A Milestone of Opportunity for VNUS Medical Technologies

Over Half a Million Varicose Vein Patients Treated with VNUS Closure Procedure Worldwide 


SAN JOSE, Calif., June 8  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VNUS(R) Medical Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNUS), a worldwide leader in medical devices for the minimally invasive treatment of venous reflux disease, the underlying cause of varicose veins, announced today that as of this week, it estimates the number of patients treated with the VNUS Closure radiofrequency vein ablation system has surpassed 500,000 worldwide. Thousands of physicians across the Americas, Europe and Asia have embraced the VNUS ClosureFAST(TM) catheter and ClosureRFS(TM) device as a highly effective minimally invasive medical technology for treating diseased leg veins and restoring healthy circulation to varicose vein patients.

VNUS solutions have also achieved widespread acceptance among medical insurers, with all major US health insurance insurers covering radiofrequency vein ablation for patients with symptomatic varicose veins and venous reflux.  In addition, the VNUS procedure is available in 40 countries and is covered by the national health insurance systems in the UK and France.

"Achieving the physician, patient and insurer acceptance that has led to 500,000 patients treated with our VNUS Closure procedure is a tremendous milestone both for our company and for the field of minimally invasive vein treatment," said Brian E. Farley, VNUS' first employee in 1995 and President and CEO. "Although this accomplishment is notable, we expect that in the future our Closure products will ultimately help millions of patients suffering from venous reflux.  We also believe that our success emanates from a strong commitment to product quality supported by clinical and comparative effectiveness trials of our products. The results of these trials have proven to the medical and payor community that the VNUS Closure catheter offers superior clinical benefits to patients compared to alternative therapies.  We believe our physician customers and employees gain a deep sense of satisfaction from providing such high quality medical care and products to our most important constituents - the patients treated with VNUS Closure products."

VNUS' products have been featured in over 100 clinical publications and more than ten published book chapters.  Some of the company's most significant milestones include:

  --  1995: Company founded, development of catheters using RF energy to
      controllably shrink veins
  --  January 1998: First Closure procedure performed
  --  March 1999: FDA clearance of the VNUS Closure catheter and
      radiofrequency generator
  --  August 2003: Publication of randomized trial of the Closure catheter
      vs. vein stripping
  --  September 2005: Publication of Closure clinical study confirming the
      long-term efficacy of the procedure
  --  October 2005: FDA clearance of the Closure RFS device for treatment of
      perforator veins
  --  August 2006: FDA clearance of ClosureFAST, the next-generation
      catheter
  --  March 2007: Launch of the ClosureFAST catheter to physicians and the
      public
  --  June 2008: VNUS licenses its patents for vein ablation to laser
      competitors
  --  April 2009: UK National Health Service cites VNUS Closure procedure as
      a select innovative technology
  --  May 2009: Covidien Ltd. announces intent to acquire VNUS
  --  June 2009: Publication of randomized trial of the ClosureFAST catheter
      vs. laser ablation

  --  June 2009: 500,000th Closure procedure performed.


  ABOUT VNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


Founded in 1995 and headquartered in San Jose, California, VNUS Medical Technologies (NASDAQ:VNUS) is a worldwide leader in medical devices for the minimally invasive treatment of venous reflux disease, a progressive condition that is the underlying cause of varicose veins. VNUS sells the Closure system, which consists of a proprietary radiofrequency (RF) generator and proprietary disposable endovenous catheters and devices to treat diseased veins through the application of temperature-controlled RF energy. For more information, please visit http://www.vnus.com/. 

DATASOURCE: VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc.



CONTACT:  Jon Kitahara, Director, Marketing Programs, of VNUS Medical

Technologies, Inc. [phone], 



Web Site:  http://www.vnus.com/ 

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