1st July 2006:

Aurora BioScience annouces exclusive distribution agreement with Cyberonics Inc.

Aurora BioScience Pty. Ltd. today announced that it has reach agreement to become the exclusive distributor of Cyberonics, Inc. Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy System used in the treatment of epilepsy.  Under the agreement Aurora Bioscience will be exclusively responsible for the VNS Therapy sales, marketing and registration in both the Australian and New Zealand markets.

"We are extremely excited to be associated with this innovative technology and with Cyberonics. We strongly believe that the VNS system provides a very real and viable treatment alternative for epilepsy patients who are refractory to antiepileptic medication" said Darren Banks, Managing Director of Aurora BioScience.

The VNS Therapy System has been CE Marked for use as an adjunctive therapy in reducing the frequency of seizures in patients whose epileptic disorder is dominated by partial seizures (with or without secondary generalisation) or generalised seizures, which are refractory to antiepileptic medications.  The VNS Therapy System has also gained FDA approval. To date, more than 40,000 epilepsy patients have accumulated over 100,000 patient years of experience using VNS Therapy.

"VNS Therapy has the potential to make a real difference in patients lives and we look forward to working closely with and supporting the Epilepsy communities in Australia and New Zealand" said Mr. Banks.

VNS Therapy delivers stimulation via a device implanted just under the skin in the left chest area. The pacemaker-like device sends mild, intermittent electrical impulses through a lead to the left vagus nerve, which then sends signals to the brain.¹ Each device is programmed for the individual patient, and the patient has the ability to initiate or abort stimulation with the use of a hand-held magnet.

¹Physician’s Manual, VNS Therapy Pulse Model 102 Generator. Houston, Texas: Cyberonics Inc.; 2003.

 

ABOUT VNS THERAPY AND CYBERONICS

Further information about Cyberonics, Inc. and the VNS Therapy System is available at www.cyberonics.com and www.VNSTherapy.com.

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