Commitment to Stroke Prevention and Treatment Highlighted During Stroke Awareness Month
MINNEAPOLIS, May 22 – AGA Medical Corporation (“AGA”) today issued a letter of support for the Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act of 2007 to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, Edward M. Kennedy and Michael B. Enzi. AGA is a leading innovator in the search for effective stroke prevention and treatment options. May is Stroke Awareness Month, and AGA is committed to increasing awareness of this often deadly and debilitating disease.
The text of the letter follows:
May 22, 2007
The Honorable Edward M. Kennedy
The Honorable Michael B. Enzi
428 Senate Dirksen Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Kennedy and Ranking Member Enzi:
I would like to express AGA Medical’s strong support for the Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act of 2007. By promoting education, awareness, prevention and treatment of stroke, this legislation will result in lives saved and improved.
AGA Medical shares your passion and sense of urgency in finding new ways to battle stroke, the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States. We manufacture medical devices for the minimally invasive treatment of cardiovascular defects and peripheral vascular disease, some of which may cause stroke.
It is not yet known what the best treatment is to reduce the risk of a recurrent stroke, but evidence suggests that there may be a connection to a condition that affects as many as one in four adults. The condition is known as a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO). PFO is a hole between the upper chambers of the heart that usually closes after birth.
AGA Medical is conducting a clinical trial to investigate whether closure of PFO is superior to medical management in preventing recurrent cryptogenic strokes. In the trial, we close a patient’s PFO with the AMPLATZER® Occluder in an hour long procedure that does not require open-heart surgery. We are very hopeful that AGA can offer the tens of thousands stroke patients – or potential stroke victims – who have PFO a more effective treatment option for a better quality of life.
Thank you for steadfast commitment on this issue. With Congress’ support and leadership and the private sector’s innovation and determination, we can make significant strides in preventing and treating stroke.
Sincerely,
Franck Gougeon
President, CEO and Co-Founder
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ABOUT AGA MEDICAL: AGA Medical Corporation, based in Plymouth, Minnesota (just outside Minneapolis), is the leader in developing interventional devices to treat structural heart defects. As a result of the many contributions and creative genius of Dr. Kurt Amplatz, the company has developed and commercialized a series of devices that have revolutionized the treatment of the most common congenital "holes in the heart," such as atrial septal and patent foramen ovale defects. The company is expanding into new areas, including the minimally invasive repair of vascular abnormalities. Over 500 articles have been published in peer reviewed medical publications that support the benefits of AGA Medical devices, such as improved patient outcomes, reduced length of stay and accelerated recovery times for the patient. AGA Medical devices have received regulatory approval and are marketed in over 90 countries with over 200,000 devices shipped to date. For more information visit www.amplatzer.com
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jake Sargent
Brunswick Group LLC
202.393.7337
jsargent@brunswickgroup.com