Optos Reaches 10 Million optomap® Retinal Exam Milestone
2/7/2007
LONDON, UK, 07 February 2007 – Optos plc (LSE: OPTS), a leading medical technology company for the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of retinal imaging devices, today announced that its P200 devices, which are currently installed in eye and health care practices in the USA, Canada, UK and Germany, have now performed 10 million optomap® Retinal Exams since the first was performed in August 1999. For the year ended 30 September 2006, 3.4 million optomap® Retinal Exams were performed, an increase of 34% from 2.5 million that were performed during the same prior year period.
“We save lives certainly monthly, we save eyes weekly if not daily - there are places you can see with the optomap® Retinal Exam that are impossible to see otherwise,” said Dr Richard Noyes, Iowa Eyecare, Iowa, USA.
According to Dr Reinhold Reimer, Elmshorn, Germany, “I am finding that the prevalence of melanoma is increasing due to the decrease of the ozone barrier and the increase of UV-lighting - melanoma often lies in the middle and outer periphery and is difficult to diagnose with traditional methods. A patient friendly procedure like the optomap® Retinal Exam which does not require pupil dilation and which can take a wide-field image of the retina in a single capture is a great tool for detecting disease earlier.”
Ann Griffiths, a 58 year-old volunteer worker in Brecon, UK was due for a regular eye test, which she arranged to have carried out at First Optic Opticians with her optometrist, Mr Patrick Round. Her eyes appeared to be in good health however when she had the optomap® Retinal Exam a previously undetected problem was discovered - it revealed that she had a small hole in the retina of her right eye, which undetected could have potentially lead to a complete loss of vision.
“When the problem was discovered I was worried at first but then I was just so relieved that it had been picked up before it lead to something more serious,” said Ms Griffiths. “Patrick showed me the optomap® Retinal Exam and it was clear that there was a small hole - I went straight to the hospital where it was repaired with laser treatment.”
“Clinically the optomap® Retinal Exam helps diagnose at an earlier stage and creates a permanent record, which has greatly helped patient education - in our 18 years of practice, I think this had been one of the best innovations to enhance the practice of optometry,” said Dr Stewart Ginsberg, Natick Eye Associates, Natick, Massachusetts.
“This is a very important milestone in our short history and we believe is a strong endorsement of how the optomap® Retinal Exam enables practitioners to deliver a higher standard of clinical care to their patients,” said Tom Butts, Optos’ Chief Executive Officer. “By doing so, patients gain more confidence in their practitioner and have a stronger understanding of the benefits of regular eye health care.”
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Enquiries:
Optos plc
John McNeil, Director of Communications and Assistant Company Secretary +44 (0) 1383 843 337
+44 (0) 7870 240 325
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Kevin Smith / David Dible / Yvonne Alexander +44 (0)20 7638 9571
Notes to Editors
Optos plc is a leading and rapidly growing medical technology company for the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of devices that image the retina, the light-sensitive area at the back of the eye. Optos' platform technology is the Panoramic200 Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope device - known as the P200. In a quarter of a second the P200 device produces a high resolution image of up to 200 degrees or approximately 82 percent of the retina in a single capture. The image - branded the optomap® Retinal Exam - provides eye care practitioners with clinically useful information that facilitates the early detection of disorders and diseases evidenced in the retina, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Retinal imaging can also indicate evidence of non-eye or systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and certain cancers. The Company has recently gained regulatory clearance (CE and FDA 510(k)) to market a second device - P200MA. Optos’ technology provides an unequalled combination of wide-field retinal imaging, speed and convenience for both practitioner and patient and can help save sight and save lives.
Optos estimates that its P200 device is targeting a recurring US$2 billion market opportunity. For the year ended 30 September 2006 Optos had revenues of US$67.7 million and 232 employees with an installed base of 2,593 P200 devices in its existing markets in North America and Europe. Optos plc is headquartered in Dunfermline, Scotland and was admitted to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange on 15 February 2006 trading under the symbol OPTS.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates and projections about its industry, its beliefs and assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions shareholders and prospective shareholders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.