Bracco at SIRM 2002; A Constant Commitment for Research and Innovation in the View of a Integrated Development.

Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers

SIRM 2002

MILAN, Italy--(BW HealthWire)--May 21, 2002

Bracco, the leading company in diagnostic imaging will be present in an own 240 sqm. large exhibition space (stands number 76 and 77 - Hall E) at the 40th National Congress of the Italian Society for Medical Radiology, which shall take place at Rimini on May 24. - 28. next, with a series of events mainly focusing on the latest applications and on future development in diagnostic imaging and principally meant for updating purposes for the specialists in this field.

Among the events planned on a daily base in the multimedial auditorium of the Bracco stands particularly interesting clinical cases will be presented and discussed. In the same stands a range of interactive stations will be available to view films in the MRI, CT and US area.

Moreover there will be the possibility to visit the "Image Gallery", showing images referred to the three areas mentioned above.

Through "Infocongress" Bracco will offer all registered participants a service, connected with the congress organising secretariat, allowing them to leave messages for other colleagues attending the conference.

On Tuesday 28. May, at 12.00 a.m., during the closing ceremony the winners will be awarded the prizes of the Premio Rosati, a contest founded by Bracco in memory of the late corporate Medical Director for Diagnostic Imaging Dr. Gianfranco Rosati. Already at its fourth edition, this contest is devoted to young Italian radiologist below the age of 35. The prizes will be awarded to the 4 best clinical contributions, with particular reference to their scientific validity and the originality of approach among all submitted contributions dealing wih the following branches: Echography, Vascular and Surgical Radiology, Magnetic Resonance, Computerised Tomography.

With its complete range of contrast agents, its medical experience acquired over many years in some of the best clinical centres worldwide, as well as with the new innovative technologies and the resources, allowing it to have integrated appliances at its disposal, Bracco provided for the enlargement and upgrading of its offer with an increasingly customer oriented approach.

The main pillars of Bracco's products for the three basic applications are Iomeprol and Iopamidol for the X-ray diagnostic imaging, Gadobenate Dimeglumine for MRI and Sulphur Hexafluoride for the Ultrasound field.

The Bracco Group ended 2001 with an annual turnover of 1,054.3 million Euro, 64% of which from foreign sales. Bracco is present in 115 countries and employs more than 3,500 people worldwide, more than 600 of these engaged in research. In 2001, 16% of relevant turnover was invested in research.

The world's leading producer of contrast agents, the Bracco Group is currently developing an integrated approach to the whole diagnostic imaging sector which ranges from equipment manufacture (the company owns the majority stake in Esaote Group of Genoa, one of the world's top manufacturers of ultrasound and medical equipment) and contrast agent delivery systems, to the latest image-processing technology (Bracco has recently acquired 100% of Acist Medical Systems, a leading US company producing advanced contrast agent injection systems) and to "virtual reality" technologies which allow to plan highly complex and delicate surgery (Bracco purchased 80% of Volume Interactions, a Singapore company leading the field in virtual reality applications). The Bracco Group recently inaugurated SPIN, a new facility located at Torviscosa (Italy) for the production of contrast media for X-rays.

www.bracco.com