American Heart Association Highlights New EECP Study At Its 2001 Annual Scientific Sessions; New study adds evidence of a new-vessel growth mechanism for EECP.

Health/Medical Writers

WESTBURY, N.Y.--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 13, 2001

Vasomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq: VASO) announced today that a new study on EECP(R) has been listed by the American Heart Association (AHA) as a featured presentation at its 2001 Annual Scientific Sessions held November 11-14, 2001 in Anaheim, California.

The study, entitled "Enhanced External Counterpulsation Promotes Angiogenesis Factors in Patients with Chronic Stable Angina," was considered important by the AHA in that a noninvasive treatment appears able to "stimulate the development of tiny blood vessels known as `collaterals' that carry blood around blocked arteries and restore flow to the oxygen-deprived area of the heart." In its press release, the AHA pointed out "this research holds promise that EECP could be an alternative to angioplasty or surgery in treating some of the 6.4 million Americans with angina." This study on EECP was one of twenty highlighted by the AHA from among the more than 1,500 that were accepted for presentation at this year's conference. The study was presented on November 12th by William E. Lawson, MD FACC, Professor of Clinical Medicine at the State University of New York at Stony Brook on behalf of Diasuke Masuda, MD PhD, and his colleagues at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan.

Dr. Lawson commented, "Dr. Masuda's study strengthens previous research suggesting that the mechanism by which EECP produces long-term benefit is by increasing the formation of collateral vessels. This same study using positron emission tomography (PET) scanning also found that EECP improved both myocardial perfusion at rest and during pharmacologic stress after a course of therapy. These are strong indicators that EECP is working through these mechanisms."

In the study presented yesterday at the AHA meeting, EECP was found to produce an increase in four angiogenic factors in treated patients: HGF by 35.0 percent, bFGF by 18.8%, VEGF by 2.4% and UCP-1 by 2.7%. During treatment, EECP raises the pressure gradient between ischemic and non-ischemic regions of the heart forcing latent vessels to open. It is hypothesized that vessel growth factors expressed as a result of EECP-induced endothelial stimulation render these vessels permanently functional. These changes may underlie improvement in myocardial perfusion and exercise tolerance reported in earlier studies of EECP.

Angiogenesis is the formation and growth of new blood vessels. Examples of angiogenesis include new vasculature in the healing of wounds or new vessel growth along the borders of scars in the myocardium left behind by a prior heart attack. The process stimulates growth in response to inflammatory reactions or to faster blood flow such as that which may occur in vessel segments in front of a narrowing. Reactions to shear stress caused by high blood flow velocities include the expression of several growth factors, which trigger the creation of new vessels. These changes are complemented by the activation of other biochemical pathways that control the function and migration of the critically important endothelial cells that line blood vessels. Increased shear stress at the site of native reserve vessels is also thought to modulate the maturation of these vessels; a process called "vasculogenesis".

D. Michael Deignan, President and CEO of Vasomedical stated, "We are pleased that EECP has been highlighted in such a prestigious forum. Vasomedical is committed to supporting research that further explains the mechanisms by which EECP produces the long-term benefits documented. We expect that these studies, as well as other studies being conducted in heart failure and diabetes disease management, will continue to support the use of EECP as a primary and/or adjunctive therapy in the large and growing cohort of cardiovascular disease patients worldwide."

Vasomedical, Inc. is primarily engaged in designing, manufacturing, marketing and supporting external counterpulsation systems based on the Company's proprietary technology currently indicated for use in cases of angina, cardiogenic shock and acute myocardial infarction. EECP(R) is a registered trademark for Vasomedical's enhanced external counterpulsation system. This system is now in use at major medical centers, including the Beth Israel Medical Center - New York City, Christ Hospital and Medical Center, the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, JFK Medical Center-Atlantis, FL, Mayo Clinic, the Miami Heart Institute, the Ochsner Foundation Hospital, the Texas Heart Institute, and University Hospital at UMDNJ/New Jersey Medical School as well as medical centers affiliated with Columbia University, State University of New York at Stony Brook, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of California at San Diego, the University of California at San Francisco, University of Florida at Gainesville, and the University of Virginia. The Company provides hospitals, clinics and private practices with EECP(R) equipment, treatment guidance and a staff training and maintenance program designed to provide optimal patient outcomes. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.vasomedical.com.

Except for historical information contained in this release, the matters discussed are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this release, words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect"' and "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of business and economic conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; product development, commercialization or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment; and the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.