Clinical Study Confirms Efficacy of I-Flow Corp.'s ON-Q Pain Management System in Post-Operative Analgesia; Post-Operative Requirement for Morphine Reduced by 80%.

Business Editors

LAKE FOREST, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2001

I-Flow Corp. (NASDAQ:IFLO) today announced the results of a clinical study confirming the efficacy of I-Flow's ON-Q(R) Pain Management System for post-operative analgesia.

The study, which examined the benefits of using the ON-Q Pain Management System to control post-operative pain in patients with gynecologic malignancy, was conducted at The University of Iowa's Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"This study, which is the first in the medical literature to report on the use of I-Flow's ON-Q Pain Management System, concludes that it is a feasible and effective mode of post-operative analgesia for gynecologic cancer surgery patients. Thirty-nine patients with a variety of gynecological cancers participated in the study, and the results were remarkable. Morphine requirements on the first day after the surgery were less than 15 mg vs. 70 mg as reported by other studies, 80% less than typical requirements for similar surgeries. And, using the standardized McGill pain questionnaire the participants indicated that they experienced significantly lower pain throughout the post-operative period," said I-Flow President and Chief Executive Officer Donald M. Earhart.

"Post-operative pain management remains one of the daily challenges for all medical professionals. The current practice of pain management includes the use of narcotics delivered by patient controlled analgesia, nurse administered parenteral, epidural and oral routes. The use of narcotic agents, however, carries potential adverse side effects, including respiratory depression, nausea, ileus, urinary retention, confusion, constipation and addiction. With the ON-Q it is possible for patients to experience improved post-operative analgesia with fewer of the debilitating side effects than other methods of pain management. The University of Iowa is planning a Phase III trial comparing the efficacy as well as cost-effectiveness of the ON-Q with patient-controlled analgesia and regional analgesia," said Mark S. Shahin, MD, who, with Anil K. Sood, MD, conducted the study. Dr. Shahin plans on continuing work with the ON-Q at Abington Memorial Hospital's Rosenfeld Cancer Center in Abington, Pa., where he has just accepted a position.

I-Flow's ON-Q Pain Management System, which is based on the company's elastomeric infusion technology, provides continuous infusion of a non-narcotic, local anesthetic directly into the post-operative wound site to alleviate moderate to severe pain that patients experience following many surgical procedures. Its potential benefits are direct pain relief without the side effects of narcotics, a decrease in the incidence of breakthrough pain and earlier ambulation.

About The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at The University of Iowa is dedicated to bringing the world's best research and cancer care to University of Iowa health care. The Cancer Center was founded in 1980 and serves to enhance cancer-related research; to provide high-quality health care related prevention, detection and treatment of cancer; and to educate cancer professionals and the citizens of Iowa about cancer.

About I-Flow

I-Flow (www.i-flowcorp.com) designs, develops and markets technically advanced drug delivery systems that are redefining the standard of care by providing life-enhancing, cost-effective solutions for pain management and infusion therapy.

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements with respect to events, the occurrence of which involve significant risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, future demand for the company's products and services, competition within the industry, and other risks or uncertainties detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.