Lantheus Medical Imaging Awarded Second Consecutive Sole-Source Supplier Contract from Premier for Definity®
1,600 Member Hospitals Nationwide
N. Billerica, MASSACHUSETTS (October 24, 2008) - Lantheus Medical Imaging, a worldwide leader in diagnostic imaging, announced today that the company has been awarded a three-year sole-source supplier contract by Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P., the group purchasing unit of Premier, Inc., one of the nation's largest healthcare Group Purchasing Organizations (GPO). The new agreement, effective December 1, 2008, allows Lantheus Medical Imaging to provide DEFINITY® Vial For (Perflutren Lipid Microsphere) Injectable Suspension to Premier’s 1,600+ U.S. hospitals and additional healthcare sites. This is the second consecutive sole-source agreement that Lantheus has been awarded by Premier to supply DEFINITY®. The contract was awarded after a competitive bidding process that examined multiple factors, including pricing and clinical experience of DEFINITY®, as well as Lantheus’ support of the product.
"We are proud of our strong relationship with Premier and are pleased that, once again, they have elected to renew our contract to provide their members with DEFINITY®," said Don Kiepert, president and CEO, Lantheus Medical Imaging. “This sole source contract underscores DEFINITY®’s position as the ultrasound contrast agent of choice for many physicians.”
Earlier this year, Lantheus received a Premier Purchasing Partners' Supplier Performance Award for outstanding performance in quality and compliance as a Premier contracted supplier. The award was presented at Premier’s Annual Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition held in Nashville, TN on June 11, 2008.
About Ultrasound Imaging
Through the use of high frequency sound waves, ultrasounds generate real-time images of the organs inside the body, including the heart and blood vessels. Cardiac ultrasound, or echocardiography, is used by physicians to assist in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases or abnormalities, as it captures the structure and movement of the heart walls, valves and lining. In some cases, physicians administer an intravenous contrast agent during a cardiac ultrasound that can make the heart and its movement more visible, allowing for a more thorough examination. In an effort to increase public awareness of medical ultrasound and promote its value in health care, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS), American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS), and Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU), are sponsoring Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month in October 2008.
About DEFINITY®
Since its launch in 2001, activated DEFINITY® Vial For (Perflutren Lipid Microsphere) Injectable Suspension has been administered to over two million patients. In patients with suboptimal echocardiograms, DEFINITY® enables physicians to visualize the borders of the heart more clearly. ,
In May 2008, Lantheus announced the initiation of CaRES (Contrast Echocardiography REgistry for Safety Surveillance), a multi-center Phase IV observational study that will further evaluate the safety profile of DEFINITY® in patients with suboptimal echocardiograms and provide safety information on the use of ultrasound contrast agents in routine clinical practice. The open-label, non-randomized registry will be conducted in at least 10 clinical sites in the United States and include at least 1,600 patients. The study will gather data on patient characteristics and demographics, indication for the contrast usage, safety monitoring of patients during and after DEFINITY® administration, and nature and frequency of any adverse events that may occur.
Important Safety Information about DEFINITY®
Activated DEFINITY® Vial for (Perflutren Lipid Microsphere) Injectable Suspension is indicated for use in patients with suboptimal echocardiograms to opacify the left ventricular chamber and to improve the delineation of the left ventricular endocardial border. The safety and efficacy of DEFINITY® with exercise stress or pharmacologic stress testing have not been established.
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WARNING: Serious Cardiopulmonary Reactions Serious cardiopulmonary reactions, including fatalities, have occurred during or following perflutren-containing microsphere administration.
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Activated DEFINITY® should not be administered to patients with known or suspected cardiac shunts (right-to-left, bi-directional or transient right-to-left), or hypersensitivity to perflutren. Do not administer DEFINITY® by intra-arterial injection.
In postmarketing use, uncommon but serious reactions observed during or shortly following perflutren-containing microsphere administration included fatal cardiac or respiratory arrest, loss of consciousness, convulsions, symptomatic arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation), hypotension, respiratory distress or cardiac ischemia (see ADVERSE REACTIONS). The risk for these reactions may be increased among patients with pulmonary hypertension or unstable cardiopulmonary conditions (acute myocardial infarction, acute coronary artery syndromes, worsening or unstable congestive heart failure, serious ventricular arrhythmias or respiratory failure, including patients receiving mechanical ventilation). In the absence of these underlying conditions, observe patients closely during and following DEFINITY® administration.
Always have cardiopulmonary resuscitation personnel and equipment readily available prior to DEFINITY® administration and monitor all patients for acute reactions.
For full prescribing information, please visit www.lantheus.com.
About Lantheus Medical Imaging
Lantheus Medical Imaging, a worldwide leader in diagnostic medicine for the past 50 years, is committed to advancing the field of diagnostic imaging. The company’s proven success in discovering, developing and marketing innovative medical imaging agents provides an unparalleled platform from which to bring forward breakthrough new tools for the diagnosis and management of disease. The company is home to leading diagnostic imaging brands, including Cardiolite® (Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc99m Sestamibi for Injection), DEFINITY® Vial For (Perflutren Lipid Microsphere) Injectable Suspension, and TechneLite® (Technetium Tc99m Generator) and has nearly 700 employees worldwide with headquarters in North Billerica, Massachusetts, and offices in Puerto Rico, Canada, and Australia. For more information, visit www.lantheus.com.
About Premier Inc. 2006 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Recipient
Serving more than 2,000 U.S. hospitals and 50,000 other healthcare sites, the Premier healthcare alliance and its members are transforming healthcare together. Owned by not-for-profit hospitals, Premier operates one of the leading healthcare purchasing networks and the nation's most comprehensive repository of hospital clinical and financial information. A subsidiary operates one of the nation's largest policy-holder owned, hospital professional liability risk-retention groups. A world leader in helping healthcare providers deliver dramatic improvements in care, Premier is working with the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in San Diego, Premier has offices in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Washington. For more information, visit www.premierinc.com.Source: The Echocardiography Monthly Monitor: United States, October 2001-September 2007, Arlington Medical Resources, Inc., Malvern, PA.