NeoTract Announces Aetna US Healthcare and Coventry Health Care Positive Coverage Decision Regarding UroLift® Implant Procedure for Men with Enlarged Prostate

PLEASANTON, Calif., April 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- NeoTract, Inc., today announced that Aetna US Healthcare published an update to their BPH Clinical Policy Bulletin 0079 that provides a significant coverage opportunity for the NeoTract UroLift® implant procedure. The policy states that the Prostatic Urethral Lift procedure, which employs the UroLift implant, is considered medically necessary for members with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) as an alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The full policy can be found at http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/1_99/0079.html.

Aetna US Healthcare is the third largest national commercial insurer in the United States with over 21 million covered lives and one of the top five insurers in most states. This coverage decision also applies to Coventry Health Care, Aetna's national managed health care company, serving approximately five million members.

"This positive coverage decision from a leading insurer is a welcome validation of the clinical benefits and cost effectiveness of the UroLift® System in treating men with BPH," said Dave Amerson, President and CEO, NeoTract. "We are pleased that a significant percentage of men in the U.S. seeking a minimally invasive approach to BPH symptom relief will now have access to this unique treatment option."

About BPH
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate, is a medical condition in which the prostate gland that surrounds the male urethra becomes enlarged with advancing age and begins to obstruct the urinary system. The condition is common, affecting approximately 37 million men in the United States. BPH symptoms include sleepless nights and urinary problems, and can cause loss of productivity, depression and decreased quality of life. About one in four men experience BPH-related symptoms by age 55, with 90 percent of men over 70 symptomatic.

Medication is often the first line therapy for enlarged prostate, but relief can be inadequate and temporary.  Side effects of treatment can include sexual dysfunction, dizziness and headaches, prompting many patients to quit using the drugs. For these patients, the classic alternative is surgery that cuts or ablates prostate tissue to open the blocked urethra. While current surgical options, such as the 'gold standard' surgery, TURP, can be very effective in relieving symptoms, it can also leave patients with permanent side effects such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation (dry orgasm).

About UroLift
The UroLift System permanent implants, delivered during a minimally-invasive procedure, effectively treat BPH by acting like window curtain tie-backs to hold the lobes of an enlarged prostate open. Patients recover from the procedure quickly, and return to their normal routines with minimal downtime. Learn more at www.UroLift.com.

About NeoTract
NeoTract, Inc. is dedicated to developing innovative, minimally-invasive and clinically-effective devices that address unmet needs in the field of urology. Our initial focus is on improving the standard of care for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using the UroLift System, a minimally-invasive permanent implant system that treats symptoms while preserving normal sexual function. The UroLift System is available in the U.S., Europe, Australia and Canada. Learn more at www.NeoTract.com.

SOURCE NeoTract, Inc.