Bard Receives FDA Clearance for Biliary Stent.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

MURRAY HILL, N.J.--(BW HealthWire)--March 6, 2001

C. R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE-BCR) today announced it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) concurrence to market its next generation LUMINEXX(TM) Self-Expanding Nitinol Biliary Stent for the treatment of malignant biliary obstructions. The LUMINEXX stent will be marketed through Bard's Peripheral Technologies division and is available immediately.

Each year in America, more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with malignant biliary obstructions which prevent the flow of bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine. Nitinol stents are rapidly becoming the product of choice for treating these strictures due to their unique ability to expand with minimum shortening and a high radial force that continues to exert pressure on the lesion.

Bard's LUMINEXX stent combines the trackability and flexibility of the Memotherm FLEXX(TM) biliary stent delivery system with the LUMINEXX stent's unique radiopaque marker technology. This technology greatly improves radiopacity, allowing for better stent visualization, pre- and post-placement.

"At a time when many of our competitors are just entering the nitinol stent market, Bard continues to lead the way in the research, development, and marketing of clinically beneficial nitinol products," said Bard chairman and chief executive officer, William H. Longfield. "As a long-standing global leader in the application of self-expanding nitinol technology, Bard has developed a clear understanding of clinical needs and requirements - as well as proprietary engineering skills in the fabrication of nitinol," he explained. "We expect to build further on the rapid gains in market share we have achieved in the past year with the Memotherm FLEXX biliary stent."

C. R. Bard, Inc., (www.crbard.com) headquartered in Murray Hill, New Jersey, is a leading multinational developer, manufacturer and marketer of health care products in the fields of vascular, urology, oncology and surgical specialty products.