Haemonetics to Provide an Update on Key Growth Initiatives at J.P. Morgan Health Care Conference

BRAINTREE, Mass., Jan. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 

• Whole Blood Acquisition Integration Ahead of Schedule
• Paperless Phlebotomy On Track For Limited Market Release in Q4 Fiscal 2013
• OrthoPAT^® Advance^™ Receives 510K Approval
• Emerging Market Investments Driving Growth in TEG^® and Cell Salvage
• Customer Adoption of Blood Management Solutions Driving Hospital Growth
• Hemerus Medical Remains on Track To Respond To FDA's SOLX^® Questions

Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE) today announced significant progress on key business initiatives in conjunction with the 31^st Annual J.P. Morgan Health Care Conference in San Francisco.  Brian Concannon, President and CEO of Haemonetics, will discuss these initiatives as part of a live webcast presentation at 4:30PM Pacific time / 7:30PM Eastern time on Wednesday, January 9.  

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"Our current fiscal year 2013 is a landmark year in which we completed the largest acquisition in our company's history, the whole blood collection, filtration and processing business from Pall Corporation.  Subsequently, we have integrated it seamlessly with no interruption to customer needs", said Mr. Concannon.  "We also remain on track for the introduction of the first element of automation into that market later in fiscal 2013, in the form of paperless phlebotomy.  At the same time, we made considerable advances in blood management solutions for our customers. In this regard, we prepared for the first half of fiscal 2014 introduction of our recently approved OrthoPAT Advance device into the hospital market and our investments in emerging markets have boosted our TEG and Cell Saver^® Elite^® penetration there as well." 

Whole Blood Acquisition Integration
Since the August 1, 2012 completion of the Whole Blood acquisition, 17 internal cross-functional integration teams have pursued all elements of integration to ensure that critical business functions including IT, supply chain, quality and regulatory compliance to name a few continued effectively.  The integration effort is ahead of schedule and is expected to be substantially completed by the end of fiscal 2013.

Paperless Phlebotomy For Whole Blood Collection
The company has previously revealed plans to introduce its paperless phlebotomy product offering into the whole blood market, which is the first phase of their Automated Whole Blood product launch.  This consists initially of a software platform that allows collection of donation data at the chair side using a wireless hand-held/tablet device, followed by a communications tower permitting wireless connectivity in even the most difficult blood collection locations, and required connectivity software.  The paperless phlebotomy product is the first of three product launch phases that collectively facilitate the ability to automate the process of collecting whole blood.  FDA clearance of the paperless phlebotomy offering and limited market release to an identified U.S. blood center customer are expected to occur by the end of Q4 of fiscal 2013 as anticipated.

Blood Management Solutions:  OrthoPAT Advance Device
The next-generation OrthoPAT perioperative autotransfusion device, the OrthoPAT Advance which received a 510K approval in Q3 of fiscal 2013, has been designed with new features and capabilities that directly address ease-of-use and other features suggested by customers.  This new product offering is on track for limited market release to identified U.S. hospital customers in the first half of fiscal 2014.  

Blood Management Solutions:  Emerging Market Growth Investments
The company is committed to increasing investment levels in emerging market growth initiatives, principally in China.  Such investments have led to an increase in Haemonetics' employment level in China and rapid acceptance of the company's thromboelastography^® ("TEG") diagnostic and cell salvage ("Cell Saver Elite") product offerings by key opinion leader surgeons and hospitals in key Chinese provinces.  New surgical applications for these products have expanded their served markets.

Planned Hemerus Medical, LLC Acquisition
On September 17, 2012, the company indicated that the U.S. FDA had requested additional information from Hemerus.  Hemerus remains on track to provide the required information to the FDA later this month.

Mr. Concannon concluded: "We look forward to discussing these key business initiatives at this year's J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.  Together they represent exciting growth opportunities and we are confident in their progress.  They are the kinds of initiatives our customers expect from the global leader of blood management solutions as they seek ways to reduce costs and improve clinical outcomes."

As previously announced, the public may access Mr. Concannon's presentation live at http://jpmorgan.metameetings.com/webcasts/healthcare13/directlink?ticker=HAE and that webcast will be archived and available for approximately 90 days.

About Haemonetics
Haemonetics (NYSE: HAE) is a global healthcare company dedicated to providing innovative blood management solutions for our customers.  Together, our devices and consumables, information technology platforms, and consulting services deliver a suite of business solutions to help our customers improve clinical outcomes and reduce the cost of healthcare for blood collectors, hospitals, and patients around the world.  Our technologies address important medical markets: blood and plasma component collection, the surgical suite, and hospital transfusion services.  To learn more about Haemonetics, visit our web site at http://www.haemonetics.com.

Cautionary / Safe Harbor Language
This release contains forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties, including the approval of new products by regulatory bodies, particularly the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, effects of disruption from the acquisition of the Pall Transfusion Medicine business making it more difficult to maintain relationships with employees, customers, vendors and other business partners, unexpected expenses incurred to integrate the Pall Transfusion Medicine business, the effect of uncertainties in markets outside the U.S. (including Europe and Asia) in which we operate, technological advances in the medical field and standards for transfusion medicine and our ability to successfully implement products that incorporate such advances and standards, product demand, product quality, market acceptance, regulatory uncertainties, the effect of economic and political conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing, blood product reimbursement policies and practices, foreign currency exchange rates, changes in customers' ordering patterns, the effect of communicable diseases and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The foregoing list should not be construed as exhaustive. 

Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the Company and are believed to be reasonable, though inherently uncertain and difficult to predict.  Actual results and experience could differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Information set forth in this press release is current as of today and the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update this information.

CONTACT:
Gerry Gould, VP-Investor Relations
Tel. (781) 356-9402
[email protected]
Alt. (781) 356-9613

SOURCE Haemonetics Corporation