NeuroMetrix to Partner with Omron Healthcare for Distribution of NC-stat DPNCheck in Japan
NeuroMetrix,
Inc. (Nasdaq: NURO), a medical device company focused on the
treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), announced that it had
entered into an agreement with Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd. to be the
exclusive distributor for NC-stat®
DPNCheck® in Japan. NC-stat DPNCheck is a rapid, accurate
and quantitative point-of-care test to detect diabetic peripheral
neuropathy at an early stage allowing physicians to select appropriate
treatment. DPN is the most common complication of diabetes, affecting
over half of people with diabetes. DPN causes significant morbidity
including pain, increased risk of falling in the elderly, and is the
primary trigger for diabetic foot ulcers, which may require lower
extremity amputations.
According to 2012 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates,
diabetes affects over seven million people in Japan, making Japan one of
the top ten countries globally in terms of prevalence of the disease,
and second among developed nations after the United States. Treatment
outcomes for diabetes and its complications continue to be a primary
focus of both the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) as well
as the medical community within Japan. A global leader in research and
clinical practice in both diabetes and DPN, Japan continues to seek
improved outcomes for patients. Japan is also the only market globally
where Kinedak (epalrestat), a pharmaceutical specifically for the
treatment of DPN, is available.
Omron Healthcare is a leading manufacturer and distributor of wellness
products. Omron’s market-leading products include home blood pressure
monitors, fitness tools, such as pedometers and heart rate monitors, and
electrotherapy devices. It provides devices and services focused on
lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and other chronic
diseases. Omron Healthcare has an installed base of over 10,000 vascular
screening devices (VP-1000 plus) in Japan. The VP-1000 plus measures the
blood flow in the peripheral arteries, which is often a concern among
patients with DPN. Omron’s products are synergistic with NC-stat
DPNCheck. Its distribution channel includes a strong direct sales force
and local distributor network. Omron Healthcare is well positioned to
launch the NC-stat DPNCheck in Japan and provide medical professionals
focused on diabetes the tools they need to screen and diagnose DPN.
“We are pleased to be able to provide our customers with an innovative
and proven technology in the NC-stat DPNCheck” said Isao Ogino, Director
and Senior Managing Officer of Omron Healthcare. “There is a strong
synergy between the VP-1000 plus and NC-stat DPNCheck from both a
clinical and operational viewpoint. Our partnership with NeuroMetrix
allows us to once again provide access to innovative and proven medical
care that is meaningful to patients.”
"Omron’s long history of innovation and results in Japan make them the
obvious choice for a partner as we seek to enter this important market”
said Shai N. Gozani M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer
of NeuroMetrix. “The presence of locally available pharmaceutical
treatments for DPN which compliment the diagnostic capability of NC-stat
DPNCheck make Japan a unique market opportunity for us and Omron.”
Orient Strategy K.K., a consulting firm based in Japan, facilitated this
partnership between NeuroMetrix and Omron Healthcare.
About Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.
Omron Healthcare, headquartered in Kyoto, is a global leader in health
care monitoring. The company offers a wide range of devices and services
that help prevent and manage lifestyle diseases such as blood pressure
monitors, body composition monitors and activity counters as well as
medical devices such as vascular screening devices and visceral fat
monitors in more than 100 countries. For more information on Omron
Healthcare, visit www.healthcare.omron.co.jp/english/
About NeuroMetrix
NeuroMetrix is a medical device company that develops and markets home
use and point-of-care devices for the treatment of diabetic
neuropathies, which affect over 50% of people with diabetes. If left
untreated, diabetic neuropathies trigger foot ulcers that may require
amputation and cause disabling chronic pain. The annual cost of diabetic
neuropathies has been estimated at $14 billion in the United States. The
company markets the SENSUS™ Pain Management System for treating chronic
pain, focusing on physicians managing patients with painful diabetic
neuropathy and similar peripheral neuropathies. The company also markets
the NC-stat® DPNCheck® device, which is a
rapid, accurate, and quantitative point-of-care test for diabetic
neuropathy. This product is used to detect diabetic neuropathy at an
early stage and to guide treatment. For more information, please visit http://www.neurometrix.com.
