Laserscope's GreenLight PV(R) System the Focus of 11 Presentations at Recent European Association of Urology Annual Meeting

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 16  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Laserscope (NASDAQ:LSCP), a leader in the development and commercialization of minimally-invasive medical devices, including medical lasers and advanced fiber-optic delivery devices, today announced that its GreenLight PV(R) laser system was the focus of 11 separate presentations delivered by leading physicians to attendees of the European Association of Urology (EAU) Annual Meeting held in Paris, France last month.  Leading hospitals from six countries including Switzerland, Turkey, South Korea, the United Kingdom and Norway presented their results.

Groups from Switzerland and Korea reported results of two benchmark trials comparing Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP) utilizing the GreenLight PV laser system with Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP).  The results from both concluded that the modalities provide comparable functional outcomes, but that PVP provides superior intraoperative safety and shorter hospital stays and catheterization times.  Other key findings from various countries were that the costs for both modalities were comparable and that PVP patients experienced low re-treatment rates. Investigators from Switzerland reported a low re-treatment rate of 3.5% in a large cohort of 285 PVP patients followed for over 24 months.  Investigators from Turkey reported no impairment of erectile function of PVP.  Studies from the United Kingdom, Turkey and Switzerland showed results of PVP treatment in elderly patients, patients in retention and those with large glands that mimic published studies from the United States.

Additionally, PVP under local anesthesia with IV sedation was demonstrated to be safe and effective in a cohort of 83 patients treated by a group from Trondheim, Norway.  Patients were discharged in eight hours on average after the procedure with a mean catheterization time of only two hours.

"We were delighted to see our GreenLight PV system as a focal point of this important urology forum in Europe.  As international acceptance and adoption of the (PVP) procedure continues to grow steadily, the favorable data presented at the EAU clearly demonstrates the potential for PVP to become the worldwide standard of care for BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or non-cancerous, enlarged prostate)," said Eric Reuter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Laserscope.  "Results of the anesthesia study from Norway add a new perspective to PVP in an outpatient setting."

About the European Association of Urology

The European Association of Urology (EAU) is the largest scientific urological organization in Europe.  The EAU connects 16,000 urologists, urologists-in-training and urological scientists in Europe and worldwide. http://www.uroweb.org/

About Laserscope

Founded in 1984, Laserscope (NASDAQ:LSCP) is a pioneer in the development and commercialization of minimally-invasive medical devices, including medical lasers and advanced fiber-optic delivery devices for physician offices, outpatient surgical centers and hospitals.  The Company's GreenLight PV(R) laser systems are used for the Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP) procedure in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.  The PVP procedure is gaining acceptance as an alternative to Trans Urethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) for treatment of the enlarged prostate.  For more information about Laserscope, please visit http://www.laserscope.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the safe harbor created by this section.  These forward-looking statements include the market opportunity for our surgical products and their competitiveness in that market, worldwide adoption rates of the PVP procedure using the GreenLight PV(R) laser system, our ability to compete with similar product offerings and other therapies for the treatment of BPH and market penetration opportunities in international markets.  These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including: uncertainties regarding introduction of new technologies competitive to Laserscope's products and the degree to which our current and new products are accepted by customers, which could affect the level of demand for our products; uncertainties regarding the impact that competitive products and therapies as well as private and public payer reimbursement levels for the PVP procedure could have on the competitiveness of our current pricing programs, which could adversely impact our financial results; risk of reductions in government and private insurance reimbursement of hospitals and physicians for health care costs, which may negatively impact hospitals and physicians decisions to purchase our products reducing adoption rates and sales growth; risks that we may be unable to protect adequately the integrity, safety and proper use of our disposable fiber optic delivery device with the GreenLight PV(R) laser system, which could result in negative patient outcomes and reduce our disposable delivery device recurring revenue stream; risks that patents and licenses that we hold may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented or that we may become the subject of intellectual property litigation; uncertainties regarding our ability to compete with companies that have significantly greater financial, technical, research and development, manufacturing and marketing resources than we have; and uncertainties that new products will receive regulatory approval in applicable jurisdictions.  The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Laserscope's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  In particular, see the Risk Factors described in Laserscope's most recent Report on Form 10-Q.  Copies of Laserscope's public disclosure filings with the SEC, including the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the most recent forms 10-Q are available upon request from its Investor Relations Department at its website at http://www.laserscope.com/ and at the SEC's website: http://www.sec.gov/. Laserscope assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release. 

DATASOURCE: Laserscope



CONTACT:  Eric Reuter, President & CEO, or Derek Bertocci, CFO, both of

Laserscope, [phone]; or Investor/Analysts, Tricia Ross,

[phone], or General Inquiries, Moira Conlon, [phone], both of

Financial Relations Board, for Laserscope



Web site:  http://www.uroweb.org/ 

Web site:  http://www.laserscope.com/ 

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