FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (Gore) today announced that it has extended its distribution agreement in the US and Canada with ConMed Endoscopic Technologies for the distribution and marketing of its GORE® VIABIL® Biliary Endoprosthesis.
"We are very excited to announce this exclusive contract extension with ConMed,” said Gore Medical Products Business Leader, Ron Anderson. “This will assure that interventional gastroenterologists have increasing access to the GORE VIABIL Biliary Endoprosthesis, which has the proven clinical benefits of low migration and long-term patency."
“Over the past several years, GORE VIABIL Biliary Endoprosthesis, with its cadre of technological benefits, has assisted the GI community in delivering enhanced patient outcomes,” said Mark Donovan, Vice President of ConMed Endoscopic Technologies. “ConMed is extremely pleased to continue its exclusive partnership in North America with the Gore team and be able to offer the GORE VIABIL Biliary Endoprosthesis through our dedicated GI sales forces.”
GORE VIABIL Biliary Endoprosthesis is engineered using advanced proprietary technology that has helped set the performance standard for fully covered metal stents and has brought proven clinical benefits to the patients that endoscopists serve. As the only fully covered biliary endoprothesis with atraumatic anti-migration fins, GORE VIABIL Biliary Endoprosthesis reduces stent migration with a reported migration rate of 0.3 percent. GORE VIABIL Biliary Endoprosthesis has a unique non-porous ePTFE/FEP liner which helps facilitate longer and higher patency rates. Its exclusive pull-line deployment makes the GORE VIABLE Biliary Endoprosthesis one of the simplest deployment systems on the market. A non-foreshortening stent offers the preferred balance of radial strength and conformability that leads to a reported lifetime palliation rate of 87 percent.
GORE VIABIL Biliary Endoprosthesis has received FDA clearance for the palliative treatment of malignant biliary strictures. Additionally, GORE VIABIL Biliary Endoprosthesis is licensed in Canada for the treatment of benign and malignant biliary strictures and can be removed from such strictures for up to one-year post implant.
About W. L. Gore & Associates
The Gore Medical Products Division has provided creative therapeutic solutions to complex medical problems for more than 35 years. During that time, more than 30 million innovative Gore Medical Devices have been implanted, saving and improving the quality of lives worldwide. The extensive Gore Medical family of products includes vascular grafts, endovascular and interventional devices, surgical meshes for hernia repair, soft tissue reconstruction, staple line reinforcement and sutures for use in vascular, cardiac and general surgery. Gore was recently named one of the best companies to work for by Fortune magazine for the 15th consecutive year. For more information, visit www.goremedical.com.
Products listed may not be available in all markets. GORE®, VIABIL® and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates. ©W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. AR2563-EN1 May 2012