20,000 Patients Successfully Implanted with AIGISRx® Antibacterial Envelope for Pacemakers and Defibrillators

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TYRX, Inc., the leader in the commercialization of implantable medical devices designed to help reduce surgical-site infections associated with implantable pacemakers and defibrillators, announced today that it has successfully implanted its AIGISRx^® Antibacterial Technology in 20,000 patients in the United States.

“We view this key milestone as an indication that the cardiac care community support for the AIGISRx technology is continuing to increase.”

Implantation of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) for permanent pacing, heart failure therapy, and prevention of sudden cardiac death exceeds 500,000 annual cases in the United States and is associated with a major infection rate from 0.5 – 7%.

“As the number of patients at risk for serious CIED-related infections continues to increase, it is reassuring to know that there is a product like the AIGISRx Antibacterial Envelope that can help improve patient outcomes by reducing infection and the cost of treating infection,” remarked Grant Simons, MD, FACC, Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood, New Jersey.

“TYRX is very proud to announce the successful implantation of 20,000 AIGISRx devices,” stated Robert White, TYRX Chief Executive Officer. “We view this key milestone as an indication that the cardiac care community support for the AIGISRx technology is continuing to increase.”

About TYRX, Inc.

TYRX, Inc. commercializes innovative, implantable combination drug/device products focused on infection control, including the AIGISRx® Antibacterial Envelope and AIGISRx® Flat Sheet products. AIGISRx products contain antimicrobial agents, rifampin and minocycline, which have been shown to reduce infection by organisms representing a majority of the infections reported in implantable pacemaker and defibrillator related endocarditis, including “superbugs” or MRSA*. Following commercial release, the AIGISRx Envelope has been implanted in over 20,000 patients nationwide. The company estimates that over 2% of all U.S. implantable pacemaker and defibrillator patients in 2011 will receive an AIGISRx product during their procedure.

TYRX, Inc. is an ISO 13485:2003 certified medical device manufacturer and its products utilize technology licensed exclusively from Rutgers, Baylor College of Medicine, and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. For more information, please visit http://www.tyrx.com.

* Based upon preclinical in vitro and in vivo data. Data on file at TYRX and published in PACE 2009; 32(7) 898-907.