Press Releases

DUBLIN, Ohio, July 19, 2007 – Cardinal Health, a global provider of products and services that improve the safety and productivity of health care, today announced an exclusive, four-year distribution agreement with HemCon Medical Technologies, Inc. to provide its new line of hemorrhage control bandages to hospitals, surgery centers and physician offices in the United States.

 

HemCon^® Bandages, used by the U.S. military since 2003, have demonstrated a 97% effective rate in controlling bleeding on the battlefield^[1]. HemCon recently reengineered its bandages to meet the specific needs of civilian trauma and emergency medicine. The new bandages, which control severe arterial bleeding, are thinner, more flexible and sized differently than the original HemCon military bandage. The technology used in the bandages is particularly useful in hospital settings, because it allows providers to standardize one hemorrhage control solution across multiple disciplines.

 

“The U.S. military has used our bandages to save soldiers’ lives for years, so we’re excited to now form this exclusive partnership with Cardinal Health to bring this life-saving technology to the United States civilian sector as well,” said John W. Morgan, president and CEO of HemCon Medical Technologies, Inc. “Cardinal Health’s extensive clinical expertise and strong hospital relationships made it the ideal partner to bring HemCon’s innovative technology to the U.S. health-care market. This partnership will allow a higher standard of care that will benefit both clinicians and patients.”

 

Using Chitosan, an extract from shrimp shells, the HemCon^® Bandage controls moderate to severe external bleeding within minutes of being applied directly to moderate- or high-pressure, high-flow external bleeds. It aggressively adheres to the site when it contacts blood or moisture. This adhesive-like action forms a strong, flexible barrier that seals and stabilizes the wound.

 “Uncontrolled bleeding is the second leading cause of death in the United States, after trauma^[2], and more than six million bleeding wounds are treated annually by trauma and emergency rooms in the U.S.^[3],” said Mike Kaufmann, president of Healthcare Supply Chain Services – Medical for Cardinal Health. “That’s just one reason why we are thrilled to have the exclusive opportunity to bring this life-saving product to health-care providers throughout the United States.  This partnership is a perfect example of Cardinal Health’s commitment to delivering innovative products that improve patient outcomes.”

 

By directly controlling blood loss, even in the case of severed arterial bleeds, HemCon^® Bandages reduce the need for transfusions and provide critical time to administer care (up to 48 hours from the point of placement).

 

HemCon’s new bandages are available in a variety of sizes, have a three-year shelf life and are latex-free. These sizes were chosen to specifically address the wounds seen in civilian emergency and trauma cases such as lacerations, knife injuries, motor vehicle accidents and gunshot wounds. In addition to being useful in the emergency room, HemCon Bandages are also useful in cardiac catheterization and interventional radiology settings.

 

The products will be co-labeled by HemCon and Cardinal Health, and will be available through Cardinal Health hospital supply distribution and in Presource^® kits and trays. For product information, Cardinal Health customers should contact their hospital supply sales representative. Information is also available by calling Cardinal Health at 847-689-6459.

 

HemCon Medical Technologies Inc., founded in 2001, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative technologies to control bleeding and infection resulting from trauma or surgery. HemCon products are designed for use by military and civilian first responders as well as medical professionals in hospital, dental and clinical settings where rapid control of bleeding is of critical importance. HemCon’s manufacturing and corporate headquarters are located in Portland, Oregon. To learn more, visit www.hemcon.com.

 

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is an $80 billion, global company serving the health-care industry with products and services that help hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies reduce costs, improve safety, productivity and profitability, and deliver better care to patients.  With a focus on making supply chains more efficient, reducing hospital-acquired infections and breaking the cycle of harmful medication errors, Cardinal Health develops market-leading technologies, including Alaris^® IV pumps, Pyxis^® automated dispensing systems, MedMined^® data mining software and the CareFusion^™ patient identification system.  The company also manufactures medical and surgical products and is one of the largest distributors of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies worldwide.  Ranked No. 19 on the Fortune 500 and No. 1 in its sector on Fortune's ranking of Most Admired firms, Cardinal Health employs more than 40,000 people on five continents.  More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com.

 

Except for historical information, all other information in this news release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.  These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied.  The most significant of these uncertainties are described in Cardinal Health's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports) and exhibits to those reports, and include (but are not limited to) the following: competitive pressures in its various lines of business; the loss of one or more key customer or supplier relationships or changes to the terms of those relationships; changes in the distribution patterns or reimbursement rates for health-care products and/or services; the results, consequences, effects or timing of any inquiry or investigation by any regulatory authority or any legal and administrative proceedings; difficulties, delays or additional costs in implementing the company’s global restructuring program; and general economic and market conditions.  Except to the extent required by applicable law, Cardinal Health undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

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