E-Z-EM Introduces First Tagging Agent to Improve Colon Visualization During Virtual Colonoscopy.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

WESTBURY, N.Y.--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 26, 2001

E-Z-EM, Inc., (AMEX - EZM.A and EZM.B)--

Tagitol(TM) Designed to Enhance Diagnostic Accuracy in Patients

Not Optimally Prepared by Diet and Laxative Regimen

E-Z-EM, Inc., (AMEX - EZM.A and EZM.B) today introduced Tagitol(TM), the first tagging agent developed to help improve visualization of the bowel during virtual colonoscopy exams.

Virtual colonoscopy (also referred to as CT colonography, or CTC) is an innovative technology that visualizes the gastrointestinal tract using advanced CT imaging and 3D computer reconstruction of that image data. The product announcement was made at the Radiological Society of North America's 87th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting being held in Chicago this week.

In virtual colonoscopy, even the smallest amount of residual stool remaining in a patient's colon may be mistaken for a polyp or other pathology, resulting in a false positive finding. Doctors interpreting virtual colonoscopy images can be forced to spend additional time analyzing a suspected mass to determine whether it is retained stool, or a clinically significant finding. Tagitol, a radiopaque contrast medium, works by marking any stool remaining in the colon to distinguish it from surrounding tissue. This not only can lessen the incidence of false positive findings, but can reduce analysis time required from the doctor.

"Virtual imaging of the colon is gaining wider acceptance in the medical community as an accurate and effective screening tool to detect colon cancer," said Anthony A. Lombardo, President and CEO of E-Z-EM. "Tagging agents like Tagitol will further improve virtual imaging by helping make it easier for doctors to identify and remove suspicious growths."

"Even the smallest amount of retained stool in virtual colonoscopy can appear to be a polyp. This can result in a false positive finding, which means that the patient would be referred for conventional colonoscopy to remove a polyp that was never really there - the very thing we want to avoid," said Anthony Stauffer, M.D., Medical Director of the Mission Regional Imaging Center, in Mission Viejo, California. "In the past, a great deal of time was spent in the analysis of images to assure that retained stool was not mistaken for polyps. But with this new tagging agent, we can better overcome the problem of residual stool and complete the examination with an accurate diagnosis."

Tagitol can also be used with electronic subtraction software that allows doctors to eliminate the stool electronically from the virtual image. Tagitol has the capability to provide the density differential necessary for electronic subtraction systems to automatically distinguish stool from pathology. A low-density suspension of barium sulfate, the lemon-lime-flavored product comes in 250 ml dose bottles for administration with meals prior to the procedure.

Screening More Patients for Colon Cancer with Virtual Colonoscopy

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be over 98,000 new cases of colon cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2001. Research indicates that early detection and intervention can reduce mortality from the disease by up to 90 percent while also reducing the incidence of non-colon cancers. Furthermore, the American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 74 million people over age 50 are eligible for colon cancer screening. However, only 20% of this population base is actually screened each year, and many of these patients are screened with fecal occult blood tests that can yield less-than-optimal results. It is believed that virtual colonoscopy could lead to a substantial increase in the number of patients being screened for colorectal cancer.

In addition to Tagitol, E-Z-EM has introduced a complete tool kit for virtual colonoscopy, including: innerviewGI(TM) 3D imaging software; LoSo Prep(TM) and NutraPrep(TM) patient-friendly colon preparation products and nutritional meal kits; and the PROTOCO2L Carbon Dioxide Insufflation System. Offering complete pre- to post-procedure capabilities for the virtual colonoscopy practitioner, E-Z-EM's tool kit should help the position the Company as a leading provider in this new healthcare marketplace.

About E-Z-EM

E-Z-EM, the world's largest manufacturer of contrast agents for gastrointestinal radiology, has developed the only CT injector on the market that can help detect contrast extravasation, the new EmpowerCT(TM) with patented EDA(TM) technology. The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, AngioDynamics, manufactures a wide range of products, including angiographic, vascular access, thrombolytic, angioplasty, stents, as well as abdominal infection drainage products. AngioDynamics' focus is on diagnostic and therapeutic products for interventional radiology and other areas of minimally invasive surgery. Enteric Products, Inc., another subsidiary, develops, manufactures and markets tests for detection of the ulcer- and cancer-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori. For additional information, please visit www.ezem.com.

The statements made in this document contain certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words such as "expects", "intends", "anticipates", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates," or variations of such words and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that actual events or results may differ from the Company's expectations. In addition to the matters described above, the ability of the Company to develop its products, future actions by the FDA or other regulatory agencies, results of pending or future clinical trials, overall economic conditions, general market conditions, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, the effects on pricing from Group Purchasing Organizations, competition, including alternative procedures which continue to replace traditional fluoroscopic procedures, as well as the risk factors listed from time to time in the SEC filings of E-Z-EM, Inc., including but not limited to its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 1, 2001, as well as its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 2, 2001, may affect the actual results achieved by the Company.