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January 2nd – January 8th

January 3rd: Acquisition of Bayer's Diagnostic Division Finalized

The acquisition of Bayer Healthcare's diagnostic division by Siemens Medical Solutions has been completed. Bayer Diagnostics and Diagnostic Products Corporation (DPC), acquired in July 2006, were merged into a single business unit on January 1, 2007. The new entity, "Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics," is a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. and employs more than 8,000 people worldwide. Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics, headquartered in Tarrytown, N.Y. and Los Angeles, CA, holds a No. 2 position in the worldwide immunodiagnostics market.

This new business is integral to Siemens' overall strategy to help its customers improve workflow throughout the healthcare enterprise. Bringing together the entire medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics and clinical IT value chain under one roof puts Siemens in a unique position to leverage trendsetting technologies for an improved quality of patient care at reduced costs. DPC and Bayer Diagnostics generated cumulative sales of EUR 1.8 billion in fiscal 2005 (Dec. 31). The cost for both acquisitions totaled EUR 5.7 billion.

Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics maintains leading market positions in the fields of clinical chemistry, patient tests, laboratory automation and blood cell diagnostics (hematology). The company also develops solutions for the rapidly growing markets of molecular diagnostics and gene analysis with the aim of continuing to improve personalized medicine. The company will also offer a comprehensive portfolio for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide array of illnesses such as adrenal/pituitary dysfunction, allergy, anemia, diabetes and reproductive and thyroid disorders, infectious diseases, kidney ailments, cardiology, oncology, diabetes and virology.

Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics' top management is comprised of managers with many years' experience in the health care business: Anthony Bihl, previous president of the Diagnostics division of Bayer Healthcare LLC, has been named as CEO. Sid Aroesty, who served as president and COO of DPC, was nominated COO of the new business; and Jochen Schmitz, previous CFO of the Siemens Medical Solutions Molecular Imaging division, will assume the CFO role.

Siemens (Berlin and Munich) is a global powerhouse in electrical engineering and elec-tronics. The company has around 475,000 employees working to develop and manufac-ture products, design and install complex systems and projects, and tailor a wide range of services for individual requirements. Siemens provides innovative technologies and comprehensive know-how to benefit customers in over 190 countries. Founded more than 155 years ago, the company focuses on the areas of Information and Communications, Automation and Control, Power, Transportation, Medical, and Lighting. In fiscal 2006 (ended September 30), Siemens had sales from continuing operations of EUR 87.3 billion and net income of EUR 3.033 billion.

January 3rd: Integra LifeSciences' Miltex Business Acquires DenLite Product Line from Welch Allyn

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:IART ) announced today that its Miltex Dental business has acquired the assets of the DenLite illuminated mirror product from Welch Allyn, Inc.

The DenLite mirror is designed to give dental professionals a shadow-free view of the mouth during routine dental exams. It provides them with bright white light, which eliminates the need for constant adjustment of cumbersome overhead lights during everyday procedures. The DenLite system is the only cordless, illuminated dental instrument that can be used as a mirror while also being strong enough to be used as a retractor during an examination.

In May 2006, the DenLite Illuminated Mirror System, designed by Welch Allyn, won the prestigious Medical Design Excellence Award, the only awards program that exclusively recognizes contributions and advancements in the design of medical products.

Miltex Inc., based in York, PA, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation. Miltex is a leading provider of surgical and dental hand instruments to alternate site facilities, which include physician, dental and veterinarian offices and ambulatory surgery care centers.

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation is a diversified medical technology company that develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in a variety of applications. The primary applications for our products are neurosurgery, reconstructive surgery and general surgery. Integra is a leader in applying the principles of biotechnology to medical devices that improve patients' quality of life. Our corporate headquarters are in Plainsboro, New Jersey, and we have manufacturing and research facilities located throughout the world.

January 4th: Boston Scientific Acquires EndoTex Interventional Systems, Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX ) today announced it has acquired EndoTex Interventional Systems, Inc. The acquisition follows the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the NexStent® Carotid Stent System, which was studied in the CABERNET trial along with the Boston Scientific FilterWire EZ(TM) Embolic Protection System. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

EndoTex Interventional Systems, Inc. is a privately held, development stage medical device company focused on a less-invasive solution to treating carotid artery disease. The company's vision is to develop enduring interventional vascular therapeutic solutions that will reduce the need for re-intervention, thereby providing improved quality of life, while reducing the cost of patient care.

The NexStent Carotid Stent System is a laser-cut, nitinol stent with a rolled sheet design that enables one stent size to adapt to multiple diameters in tapered or non-tapered vessel configurations. Its self-sizing feature is intended to provide customization when treating lesions in the carotid arteries, while its unique closed-cell configuration is designed to increase lesion coverage and to provide a smooth inner lumen to help facilitate delivery and retrieval of ancillary devices. The FDA has approved the NexStent Carotid Stent System and has cleared the FilterWire EZ Embolic Protection System for use in patients with carotid artery disease who are at high risk for surgery. The FilterWire EZ Embolic Protection System is designed to efficiently capture plaque that may dislodge during stent implantation, thereby reducing the risk of procedural-related stroke. When compared to surgical alternatives, this system provides a less-invasive way to treat patients with carotid artery disease - a major predictor of stroke.

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties.

January 5th: Innovasis Announces Successful FDA Clearance for the 'PEEK Box' VBR System

Utah-based Innovasis, a research, development and manufacturer of spinal implant devices, has received 510(k) clearance of its "PEEK Box" System as a Vertebral Body Replacement (VBR) by the United States Food and Drug Administration after previously been cleared as a Cement Restrictor.

The "PEEK Box" System will be used as a Vertebral Body Replacement within the spine. The Innovasis "PEEK Box" System is manufactured from PolyEtherEtherKetone (PEEK) with Tantalum markers. PolyEtherEtherKetone (PEEK) is a material with an elasticity module (GPA) that is the closest to Cancellous Bone compared to Cortical Bone, Titanium or Stainless Steel implants.

Features and benefits of the "PEEK Box" system include: Variety of different shapes, proud angled tooth design on superior and inferior surfaces to resist migration, Bullet-shaped tip to assist in distraction, and parallel and lordotic-shaped with large central windows for placement of bone graft.

"This is good news for our company as we strive to be a recognized leader in the global spinal business by building intense customer loyalty and improving our products," said Martin Crous, Ph.D., Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Innovasis.

Other products already cleared by the FDA for Innovasis include the Le Forte Cranial Plating System, the Excella-M Pedical Screw System and the Opteryx Cervical Plate System.

Innovasis offers spinal product implants and instruments that address major pathologies and focus areas of traditional spinal surgery, including deformities, degenerative conditions; trauma and tumors, all of which can result in severe back pain and sometimes paralysis. Spinal implants are aimed at restoring mechanical and neurological function by readjusting vertebral positioning until bone fusion occurs. Founded in 2002, Innovasis is committed to providing surgeons with training, support and excellent customer service.

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