Inova Alexandria Hospital First In Region To Offer Embozene Treatment For Tumors

Color-Enhanced Device Will Increase Patient Safety, Improve Physician Accuracy

Alexandria, VA – (February 9, 2009) —Inova Alexandria Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the nation to offer a new treatment for uterine fibroids and tumors in other areas of the body that have the potential for heavy blood loss. Embozene™ Color-Advanced Microspheres, blocks the blood supply to these difficult to treat tumors.

This new technology, recently approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), enables interventional radiologists to be more accurate, reduces the possibility of allergic reactions, adding to patient safety.

“This new treatment option enabling interventional radiologists to be more accurate and efficient during these types of procedures,” said Keith Sterling, MD, director, cardiovascular and interventional radiology, Inova Alexandria Hospital. “This product is specifically engineered to resist bacterial infection and reduce inflammation and procedure time, all of which will benefit the patient. We are pleased to be the first in the area to use Embozene, a device that has the potential to be the new leader in the field of tumor embolization.”

Embozene™ was recently approved by the FDA for use in arteriovenous malformations, a circulatory abnormality that affects nearly 300,000 Americans; and hypervascularized tumors, which are tumors with many blood vessels.

The interventional radiologist injects Embozene™ directly into the tumor and can monitor the effectiveness of the treatment more closely because Embozene is highly visible to the physician. Unlike other spheres used in embolization, microspheres retain their shape after passing through a catheter and can remain in the tumor for a longer period of time, delivering a more targeted and accurate number of spheres to the patient. The variety of colors also makes selection easy, efficient, and precise for the physician.

“From the outset, we took a different approach to developing our Embozene Microspheres by asking physicians and medical scientists for the qualities and characteristics that the ideal embolic device should have,” said Thomas A. Gordy, president and chief executive officer, CeloNova BioSciences, Inc.

Interventional radiologists utilize image guidance to perform many minimally invasive procedures including angioplasty, stroke treatment, blood clot removal, and uterine fibroid embolization.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency and urgent care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.