PLAINSBORO, N.J., Jan. 2, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq:IART) today reported that it has been selected as a national supplier for Premier's neurosurgical products contract. Effective January 1, 2003, this 24-month contract gives Integra NeuroSciences the opportunity to potentially generate additional product sales among more than 1,500 Premier member hospitals and other Premier affiliated health care facilities. The contract provides Premier members expanded choices for some of the most advanced neurosurgical technology available in the marketplace today.
"We are delighted that Premier has chosen Integra NeuroSciences to be one of three national vendors for their neurosurgical business. This award represents a tremendous opportunity for us to offer our broad neurosurgical product line to a larger audience," said Bob Paltridge, Integra NeuroSciences' Vice President of Worldwide Sales.
"Spinal and cranial surgery is a growing area of concern among our members, and Premier wanted to deliver a new set of contracts that could help meet their technology needs," said Howard Sanders, senior vice president, Premier Group Purchasing Services. "Each of the companies selected demonstrated to our committee of members that neurosurgical products could be available at competitive prices while meeting their clinical expectations."
Premier, Inc., is a strategic alliance in U.S. healthcare, entirely owned by more than 200 of the nation's leading hospital and health care systems. These systems operate or are affiliated with more than 1,500 hospital facilities and hundreds of other care sites. Premier provides an array of resources supporting health services delivery, including group purchasing for more than $17 billion annually in supplies and equipment. Other resources offered by Premier are insurance programs and performance improvement services of many kinds. Premier is headquartered in San Diego, Calif., with other major facilities in Chicago, Ill. and Charlotte, N.C. Advocacy and policy offices are located in Washington, D.C.
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation develops, manufactures and markets medical devices, implants and biomaterials primarily used in the treatment of cranial and spinal disorders, soft tissue repair and orthopedics. Integra is a leader in applying the principles of biotechnology to medical devices that improve patients' quality of life. Integra has its corporate headquarters in Plainsboro, New Jersey, with manufacturing and research facilities located throughout the world. Integra has approximately 775 permanent employees.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future financial performance, including the potential for Integra to expand its customer base and generate additional product sales from hospitals and health care systems affiliated with Premier. The accuracy of such forward-looking statements is necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from predicted or expected results. Among other things, the willingness of Premier-affiliated physicians, hospitals and health care systems to adopt Integra's products may affect Integra's ability to expand its customer base, and the quality and clinical effectiveness of Integra's products as compared to competitor's products may affect Integra's ability to increase sales of those products. In addition, the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors identified under the heading "Risk Factors" included in the Business section of Integra's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and information contained in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission could affect actual results.