higher success rate for first placement can potentially enhance the patient experience, reduce wasted catheters and save clinician time, all of which reduce costs for the hospital.

"This agreement broadens our vascular access portfolio and adds a critical link to enable CareFusion to provide an expanded range of products," said Vivek Jain, president of Procedural Solutions for CareFusion. "From skin preparation to needle-free connectors and IV sets, the SurFlash brand builds on our established leadership of clinically differentiated products for vascular access procedures. We are proud to collaborate with a global medical technology leader like Terumo."

Terumo's agreement with CareFusion will focus solely on the U.S. acute care hospital market. 

"CareFusion's world-class clinical and commercial presence in acute care infusion will accelerate the U.S. market impact of these safety products faster than Terumo might otherwise achieve," said Hideo Arase, president and CEO of Terumo Medical Corporation and Terumo Americas Holding, Inc. "The synergies are clear."

SurFlash and SurFlash Plus Safety IV Catheters have a passive safety technology that completely encapsulates the needle reducing the risk of needle stick injuries and exposure to blood borne pathogens. The automatic engagement of this safety feature requires no intentional effort from the clinician, allowing for minimal technique change and faster adoption.  These products are also the only catheters with the double-flash SurFlash feature that gives visual confirmation of when both the needle and catheter gain entry into a vessel, minimizing the risk for failed attempts.

The SurFlash Plus Safety IV Catheter also incorporates a proprietary blood control safety valve designed to minimize the risk of blood exposure between the removal of the needle and the attachment of the IV set. This helps create a cleaner access site and IV hub area to reduce the risk of physical and visual exposure to blood.

CareFusion will begin to market and distribute these products this month. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

About CareFusion Corporation CareFusion (NYSE: CFN) is a global corporation serving the health care industry with products and services that help hospitals measurably improve the safety and quality of care. The company develops industry-leading technologies including Alaris^® infusion pumps and IV sets, MaxPlus^® and MaxZero^™ IV connectors and sets, Pyxis^® automated dispensing and patient identification systems, AVEA^®, LTV^® series and AirLife^® ventilation and respiratory products, ChloraPrep^® products, MedMined^® services for data mining surveillance, V. Mueller^® surgical instruments, and an extensive line of products that support interventional medicine. CareFusion employs approximately 15,000 people across its global operations. More information may be found at www.carefusion.com.

About Terumo Medical Corporation Founded in 1972 as a Terumo Corporation subsidiary, Terumo Medical Corporation (TMC) develops, manufactures, and markets high-quality medical devices used in a broad range of applications in numerous healthcare markets. TMC manufactures a broad portfolio of needles and syringes, entry-site management products, and a line of sterile connection devices used in hospitals and blood banks worldwide.

About Terumo Corporation Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation is one of the world's leading medical device manufacturers with $4.95 billion in sales and operations in more than 160 nations. Founded in 1921, the company develops, manufactures, and distributes world-class medical devices including products for use in cardiothoracic surgery, interventional procedures, and transfusion medicine; the company also manufactures a broad array of syringe and hypodermic needle products for hospital and physician office use. Terumo contributes to society by providing valued products and services to the healthcare market and by responding to the needs of healthcare providers and the people they serve. Terumo Corporation's shares are listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (No. 4543, Reuters symbol <4543.T>, or Bloomberg 4543: JP) and is a component of the Nikkei 225, Japan's leading stock index.

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SOURCE CareFusion Corporation