Needlestick Safety Alliance Announces Three New Corporate Members.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--April 16, 2002

The National Alliance for the Primary Prevention of Sharps Injuries (NAPPSI), founded by Venetec International, today announced the addition of three new member companies: TransDerm Technologies (TDT), Hema Metrics Inc., and Antares Pharma.

All three manufacture products that protect healthcare workers and patients from accidental needlesticks.

A non-profit organization based in Carlsbad, NAPPSI advocates primary prevention as the preferred strategy for minimizing sharps injuries in healthcare settings. Primary prevention refers to healthcare technologies and practices that reduce or eliminate the need to use a sharp implement to treat patients.

"NAPPSI's growing influence is reflected in its rapidly expanding membership," said Steve Bierman, M.D., NAPPSI's founder and the CEO of Venetec International, makers of StatLock safety securement devices. "TransDerm, Hema Metrics and Antares Pharma all produce technologies that make possible excellent medical care without needlestick risk. Their innovations underline not only the importance but also the practicality of NAPPSI's cause."

About the new members

TransDerm Technologies LLC, a San Francisco Science(TM) company, develops innovative mass screening and monitoring products. The company's product platform consists of a skin patch and rapid test strip for a "one patch, one match" test. The products employ a TDT formulation that non-invasively opens channels in the skin to extract analytes, heavy metals, chemicals and metabolites.

"Our primary goals are the same as NAPPSI's -- to promote the safest possible environment for healthcare workers and patients," said Jerry Sanders, the company's CEO. "TransDerm Technologies' patch to test for lead and other products to follow will make routine testing needleless, painless, easy and fast for patients and the healthcare workers that serve them."

For more information on the company, access www.transdermtech.com.

Hema Metrics manufactures the Crit-Scan(TM) device, which employs a non-invasive spot-check methodology for measuring real-time transcutaneous hematocrit and saturated oxygen. The company's photo-optical technology moves blood diagnostic testing from invasive to non-invasive standards of care, reducing needlestick risk to both caregiver and patient.

"I am pleased to be collaborating with NAPPSI in the prevention of bloodborne pathogen transmission, needlesticks, and other sharps injuries," said Michael J. Magliochetti, Ph.D., president and CEO of Hema Metrics Inc.

For more information on the company, access www.hemametrics.com.

Antares Pharma was formed in the merger of Permatec, a Swiss private company, and Medi-Ject, a U.S. public company. Its products include needle-free jet injector devices and transdermal gel systems that deliver drugs across the skin. The company's flagship product, the Medi-Jector VISION(R) Jet Injection System, is used in the United States and Europe to administer insulin to diabetic patients. Other Antares Pharma needle-free devices are used in Europe to inject human growth hormone.

"We see the continuing development and application of our needle-free injection technology as being clearly aligned with NAPPSI's goals," said Roger G. Harrison, Ph.D., CEO and president of Antares Pharma. "We also see the potential for alternatives to needles improving patient compliance, leading to better outcomes in disease management, and consequently reducing healthcare costs."

For more information on the company, access www.antarespharma.com.

NAPPSI utilizes its monthly e-mail newsletter, a national speaker's bureau, public relations and other activities to inform the media, decisionmakers and opinion leaders on the value of primary prevention. NAPPSI also supports secondary prevention approaches such as retractable needles but promotes primary prevention wherever it is applicable because accidents can still occur with "safe" medical sharps.

NAPPSI's membership encompasses professional associations, individual healthcare professionals, and medical device makers. Other NAPPSI corporate members include:

-- Venetec International, www.StatLock.com or www.Venetec.com, 800/833-3895;

-- Cell Robotics International (OTCBB:CRII), www.CellRobotics.com,
505/343-1131;

-- Bioject Medical Technologies (Nasdaq:BJCT), www.Bioject.com, 503/639-7221;

-- ICU Medical (Nasdaq:ICUI), www.ICUmed.com, 800/824-7890;

-- ALARIS Medical Systems Inc. (AMEX:AMI), www.alarismed.com, 858/458-7000;

-- Equidyne Systems Inc. (AMEX:IJX), www.equidyne.com, 877/474-6539;

-- Calypte Biomedical Inc. (Nasdaq:CALY), www.Calypte.com, 877-CALYPTE
(225-9783);

-- Arrow International (Nasdaq:ARRO), www.arrowintl.com, 800/233-3187;

-- Braun Medical, www.BBraunusa.com, 610/691-5400;

-- National Association of Residents and Interns, www.NARI-assn.com,
800/221-2168, ext. 5;

-- D'Antonio Consultants International Inc., 315/463-4999;

-- Helping Hands Sanctuary of Idaho Inc., www.healthcaretraining.org,
208/221-1611;

-- Association of Needle-Free Injection Manufacturers (ANIFM), 315/463-4999;

-- Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA), www.HIDAnetwork.com,
703/549-4432;

-- ETHICON Inc., www.EthiconInc.com;

-- Abbott Laboratories, www.abbotthosp.com, 800/222-6883;

-- The Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP),
www.aohp.org/aohp, 412/749-7328;

-- BD Inc. (Becton Dickinson) (NYSE:BDX), www.bd.com, 201/847-6800;

-- The Infusion Nurses Society (INS), www.INS1.org;

-- The National Association of Vascular Access Networks (NAVAN),
www.navannet.org, 888/57-NAVAN (888/576-2826);

-- The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), www.aacn.org,
800/899-2226;

-- Canadian Intravenous Nurses Association (CINA), www.csotcina.com,
416/445-4516;

-- StickSafe LLC, www.sticksafe.com, 888/914-9600;

-- Phlebotomy West, http://phlebotomywest.com, 925/240-0770;

-- Cook Inc., www.cookgroup.com, 800/457-4500.

-- Portex Inc., www.portexusa.com, 603/352-3812

For NAPPSI membership and other information, call 858/350-8623 or access www.NAPPSI.org.