Cordis Corporation Expands Crossing Portfolio for the Treatment of Chronic Total Occlusions

FREMONT, Calif., June 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cordis Corporation announced today the launch of the new ELITECROSS™ Support Catheter in the United States and OUTBACK^® Elite Re-Entry Catheter in the United States, Europe and Japan. This expansion of the CORDIS^® Crossing Portfolio for treatment of chronic total occlusions (CTO) further underlines the company's decade-long commitment to the space. The new products will add to a suite of specialty and workhorse solutions designed to support physicians in crossing the most complex lesions with control and confidence.

A chronic total occlusion (CTO) occurs when the accumulation of plaque becomes so severe that it results in a complete (or nearly complete) blockage of the vessel. When this occurs, physicians must find a way to cross the occlusion in order to complete treatment of the lesion using interventional techniques.

"New and dedicated CTO crossing wires, re-entry devices and crossing catheters, combined with advancing technique have led to a significant improvement in success rates of CTO treatment in recent years," said Jihad Mustapha, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, Director of Heart and Vascular at Metro Health Hospital in Wyoming, MI. "The expanded CORDIS^® Crossing portfolio enables physicians to further improve treatment success, and deliver the best possible care to the patients that rely on us every day."

The CORDIS^® Crossing Portfolio reduces the complexity of challenging cases and provides a comprehensive crossing solution of specialty and workhorse devices. The new ELITECROSS™ Support Catheter family provides unparalleled support and pushability to help get to and through complex lesions. The catheter features a braided shaft, tapered tip, lubricious hydrophilic coating and ultra low-friction inner lumen to enhance trackability over the guidewire. The ELITECROSS™ Support Catheter is designed to provide additional support to the distal portion of diagnostic or interventional devices, and is compatible with the FRONTRUNNER^® XP CTO Catheter as well as other ancillary devices.

The redesigned OUTBACK^® Elite Re-Entry Catheter enables faster and more precise re-entry into the true lumen in the most challenging cases, and represents the first ever re-entry device available in Japan. With a focus on control and precision, the OUTBACK^® Elite Catheter was redesigned with an ergonomic handle and torque control location enabling single-handed operation by the user. The addition of an 80 cm shaft length will aid in optimizing procedures by reducing the length of shaft outside the patient. These new features combined with a redesigned package make the OUTBACK^® Elite Re-Entry Catheter a more convenient, precision re-entry tool for the toughest lesions of peripheral vascular disease. In a recent study by Gandini et al., the OUTBACK^® Re-Entry Catheter was shown to have a higher success rate of precision re-entry versus manual wire techniques.

"We are pleased to continue delivering advancement in a market segment that we have been dedicated to for over a decade," said David Wilson, Worldwide President, Cordis Corporation. "The launch of the expanded CORDIS^® Crossing Portfolio further strengthens and differentiates our product portfolio and illustrates our commitment to innovation within lower extremity treatment technologies."

Cordis continues to expand availability of the CORDIS^® Crossing Portfolio to markets around the world, and expects to launch the ELITECROSS™ Support Catheter in Europe and Japan in the coming months.

About the CORDIS^® Crossing Portfolio
Crossing is an unmet need in peripheral vascular disease cases today, and failure to successfully cross may result in subsequent bypass surgery or amputation for the patient. The CORDIS^® Crossing Portfolio is comprised of specialty and workhorse solutions, designed to support physicians in crossing the most complex lesions with control and confidence. The new ELITECROSS™ Support Catheter and OUTBACK^® Elite Re-Entry Catheter are supported by existing products within the CORDIS^® Crossing Portfolio, thus creating a comprehensive offering to aid physicians in treating complex lower extremity disease. The portfolio will continue to be complemented by the FRONTRUNNER^® XP CTO Catheter and AQUATRACK^® Hydrophilic Nitinol Guidewire. The FRONTRUNNER^® XP CTO Catheter offers enhanced pushability and maneuverability compared to wire techniques to increase confidence in crossing and creating an opening within the lesion. The AQUATRACK^® Hydrophilic Nitinol Guidewire features the torque, lubricity and visibility needed to successfully navigate the most tortuous anatomy.

About Cordis Corporation
Cordis Corporation, part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of interventional vascular technology. Through the company's innovation, research and development, Cordis partners with experts worldwide to treat millions of patients who suffer from vascular disease.

Note: Dr. Mustapha is a paid consultant for Cordis Corporation.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding new products. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Cordis Corporation and/or Johnson & Johnson.  Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: uncertainty of commercial success; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; changes in behavior and spending patterns or financial distress of purchasers of health care products and services; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; manufacturing difficulties and delays; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2014, including in Exhibit 99 thereto, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson.  Neither Cordis Corporation nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

Contact:
Janet Graesser
650-464-5497
[email protected] 

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SOURCE Cordis Corporation